Are there wood chips in the area from stump grinding? If so you will need to remove as much as possible and replace with some top soil or compost or a mix of both. Fresh wood chips mixed into the planting area will not be sufficient enough for root development and can steel nitrogen from the soil as they decompose. If the trees were recently cut and the stumps are left, there are most likely many large roots in the area, so you would probably need to start with a small container sized tree to fit around the roots. Also be sure to water well as those roots will make the ground dryer in that area. 

Other than that the area should be great for a Serviceberry as long as it is in full or mostly sun and the soil is fertile but well draining. 

If you would like to send a photo in of the space for confirmation, feel free to attach one to a reply. 

Emily 

Thanks. Lots of mulch. I’ve been moving it all week. 

Thanks for your help. Also on another topic, we have a sweet bay magnolia, which has not thrived. Maybe it will get a bit more son after a nearby tree was removed. It’s next to our porch and twenty feet from next house. Purpose was a screen from their window. Do you seen anything obvious? I wish I knew a lot more about trees. Best. Cindy 

On Friday, June 14, 2024, 1:01 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

Hi Cindy,

For the wood chips, if you level them out in that area or use as mulch, you can plant right into them, just make a well and use compost around the planting site. Depending on how large the Serviceberry will be, you may or may not need to dig into the existing ground through the wood chips. Where the trees stump ground or  is that all just the chippings from the trunks and branches? You may want to start with a smaller sized tree and a smaller root ball to be able to fit around old existing roots. 

For the sweet bay magnolia, it looks slightly sparse but overall appears to be healthy. It is most likely a sun/shade issue and as you mentioned when the tree is removed that is giving it shade, it will likely leaf out more. How long have you had it planted? It may still be getting established in the site as well? Does it receive sufficient water? Did you water through the drought last year? It is more of a wetland plant and tends to thrive in moist soils, but is adaptable to dryer sites as well. 

Please let us know if you have additional questions. 

Emily