What to Do With the Grindings

Stump grindings are a mix of wood chips and soil, and they make great free mulch.
Spread them 2 to 4 inches deep around shrubs, trees, and garden paths.
Keep fresh grindings on top of the soil rather than mixing them in. Fresh wood can temporarily tie up nitrogen in soil.
Let a pile age for a season before mixing it into garden beds.
Skip walnut grindings in vegetable gardens. Walnuts release a compound that can stunt some plants.

Replanting Timeline

Rake out most of the chips, add a few inches of topsoil, and seed or sod. In Beaverton, spring and early fall are the best seeding windows.

Plant in the same spot once chips are cleared and topsoil is added. Add compost to rebuild the soil.

Plant a few feet away from the old stump location. Old roots take up space underground and can make a new tree struggle.

Grinding removes the stump and root flare, but the larger roots stay in the ground and break down naturally over several years, faster for softwoods and in our damp climate, slower for big hardwoods.
The ground may settle as roots decay. Top it up with soil as needed over the first year or two.
Mushrooms popping up nearby are a normal sign of decomposition.
Some trees, like cherries, plums and poplars, may send up sprouts from the roots. Clip them at ground level; they'll give up over time.

Expect a soft or sunken spot where the stump was, especially after heavy rain.
Mark the area or keep kids and pets off it until it's filled and settled.
Mow carefully around the area for the first few months. Hidden roots or dips can catch a mower.
If a large hole opens up, fill it with topsoil and tamp it down.