The steps for how to kill a tree with salt is outlined below. There are other methods available, but this is one of the safest and most effective. Salt blocks magnesium and potassium in the tree, necessary for chlorophyll. That is what makes it effective.
What You’ll Need
You will need 3 cups of water, a container, 6 cups of salt, 1/2-inch drill bit and a drill.
Preparations
Spraying salt around a tree will eventually kill it. The problem is that everything in the surrounding area will be killed as well. To prevent this from happening, use the following method.
Step 1
Make six 1/2-inch holes on the tree using the drill. The holes have to be diagonally placed. Begin drilling about five inches from the tree base. Position the drill bit downwards. Make the hole three inches deep minimum.
Step 2
Fill the container with three cups of water. Pour in the six cups of salt. Stir. You can alter the amount but keep the 2 parts salt / 1 part water ratio.
Step 3
The next step to learn how to kill a tree with salt is to pour the liquid in the openings you drilled. Watch the solution. When the solution is gone, mix more water and salt. Pour into the holes. Keep doing this every week until the foliage becomes brown. The tree will die soon after.
Once the tree is dead, cut it down. If not, the tree may fall off on its own.
Killing Small Trees
You will need deicing salt, a stick and a 5 gallon bucket. If you don’t have deicing salt, road salt will suffice to eliminate small trees. What happens is the salt combines with water. It goes into the soil. Because of the chlorine, leaves scald. The sodium in salt keeps
the tree from getting water.
Fill your bucket with the salt. Add the water and mix it with a stick. Keep adding salt and water until the mixture is akin to a briny sludge. Take out grass or weeds close to the tree base. Bare soil makes it easier for the salt to work. Now you just have to sprinkle the mixture around the tree.
You can learn how to kill a tree with salt anytime. But the best period to do it is during early spring. This is the most effective time. Keep repeating the procedure until the trees are dead. Now you can chop them down.