Expert: Jim Hyland - 5/30/2011

Question
I had 5 Pine tress cut down and the stumps ground. The yard is very hard (clay soil) and I was wondering if I could spread the chips and disk them into the ground to lossen it so the grass could grow? Would it improve the soil or would the pine sap be bad for the soil? Thank you so much for your help. Linda

Answer
The pine chips will not harm the soil. Depending on the amount at any one spot it could raise slightly the Ph of the soil and the nitrogen level. But this would be good for grass growth. It is not the best mulch but it will not harm anything. Sounds like agood way to get rid of the chips.