What to do after stump grinding: chips, topsoil, grass and new trees

What is left in the hole after stump grinding?

A pile of wood chips and a dip in the ground. Iowa State Extension says that “When complete, a large pile of wood shavings will remain in the hole.” The grinder also chews up the stump and large lateral roots, “typically down 8 to 12 inches,” according to the same page.

Illinois Extension adds that how far down the grinder goes changes what you see: “Depending on how far down a stump is ground, you may be left with a large hole.” A stump ground flush with the soil leaves a shallow dip. A deeper cut leaves a bigger hole. See how deep stump grinding goes for the depth range.

The chips are also not clean sawdust sitting above the soil. Illinois Extension says that “the grindings from a tree stump get mixed in with the surrounding soil as the blade chews up the stump.” That mixing matters for everything below: chips, filling and planting.

What should I do with the wood chips?

Most sources point to the same choice: remove the chips if you want to plant grass in that spot, or reuse them away from the hole if you do 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.”

Iowa State Extension also says “Ideally, these shavings are removed before new topsoil is added and the area is replanted.” Whatever comes out “can be composted or sent to a municipal composting site.”

Your options:

1. Haul them away. This is the cleanest option for a spot you plan to reseed or resod. Read what to do with stump grindings for local yard waste limits.
2. Use them as mulch somewhere else, on a bed or path. The post on using stump grindings as mulch covers the limits.
3. Compost them or take them to a municipal composting site.
4. Leave them in place and let the spot settle. Expect poor growth there for a while, because wood mixed into soil ties up nitrogen.

Iowa State Extension says “Most arborists will not remove this material unless it is requested.” Cincinnati Stump Grinding says on its Angi profile: “And if you’d like those wood chips hauled away and replaced with fresh topsoil, we offer those services too.” Ask about it when you request your free estimate so the chip cleanup is part of the plan, not a surprise after the machine leaves.

Should I fill the hole with topsoil?

Yes, if you plan to grow grass or another plant there. Illinois Extension recommends hauling off the chipped stump debris and filling the hole “with quality topsoil.” Purdue Extension gives a similar order of work: add soil to the stump area, and mound “a little additional soil” over it to make up for decay.

Why topsoil and not the chips themselves? Illinois Extension explains that “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.” Purdue Extension says the same thing in terms of carbon to nitrogen ratio: the woody debris from grinding has a high ratio, “This reduces nitrogen availability for the new tree or grass.”

Short version of the logic:

• Chips are wood. Wood rots slowly.
• The microbes that rot wood use up nitrogen.
• Less nitrogen is left for new grass or a new tree.
• Fresh topsoil gives roots something better to grow in.

Putting soil into a hole is called backfill. The business does not list backfill beyond the fresh topsoil offer. Ask about it when you request your free estimate.

How do hauling away the chips and adding fresh topsoil fit together?

They are two halves of the same job. First the chips leave. Then fresh topsoil goes where they were. That matches the order Illinois Extension and Iowa State Extension both describe.

On its Angi profile, Cincinnati Stump Grinding describes its machine as “Our powerful, turf-friendly machine will reduce your tree stump to wood chips quickly.” The same page says that if you want the chips hauled away and replaced with fresh topsoil, it offers that service too. The business grinds stumps in Dayton, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. You can read more on the chip haul-away and topsoil service page.

What the business does not list: seeding, sod or planting. Do those yourself, or ask about them when you request your free estimate. The next two sections explain how to do them well.

When can I plant grass after stump grinding?

You can plant grass once the hole is filled and leveled with a little extra soil. Purdue Extension advises: “Plant the grass, preferably sod, however, seed can work, to adequately cover the newly exposed area.” Sod is pre-grown turf cut in rolls or squares.

Purdue Extension then adds a fertilizer step: “Be sure to add slow-release turf fertilizer to compensate for the high C:N ratio that will be robbing nutrition from the newly installed turf.” After that, “Maintain adequate moisture and look for signs of yellowing, indicating low nitrogen levels.”

Purdue Extension also warns that sprouts may appear from the old roots, which store energy for the tree. It says to treat them “with typical lawn herbicide as needed at the label recommended rates.” Follow the product label. See will a stump grow back for what sprouting looks like.

For the full steps, read can you plant grass after stump grinding.

When can I plant a new tree after stump grinding?

Not directly over the old stump, according to Purdue Extension: “We generally don’t want to plant new trees or turf immediately over the top of existing stumps in landscapes.” The reason is simple. The old stump spot “will have limited soil and rooting depth for nutrient uptake and structural stability due to its remaining below ground mass.”

That points to two choices. You can plant the new tree a short distance away, so its roots do not start over rotting wood. Or you can fill and wait while the old wood breaks down. Purdue Extension says it “can take several years to fully decompose the stump unless it was ground very deeply or removed with an excavation machine.”

When you do plant, the ISA gives these basics on its planting page: dig a shallow, broad hole, and know that “Planting too deep can be harmful to the tree.” It also says most of a tree’s roots develop in the upper 12 inches of soil. The same page says to “Expose the trunk flare if necessary,” which is the root flare where trunk meets roots.

Call before you dig. ISA writes: “811 is the US national call-before-you-dig phone number. Anyone who plans to dig should call 811 or go to their state 811 center’s website.” Read before you grind: 811, tree lawn and permits for what OHIO811 and Kentucky 811 say about marking lines.

If the old stump sat in the tree lawn between the sidewalk and the street, check the city rules before you plant. More detail is in can you plant a tree after stump grinding.

Will the ground sink after stump grinding?

It can, and for several years. Purdue Extension says: “Also, there will be significant settling of the ground below the stump as it decays and loses its structural fiber.” Buried chips and the roots left under the soil keep rotting after the machine leaves, and the soil above them drops as they shrink. This is soil settling.

Purdue Extension tells you what to do about it: add soil to replace what rotted, and mound a little extra from the start. Plan to add soil to low spots later. The guide on whether the hole sinks after stump grinding explains how to check.

What about the roots left behind?

Grinding removes the stump and nearby large roots to a depth. It does not remove every root. Iowa State Extension says the grinder chews the stump and large lateral roots “typically down 8 to 12 inches.” Roots deeper or farther out than the cutter reaches are not ground.

That matters for two cases. First, if you plan a patio, pipe or new tree in that exact spot, remaining wood may get in the way. Second, if the roots stay alive, they may send up sprouts. For the details, read do roots die after stump grinding and should you remove roots after stump grinding.

How to clean up after stump grinding, step by step

Follow this order and you avoid the usual problems. These steps combine the advice from Iowa State, Illinois and Purdue Extension. The longer version is in how to clean up after stump grinding.

1. Walk the site with the grinder operator before they leave, if you can. Agree on what happens to the chips.
2. Move or haul the chips. If you plan to grow turf there, haul them off.
3. Fill the hole with quality topsoil, in thin layers, packing lightly.
4. Mound a little extra soil to allow for settling.
5. Seed or lay sod. Purdue Extension prefers sod.
6. Apply slow-release turf fertilizer and keep the area watered.
7. Check the spot after rain and over the next seasons. Add soil if it sinks.

What should I ask when I request a quote?

Ask what is left behind, and who deals with it. The answers decide whether you spend a weekend hauling wood chips. Iowa State Extension says that removing the shavings and filling the hole “typically have an additional cost” at most arborists, so confirm the full scope before the work starts.

• Will the chips stay in the hole, or be hauled away?
• Can the hole be filled with fresh topsoil?
• How deep will the stump be ground?
• Which roots will be left, and which will be cut?
• Who marks private lines such as a sprinkler or an invisible fence?

Cincinnati Stump Grinding says free quotes are quick: “we can usually provide one very quickly without an in-person visit.” Ask about chip haul-away and topsoil when you request your free estimate.

Next step

You now know what to do after the grinder leaves. For help with the chips and the hole, see the chip haul-away and topsoil service. Call (513) 587-6772 or send photos for a free estimate.