I just had a large stump grinded in my back yard. What should I plant there?

Question

I would love any ideas. Its is a large area and I was thinking of putting grass there, but if anyone has a creative idea, that would be great. IT is not shaped perfectly round , but kind of a weird shape..ideas?

Answer 1

If you add some dirt to the ground up stump and mix it in well and wait for a few months it will compost and turn into usable dirt. Right now it is just wood chips and nothing will grow in it. Also, you will find that as the wood chips rot and the roots underground rot, the area will settle and may form a dip in the ground.

Once the area is stabilized you can do pretty much anything to it - grow plants, turn it into lawn, make a children's play area. The soil will be fertile. But please wait a few months till it all settles down.

Answer 2

How about another tree. Such as fruit or tree that would grow great in height.

Do you garden much? If so, plant a bush of some sort..berries or flower bushes.

Answer 3

Nothing for awhile.  There's still a lot of roots that weren't removed and they must rot.  That sucks the nitrogen right out of the soil.  Best to cover this area with bark mulch as wait a few years.  You can hasten the rot by packing the area with compost or manure  and maybe some extra nitrogen and keeping it moist to hasten decay

When it is time to replant, remember the area supported a tree for many years and nutrients are low.  Add compost to rebuild the soil...and you'll need more soil too.  I wouldn't put a new tree in the spot, but rather, shrub or a flower bed.  If you need a tree, go about 10 feet or more away from the original stump.

Answer 4

I just went through the same situation.  It was a pain to try and shovel all the ground-up material back into the hole.  Finally decided, "Hey!  I've already got the hole and the soft dirt; might as well make an island flowerbed!"  So, I kinda followed the general outline of the pile of shredded stuff (since the grass was probably dead at the bottom of the pile anyway), packed down and leveled the area, stuck in some plants and a bird bath, and voila!  Nice to sit in the shade on a sunny day and watch the fountain/birdbath in the island bed.