Question
Hello Jim, When you have the chance, perhaps you can find time to answer a question. I live in Yorktown, VA and today I had a very tall and very wide pine tree in my front yard cut down and the stump was ground up. The grindings were left behind in a large pile where the stup was and much of the pine tree grindings are deep in the soil there. I was told by the landscape company that because the ground there is now quite acidic, I can't plant any tree there for several years.
Is that correct? For example suppose I planted an acid loving tree now or in the Spring? Something like a leyland cypress or a weeping willow. Something fast growing (I'm 66 years old) or perhaps a large ornamental. What's your opinion and advice.
Thank you Jim,
Richard

Answer
No the wood chips do not increase the acid of the soil that would cause problems with planted trees. Small wood chips decompose very rapidly using nitrogen from the soil, which needs to be replaced by nitrogen fertilizer. The main problem would be if you tried to plant directly on top of the stump area. There is still a good amount of wood from the stump under the soil--the amount depends on the size  (diameter) of the stump. You say your was large so I would offset about at least 5-6 feet from the top of the old stump to plant a new tree. Even then you may hit roots from the stump making digging hard.
Mulch if it is not more than 3-4 inches deep will not harm the tree. After the first year you will probably want to add fertilizer to increase the nitrogen lost from the chip decomposing.

As to the species of tree--it really does not matter as far as the soil and acid part. I would not suggest a Leyland they have too many disease problems and a willow if you have septic tank lines can clog the lines. I would maybe look at Autumn Blaze Maple, Acer freemanii 慉utumn Blaze? This maple is an improved hybrid with brilliant, long lasting orange-red fall color. This is a hybrid cross of red maple and silver maple that performs well in the South. It has excellent orange-red fall color that persists later than many others, and is extremely fast-growing. Under good conditions, it can grow 3 ft. or more per year. It is tolerant of clay soils and drought and has a dense, oval head with strong branching. Autumn Blaze is very adaptable to a wide range of climate and soil conditions. It tolerates clay soil, and will withstand wet soil conditions and drought. This tree will grow in a wide range of climates from Wisconsin to central Florida.