A two-story Elm was removed two weeks ago and I have grindings from the stump by my driveway.

I am starting to put in a lasagna bed on the other side of the drive. I presently have straw, compost, manure, and other goodies that will go into the bed. Can I put a thin layer of the Stump grindings in this bed? The stump was sprayed with insecticide prior to being ground up. The tree had a bad case of carpenter ants. I will not be planting food in this bed, only flowers. I can't imagine that it would hurt anything but I want to check. Thank you.

I left part of the message out. Although I'm not planting food per se, I will be planting a few herbs. Do you think a tiny bit of insecticide, which will degrade all winter, would be a problem? Thank you.

If it were me, I wouldn't use it in a bed that I'm using to grow consumables. I'm very likely over-cautious though, in regards to insecticides anyway.

Hopefully there will be others chime in here soon.

I have other areas in the yard I can use those grindings. Thank you for your input! I would rather be safe than sorry.

Late to the party, back from vacation.
I agree with Chelle but then I do try to grow as organically as possible. But why was the stump sprayed?

The entire tree was infested with carpenter ants. The tree was very close (5') to my seasoned firewood pile. I certainly didn't want them moving in there! If not for that, there would not have been any spraying whatsoever.

Not being a chemist myself, you could check into the residual effects of the specific insecticide you used on the tree stump. If it's got a long life, it's possible that it would affect beneficials in the soil as well.

Yes I would say it depends on the insecticide. Otherwise I would use extreme caution as Shadegardener and Chelle suggested. Tree grindings otherwise are a real find for the garden. I have some trees to cut, but the tree cutter says he does not chip them up--just gets the city to haul them off to the land fill. What?

hazelnut said: ... I have some trees to cut, but the tree cutter says he does not chip them up--just gets the city to haul them off to the land fill. What?

I could see that...from a business viewpoint.
Our guys here have to bring extra hauling/chipping equipment along regardless, but if the city will take it away for free that would mean less outlay for your crew.
It's a total waste to those of us that prefer to use what we grow, but they don't see it the same way.



Beneficials were on my mind too, Cindy. Glad you brought it up. If it kills topside, it may below as well.

I have decided not to put the grindings in the lasagna bed, but will use it as mulch in the backyard or side yard.

The stump was not very tall and by the time they ground it up, the part contaminated by insecticide would probably be 1 part per 500, if even that concentrated. A professional exterminator came out to do this and my neighbor and I emphasized the fact that we have animals and the grindings would be used for mulching, with animals around it or on it. The exterminator goes to my neighbors church and they are friends, so I feel strongly that he did right by us.

Thank you for all your suggestions and thoughts.
Patti

hazlenut - I've used a couple of different tree service companies. I did get a price from a certified arborist but it was twice as much even though I wanted the tree cut down, not preserved. Another tree service I used cut the tree into manageable-size logs and had guys in pickup trucks lined up to haul away for free - I'm guessing firewood although this was a big oak and there might have been other uses planned. Another one used in neighbor's yard chipped up most of the branches and hauled away some pretty big trunks with company truck. 3 dead ash trees - yep, emerald ash borer. DD just had some old farmhouse maples trimmed and kept all of the branches and sawdust for hugelbeds.