Question
In your opinion would spreading table salt be effective in killing yukas.
I have several of these around and about my garden here in Southern Spain, and I want to kill them.
This for me is both personal and in the interests of family friends and other visitors.
I would explain that I have been accidently spiked, twice, by the pointed leaves of one of these plants, and this has caused a malignant reaction, necessitating surgery and skin grafting.
Meanwhile the plant in question has growm over the last two years with side shoots covering about 5 to 6 sq yards - like something out of a horror movie. Cutting off the growing shoots does not seem to work and it is very risky!!!
Your advice would be much apreciated.
Many thanks ,
Paul Mckellar

Answer
Hi Paul, with enough salt you can kill the yucca, but you would render the soil useless and the runoff may be toxic to other plants nearby, possibly not in your yard.  In theory, if you remove all the top growth and continue to remove any sprouts, it will eventually starve to death.  This could take several seasons for it to deplete all its food reserves.
Cutting all the tops off and painting a brush killing herbicide on the fresh cuts would kill it much faster.  If you can't use a herbicide, then I would remove all the top growth and cover the area with roofing shingles or something that will block out all light and not likely to be penetrated by the foliage.  Cover the area with mulch or leaves to improve the appearance and be patient.  About a year should kill it off, then you can remove the shingles and replant if you like.  Jim