--- title: "Can I Use Stump Grindings as Mulch? What the Sources Say" description: "Can I use stump grindings as mulch? Yes, in beds away from the stump hole, with limits on depth and trunk contact. Sources: ISA, Iowa State, Illinois." url: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/can-i-use-stump-grindings-as-mulch publisher: Cincinnati Stump Grinding phone: +1-513-587-6772 quote: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact --- # Can I Use Stump Grindings as Mulch? What the Sources Say You can use stump grindings as mulch in beds and paths away from the stump hole. Keep a thin layer, 2 to 4 inches per the ISA, and keep it off tree trunks. Do not mix grindings into soil where you want grass or a tree to grow, because wood ties up nitrogen. After grindingPublished October 26, 20263 min read ## Can I use stump grindings as mulch? Yes, in beds and on paths away from the stump hole. [Stump grindings](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/stump-grindings) are [wood chips](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/wood-chips), and wood chips are a common [mulch](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/mulch). The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) lists “wood chips” among organic mulch examples. The catch is the mix. Grindings come from the hole, and Illinois Extension says “the grindings from a tree stump get mixed in with the surrounding soil as the blade chews up the stump.” Clean arborist chips are different from grindings that carry soil. Check what you have before you spread it. Use Fits? Why Mulch on a shrub or flower bed Yes, thin layer ISA mulch depth guide Path or play area Possible Keep it away from trunks and the hole Dig into a lawn or the stump hole No Wood ties up nitrogen Cover where you will plant soon No Same nitrogen problem ## How deep should the mulch be? Two to 4 inches. The ISA says “Too much mulch can be harmful” and gives 2 to 4 inches as the recommended mulching depth. Fine mulches go on thinner, and coarse mulches, such as arborist wood chips, go on at 3 to 4 inches. On wet soils, the ISA says more than 2 inches of organic mulch can reduce soil drying. Keep it off trunks. The ISA says “If mulch is piled against the stems or tree trunks, pull it back several inches/centimeters so that the base of the trunk is exposed.” It also says mulch against the trunk “can soften the tissues, making them more susceptible to the development of insects and diseases.” ## Why not mix grindings into the soil? Because wood uses up the nitrogen plants need. Illinois Extension says “Wood material mixed in with the soil can tie up nitrogen as the wood breaks down, making it difficult to grow lawn, or another plant where the tree once stood.” That is [nitrogen tie-up](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/nitrogen-tie-up). It is why surface mulch is fine, but digging the chips in is not. Iowa State Extension says the shavings left behind “will drastically change the structure, moisture-holding capacity, and nutrient balance of the soil, making it difficult for any new turf or other plants to grow.” For a hole you plan to replant, remove the chips first. Read [what to do after stump grinding](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/after-stump-grinding). ## What else can I do with grindings? Compost them or take them to a composting site. Iowa State Extension says “Any shavings or soil removed after stump grinding can be composted or sent to a municipal composting site.” Local yard waste rules differ. See [what to do with stump grindings](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/what-to-do-with-stump-grindings) for the Cincinnati and Hamilton County limits. ## Do stump grindings attract termites? The pages opened for this post do not answer that. For what the University of Kentucky says about termites and wood, read [do tree stumps attract termites](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/do-tree-stumps-attract-termites). ## Next step If you would rather not deal with the chips, read about [chip haul-away and topsoil](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/services/chip-haul-away-topsoil). Call (513) 587-6772 or [send photos for a free estimate](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact). ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I use stump grindings as mulch? Yes, in beds and on paths away from the stump hole. Follow the ISA depth guide of 2 to 4 inches and keep mulch off trunks. Do not work the grindings into soil where you plan to plant, because wood can tie up nitrogen. ### How deep should stump grinding mulch be? The ISA says the recommended mulching depth is 2 to 4 inches, with coarse mulches such as arborist wood chips at 3 to 4 inches. Pull mulch back several inches so the base of the trunk is exposed. ### Will stump grinding mulch attract termites? The sources opened for this post do not answer that question, so this post makes no claim either way. See the guide on whether tree stumps attract termites for what extension sources say about termites and wood in general. ## Terms on this page - [Nitrogen tie-up](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/nitrogen-tie-up) - [Stump grindings](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/stump-grindings) - [Arboriculture](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/arboriculture) - [Wood chips](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/wood-chips) - [Yard waste](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/yard-waste) - [Arborist](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/arborist) - [Topsoil](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/topsoil) - [Mulch](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/mulch) ## Sources 1. [ISA Trees Are Good: Proper Mulching Techniques (PDF)](https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Proper%20Mulch%20Tech_0321.pdf) 2. [Iowa State Extension: How to Remove Tree Stumps](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-remove-tree-stumps) 3. [University of Illinois Extension: What to do with a tree stump](https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2025-07-18-what-do-tree-stump-guide-tree-stump-removal) Written by Cincinnati Stump Grinding and checked against the sources above on October 26, 2026. City rules and product guidance change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [What to do with stump grindings: mulch, compost, haul away, and local limitsStump grindings can be hauled off, composted, or used as mulch away from new plantings. Do not mix them into the soil where you want grass or a tree to grow, because wood ties up nitrogen. Check local rules first: Cincinnati curbside yard waste does not take logs or stumps thicker than 6 inches.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/what-to-do-with-stump-grindings) - [Do tree stumps attract termites, and does stump grinding help?A decaying stump is wood in the soil, and subterranean termites eat wood. The University of Kentucky says swarms from a yard stump do not automatically mean the house is infested. Swarmers next to the foundation, or winged termites indoors, are the warning signs. Call a licensed pest professional.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/do-tree-stumps-attract-termites) - [What to do after stump grinding: chips, topsoil, grass and new treesAfter stump grinding, a pile of wood chips stays in the hole. Extension sources advise hauling the chips away, filling the hole with quality topsoil, and adding a little extra soil because the ground settles as buried wood rots. Wait to plant a tree directly over the old stump.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/after-stump-grinding) - [What happens to tree roots after stump grinding, and will the stump grow back?Stump grinding removes the stump and large lateral roots, typically down 8 to 12 inches, according to Iowa State Extension. Smaller roots stay in the ground and rot over several years. Some trees send up sprouts from those roots. Termites and mushrooms around a stump are signs of decay, not of grinding.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/tree-roots-stumps-regrowth) - [How to clean up after stump grinding: what to rake, haul and fillTo clean up after stump grinding, decide who removes the wood chips, rake or haul them, fill the hole with quality topsoil, and mound a little extra for settling. Iowa State Extension says most arborists will not remove the shavings unless asked. Check local rules before you set chips at the curb.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/how-to-clean-up-after-stump-grinding) - [Can you plant grass after stump grinding? Steps from extension sourcesYes, you can plant grass after stump grinding once the hole is filled. Purdue Extension advises adding soil with a little extra mounded for decay, then planting sod, or seed if you prefer, and adding slow-release turf fertilizer. Illinois Extension advises hauling off the chips first.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/can-you-plant-grass-after-stump-grinding)