--- title: "What to Do With Stump Grindings: Options and Local Limits" description: "What to do with stump grindings: haul them off, compost them, or reuse them away from the hole. Includes Cincinnati and Hamilton County yard waste limits." url: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/what-to-do-with-stump-grindings publisher: Cincinnati Stump Grinding phone: +1-513-587-6772 quote: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact --- # What to do with stump grindings: mulch, compost, haul away, and local limits Stump 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. GuideUpdated October 26, 20264 min read ## Keep them out of the soil Illinois Extension says wood material mixed into soil can tie up nitrogen as it breaks down. ## Compost or take to a site Iowa State Extension says shavings removed after grinding can be composted or sent to a municipal composting site. ## Cincinnati curbside limit Cincinnati's curbside yard waste rules list logs or stumps thicker than 6 inches as not accepted. ## Ask about haul-away Cincinnati Stump Grinding says it offers to haul wood chips away and replace them with fresh topsoil. ## What are stump grindings, and what do I do with them? Stump grindings are the wood chips and shavings a grinder leaves behind. You have four main choices: haul them off, compost them, reuse them as mulch away from the hole, or leave them in place. The right choice depends on what you plan to grow there. See [stump grindings](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/stump-grindings) and [wood chips](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/wood-chips) for the terms. Iowa State Extension says “When complete, a large pile of wood shavings will remain in the hole” and “Most arborists will not remove this material unless it is requested.” So it helps to decide before the work starts. Choice Fits Watch out for Haul away A spot you will reseed, resod or plant Local disposal rules, and who does the hauling Compost or composting site Large piles you cannot reuse Site rules for what it accepts Mulch elsewhere Beds and paths away from the stump Depth, trunk contact, and soil mixed in the chips Leave in place A spot you will not plant soon Poor growth, and a dip as the wood rots ## Why not mix the chips into the soil? Because the 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.” This is [nitrogen tie-up](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/nitrogen-tie-up). Purdue Extension gives the same warning in terms of the [carbon to nitrogen ratio](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/carbon-to-nitrogen-ratio): “The woody debris material created from stump grinding has a high carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio.” Iowa State Extension goes further. It says the shavings “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.” Two practical points follow: - Do not rake a thick layer of chips over your lawn and expect grass to come through. - Do not plan to plant into the old stump spot until the chips are removed or the hole is refilled with topsoil. ## Can I compost stump grindings or take them to a composting site? Yes. Iowa State Extension says “Any shavings or soil removed after stump grinding can be composted or sent to a municipal composting site.” Call the site first, because each one sets its own list of accepted material. Hamilton County runs three public yard trimmings drop-off sites through Hamilton County ReSource. The page says “All collected material is composted.” The ReSource guidelines name brush and tree branches. They give a 4 foot length limit and a 12 inch diameter limit, and they add that “Yard trimmings in commercial vehicles or from commercial establishments cannot be accepted.” The page does not mention ground wood chips, so call ReSource before you haul a load. ## Do local yard waste programs take stumps or grindings? Many do not take whole stumps, and the rules for ground chips are often silent. Read each page for your town. These pages were checked in October 2026. Place and office What the page says Applies to Cincinnati Public Services, yard waste Not accepted: “Logs or stumps thicker than 6” in diameter” Curbside yard waste Hamilton County ReSource, drop-off sites Brush and branches up to 12 inches across and 4 feet long, bundled; “Yard trimmings in commercial vehicles or from commercial establishments cannot be accepted.” County drop-off sites Kettering Yard Debris Center Not accepted: Root balls, Stumps. Yard debris should be not be larger than “six feet in length or six inches in diameter.” City drop-off The Cincinnati page also says that “Yard waste containers and bags exceeding 25 lbs. in weight will not be collected.” The page does not name ground chips, so ask before you set anything out. If you live in another town, search the city or county public works page for “yard waste” or “brush pickup”. Look for words like “stumps”, “root balls” and “wood chips”. If a page is silent on chips, call. ## Can I use stump grindings as mulch? Yes, in beds and on paths, with care. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) says “Too much mulch can be harmful.” Keep it away from trunks. The ISA also says that “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.” Grindings are not the same as clean arborist chips. They often include soil from the hole. The post [can I use stump grindings as mulch](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/can-i-use-stump-grindings-as-mulch) covers the details. Use [mulch](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/mulch) only where you do not plan to plant right away. ## Who hauls the chips away? Whoever you agree on before the work starts. Iowa State Extension says most arborists will not remove the shavings unless asked. Cincinnati Stump Grinding says: “And if you’d like those wood chips hauled away and replaced with fresh topsoil, we offer those services too.” The business grinds stumps in Dayton, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Ask about haul-away when you request your free estimate. If you haul them yourself, check the local rules above. Hamilton County ReSource, for example, says “Yard trimmings must be brought to locations in containers or bags - brown paper bags preferred.” It also lists a “Hamilton County residents only” limit, so a drop-off site is not open to everyone. Confirm what a site accepts before you load a truck. For the full cleanup plan, read [how to clean up after stump grinding](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/how-to-clean-up-after-stump-grinding) and [what to do after stump grinding](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/after-stump-grinding). ## Next step If you want the chips gone and fresh topsoil in the hole, see the [chip haul-away and topsoil service](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 ### What can I do with stump grindings? You can haul them off, compost them, send them to a composting site, or use them as mulch away from the grinding spot. Do not leave them mixed into soil where you plan to grow grass or a tree, because the wood can tie up nitrogen. ### Can I put stump grindings in my curbside yard waste? Check your city or county first. The Cincinnati yard waste page lists logs or stumps thicker than 6 inches as not accepted, and the page does not mention ground chips. Rules differ by town, so confirm with your hauler or public works office before you set anything out. ### Does Hamilton County take stump grindings at its drop-off sites? The Hamilton County ReSource page lists limits for brush and tree branches and says material from commercial vehicles or commercial establishments cannot be accepted. It does not mention ground chips, so call before you haul a load. ### Can I use stump grindings as mulch? Yes, in beds away from the stump hole, with limits. ISA says too much mulch can be harmful and gives a recommended depth. Keep mulch off tree trunks. The grindings may be mixed with soil, so check before you spread. ### Who can haul away the wood chips? Cincinnati Stump Grinding says it offers to haul wood chips away and replace them with fresh topsoil. The business grinds stumps in Dayton, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Ask about haul-away when you request your free estimate. ## 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) - [Drop-off site](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/yard-trimmings-drop-off-site) - [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. [Iowa State Extension: How to Remove Tree Stumps](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-remove-tree-stumps) 2. [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) 3. [City of Cincinnati Public Services: Yard Waste](https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/public-services/yard-waste/) 4. [Hamilton County ReSource: Yard Trimmings Drop Off Sites](https://hamiltoncountyresource.org/residents/yard_trimmings_drop_off_sites.php) 5. [City of Kettering: Yard Debris Center](https://www.ketteringoh.org/yard-debris-center/) 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 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) - [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 I Use Stump Grindings as Mulch? What the Sources SayYou 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.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/can-i-use-stump-grindings-as-mulch) - [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) - [Do tree roots die after stump grinding?Grinding removes the stump and large lateral roots, typically down 8 to 12 inches, per Iowa State Extension. The roots left behind break down over several years, per Purdue Extension. No extension page we found says all roots die, and some trees send up sprouts from roots that stay alive.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/do-roots-die-after-stump-grinding) - [Does the hole sink after stump grinding? Why the ground settlesYes, the ground can sink after stump grinding. Purdue Extension says there will be significant settling below the stump as it decays and loses its structural fiber. It advises adding soil to the stump area, with a little extra mounded to make up for decay, and adding more later if needed.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/does-the-hole-sink-after-stump-grinding)