Effectively Kill A Tree Stump In Your Yard With A Clever Solution

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After you've cut down a tree, the stump that remains in the ground can, in some cases, start sprouting. As long as the root system is still intact, what remains of the tree can stay alive for quite some time. The stump continues to receive nutrients through the roots. What can you do to prevent resprouting or stop it if it's already begun? Removing the stump altogether is your best bet. There are actually several ways you can safely remove a tree stump without calling in the professionals. If you're not ready to try more labor-intensive methods, you should be able to kill the stump using rock salt.

Rock salt, which is essentially sodium chloride, works by dehydrating the stump over time until it eventually dies. Subsequently, the stump begins to decompose and disintegrate. Then you can incorporate it into the surrounding soil. If the stump is resprouting or freshly cut, that's confirmation that it's still alive and will benefit from this hack. The best thing about this method is that, for the most part, it's hands-off. You will, however, have to wait patiently for several months for it to work. Before you head out to buy a bag of rock salt, bear in mind that this solution works best on tree stumps 12 inches in diameter or less.

This process is quite similar to how you remove a tree stump from your yard using Epsom salt. The first step is to reduce the size of the tree stump as much as you possibly can using a chainsaw. Next, drill some holes in the stump — each hole should be 1 inch in diameter, 6 to 12 inches deep, and a few inches apart. When choosing which drill bit to use for this project, go for the largest size you can find or that will fit your drill, like the Nicavkit 1 Inch x 12 Inch Long Auger Drill Bit.

Once you've drilled a bunch of holes, you can add some Pro-Cure Rock Salt to the stump. Pour the salt into each hole using a funnel, and then pour water over the top of the stump to help dissolve the salt and coax it into the wood. Ideally, it reaches all the way down to the roots of the tree.

Cover the salted stump with a tarp and secure it in place with stones or bricks to prevent the salt from getting washed away or diluted by rainwater. Repeat the application of salt and water once every two to three weeks. Alternatively, cover the stump with soil and mulch, then keep adding water every few days or whenever the material feels dry. Bonus: This encourages bacteria and fungi to colonize the stump, which will speed up natural decomposition. After two to six months, once the wood has become dry, you can chip away at the stump and remove what's left.