Growing Grass After Stump Grinding

While, in time, stump grindings will decompose into rich soil, this process can take time and may stunt grass growth due to the fact that wood chips have a high carbon to nitrogen ratio. If growing grass more quickly is important for the area where you had a stump ground, follow these steps:

1. Remove any larger pieces of stump grindings that may remain.

2. Mix nitrogen-rich (e.g. 32%) fertilizer into the soil, because decomposing stump grindings deplete the soil of nitrogen.

3. Plant grass seed.

Video on assisting grass growth with fertilizer

Video on using wood chips as mulch

Video on stump grindings becoming rich soil

Stump grindings from allelopathic species (walnut, eucalyptus, pepper, manzanita, goldenrod, sugar maple, sycamore, red oak, black locust and American elm) will prohibit grass seed growth and should be removed as much as possible. These species release toxic substances that suppress the growth of other plant species.