Question
I live in southern New Jersey, Zone 7.
I had double scrub oaks removed..50 foot.
The stumps were ground down about 12+ inches.
will anything grow in that spot..another tree,or large shrub? I have russian junipers that
don't have shade now.
Thank you


Answer
The Russian Junipers (Juniperus semiglobosa), and in reality all the junipers (Siberian, Common, Utah, Virginia, Western, etc.) grow best in full sun.   These hearty plants grow just about everywhere, happily thriving in all sorts of adverse conditions.  You may notice that they will fill out and not look so "leggy", now that they are no longer in heavy shade.  Maybe that抯 why they are used so profusely.  They come in all sorts of shapes & sizes.

Just about anything will grow NEAR the ground-out stump.  Notice I said near, as there are very few plants that can grow outside of a soil matrix.  You'll have to take out some chips, and add some dirt to get anything to thrive right on top of an old stump, and in full sun (shade-loving forest dwellers that love rotting trees, like moss, ferns, toadstools, etc. would get barbequed in full sun!)  

If you can find a pocket of soil in amongst the old roots, then try your luck with more Juniper (many varieties to try in your zone), Barberry, Current, Roses...or perhaps another tree like an Ash, Maple, and Oak.  If you want something smaller, whose roots won't go much deeper than 12", try a groundcover like Virginia Creeper, Ivy, ground rose, or Spurge.

There is probably abundance of wood chips and left-over roots still in the ground, as these break down over the next couple of years, they will "steal" nitrogen from the soil around them.  Therefore, whatever you plant there will need extra fertilization.  

Marc