Rock Salt to Kill Tree Roots in Pipes

Rock Salt

• Rock salt is a large form of sodium chloride. This coarse material is used to salt roads and inhibit ice formation. Trees and other plant life growing along roadsides are negatively affected by salt's presence. Foliage is burned and damaged by the natural chemical but root systems are also affected. Salt interferes with root system's ability to perform the reactions they need to produce food and transport nutrients. Salt draws water out of roots and water is necessary to transport nutrients and perform chemical reactions. Salt further interferes by dehydrating root systems. Rock salt will not only kill the tree roots but will eventually kill the entire tree and surrounding plants.

Pipes

• Leaking pipes are responsible for unwanted tree root growth. Tree roots only grow toward available water sources. Maintain solid, sturdy, non-leaking pipes and tree roots will not interfere with sewage or irrigation systems. Check for leaking pipes by inspecting ground surfaces for excess plant growth or thicker lawns. This could indicate excess moisture. Plumbers are capable of using radar and sonar techniques to detect pipe leaks. Low water pressure on other water systems is also an indication of pipe leaks. The stronger your pipe the less likely tree root growth will interfere with your underwater carrying systems.

Tree Roots

• Tree roots grow at the same rate as the rest of tree. Roots continue to proliferate where conditions are well-suited for growth. In wet, moist areas, roots take hold and flourish. Fast-growing species such as oak, Norway spruce, aspen and sycamore are more likely to penetrate sewer lines than slow growing trees such as cypress, cedar and stone-fruit bearing trees. Avoid planting fast-growing trees near sewer or irrigation lines. If the trees are already present, consider removing the trees. Even though tree roots can be pruned back such an activity is often harmful to the tree, expensive and laborious and, in the case of fast-growing trees, ineffective.

Alternatives

• If you do not wish to damage or remove mature trees then consider placing barriers between the pipeline and the tree roots. First, you will have to take on the expense of cutting back tree roots but placing a barrier between the roots and sealing off leaks in the pipes will reduce the chance that roots will grow back. Barriers made from plastic sheets and layered plastic are effective at limiting root spread. Some plastics are sprayed with herbicides that further retard root growth.