Wood Chip Removal
Wood chip cleanup options after stump grinding. Standard service rakes chips into hole. Optional blow chips into woods service available for planting areas.
Understanding Wood Chip Cleanup
When we perform stump grinding, the process creates wood chips from the ground stump and roots. Our standard service includes raking these chips back into the stump hole, creating a mound of chips mixed with soil.
Important: This mound will not support plant growth. The decomposing wood chips deplete soil nitrogen for several years, preventing grass and other plants from establishing. The chips must be removed before anything will grow in that area.
For areas where you want to plant grass or landscaping, we offer an optional blow chips into woods service. Using a backpack blower, we blow the wood chips into nearby woods, leaving you with a hole that you can fill with soil and then seed or landscape. Note: We blow the chips into the woods but do not provide soil filling or seeding services.
Your Wood Chip Options
Standard Service (Included)
- No additional cost
- Chips raked back into stump hole
- Creates a mound of chips mixed with soil
Important: This mound will NOT support plant growth. Chips deplete soil nitrogen for several years. Must be removed before planting.
Blow chips into woods (Optional)
- Additional fee (quoted with service)
- Backpack blower clears chips into nearby woods
- Leaves clean hole ready for soil fill
- Ideal for areas where you plan to plant
Note: We do not fill the hole with soil or provide seeding - you handle that part after we blow the chips away.
When to Choose Blow chips into woods
Planting Grass or Landscaping
If you plan to fill the area with soil and plant grass, flowers, or other landscaping, the blow chips into woods service clears the chips so you can fill the hole and establish healthy plant growth.
Property Appearance
For properties on the market or where curb appeal is important, removing the chip mound creates a cleaner appearance and shows buyers a ready-to-landscape space.
Nearby Woods Available
This service requires nearby woods or wooded areas where we can blow the chips. If you have suitable woods on or adjacent to your property, this is an efficient solution.
Immediate Project Plans
When you have construction, hardscaping, or landscaping projects ready to start, clearing chips keeps your timeline on track without waiting years for decomposition.
Why Wood Chips Prevent Plant Growth
Understanding why the standard chip mound won't support plants is important for planning your landscape restoration:
Nitrogen Depletion: Decomposing wood chips consume nitrogen from soil, starving plants of this essential nutrient
Multi-Year Process: This nitrogen depletion continues for several years during decomposition
Mixed with Soil: Chips are mixed with soil from the hole, creating a poor growing medium
Mound Formation: Creates an uneven surface that's difficult to mow or landscape over
Bottom Line:
If you want to plant grass, flowers, vegetables, or any other plants in the area where the stump was, you MUST remove the wood chips first. The blow chips into woods service is your solution for clearing the area so you can fill with fresh soil and successfully establish your plantings.
Wood Chip Removal Across New Hampshire
Blow chips into woods service available with all stump grinding services throughout 119 cities and towns.
Major Service Areas
All 5 New Hampshire Counties
Hillsborough County
31 locations including Manchester, Nashua, Amherst and more
Merrimack County
27 locations including Concord, Franklin, Allenstown and more
Belknap County
11 locations including Laconia, Alton, Barnstead and more
Strafford County
13 locations including Dover, Rochester, Somersworth and more
Rockingham County
37 locations including Portsmouth, Atkinson, Auburn and more
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do wood chips weigh?
A typical stump generates a substantial volume of chips. For example, a 24 inch diameter stump can produce 5-8 cubic feet of wood chips, which can be quite heavy and difficult to move without proper equipment.
What happens with the standard service?
Our standard service rakes the wood chips back into the stump hole, creating a mound of chips mixed with soil. This is included at no additional cost. However, this mound will not support plant growth for several years due to nitrogen depletion during decomposition.
How long do wood chips take to decompose?
Wood chips typically decompose over 1-2 years, depending on the wood type, weather conditions, and soil microbes. They break down faster in warm, moist conditions and slower in dry or cold climates.
Can I plant grass where the stump was?
No, not with the chip mound in place. The wood chips must be removed first because decomposing chips steal nitrogen from the soil for several years, preventing grass from establishing. Our blow chips into woods service clears the chips, leaving you with a hole to fill with fresh soil before seeding.
When should I decide about blow chips into woods service?
You can decide when booking your stump grinding service. Let us know if you plan to plant in that area and we'll include blow chips into woods pricing in your quote. This service requires nearby woods where we can blow the chips.
What is blow chips into woods service?
Using a backpack blower, we blow all the wood chips from the grinding into nearby woods on or adjacent to your property. This leaves you with a clean hole that you can fill with fresh soil and then seed or plant. We provide the chip removal; you handle the soil fill and planting.
Related Services
Need Blow chips into woods Service?
Get a complete quote including optional blow chips into woods service. Tell us your planting plans and we'll provide accurate pricing.
Your Property, Our Promise