You might be wondering if you should plant a tree back where the old tree was after removal of the old stump. Trees can offer great memories with friends and family, increase property value, offer shade, help with air quality, etc. So you might want to grow another awesome tree back in the place where the old stump was removed. In this article I’ll present some factors you’ll want to consider when considering planting a tree back in the same location after stump removal.
There is an ideal way to plant a tree near the same location as an old larger stump that was removed. It is to just plant the tree at least 3 feet adjacent to the old tree stump’s general location. This will help increase the chances of the new being planted in fresh soil that hasn’t had most of the nutrients depleted by the old tree. The stump grinding mulch left over from the grinding can also rob nitrogen from the soil in the area. Planting a tree well away from the original area also reduces the chances of the same disease causing factors that could have caused the old tree to fall or become unhealthy will not transfer to your new tree as well. Trees need nitrogen to grow and thrive. If it is at all an option just planting the new tree adjacent to the old tree location is no-brainer.
If you absolutely must attempt to plant a tree directly over the top the old tree stump location here are some things to keep in mind.
The size of the stump removed with grinding influences what needs to be done before a tree is planted back in the area. If your tree stump was under about 12″ in diameter and complete stump removal achieved then picking out most of the loose visible chips is the only thing needed to prepare soil for the tree planting process.
If the stump was over 12″ in diameter and there are stump grinding mulch left over the mulch and all loose soil will need to be completely removed and new fertilized fresh top soil will need to be brought in to fill the void in the ground where the old tree stump was.
If the stump was so large and deep that complete stump removal could not be achieved by the stump grinder then planting a tree directly over the top of the old stump location is not recommended at all. The chances of the new tree thriving here is minimal at best.
In conclusion, getting another tree to grow in place of the old tree that was removed is possible, but may require some forethought. We wish you the best with you tree project.