Always provide uniform soil texture throughout entire potential rooting area. Backfill with same soil that came out of hole or plant in better soil placed on top, as layer or berm. Unless it is a very small-growing tree a fairly extensive area of new soil would have to be produced in order to meet its future needs. If the existing soil is unsuitable the tree will not develop and persist satisfactorily whether topsoil is used for backfill or not. In fact, backfilling with a differently textured material can retard or even impede strong establishment by affecting how water moves into and out of the amended planting hole. If other trees and shrubs are (or were) growing on the same soil probably it is suitable for the one you are planting. Partly it depends on if the topsoil was stripped away and you are planting in excavated subsoil that not even most kinds of the native trees and shrubs would be growing in (without a topsoil layer over it) and also if this subsoil is in its natural condition or instead compressed and compacted by vehicles. And partly it depends on what kind of tree you are planting, if it is adapted to your existing soil.

you are way over thinking this ... if it was ground out.. and the grindings removed .. and you can actually dig deep enough to plant the tree.. you can not plant in the grindings ... well ??? ..... then plan on planting the tree .. especially a maple ... have a soil test done.. and if it shows any problems .. fix those problems.. NO GUESSING.. and winging it .. you are spot on on tree spikes.. just send me the money.. for what they are worth ... if you mulch your grass.. or fert your grass.. the tree will get all it needs.. no need to double up by doing the lawn.. and then doing the tree ... see link for planting guide ... if you are looking for a high quality fall color tree.. i suggest you locate some good local tree farms.. and select the tree in fall color ... i would also suggest that you go no bigger that 6 to 8 feet ... and plant it in the appropriate season ... leafless... 6 to 8 weeks prior to bud out ... or in late fall.. depending where you are ... if you select a tree in the wrong season.. pay a deposit.. and have them TAG the tree .. for future sale ... its done all the time ... it would help to know.. where you are ... hopefully the planting guide will give a base knowledge ... and we can work with you from there ... ken Here is a link that might be useful: link

We have actually done this. The developer of the subdivision planted sycamores on both sides of the street about 10 feet from the curb in the 60's. Ours succumbed to the blight they get and we had it taken down and the stump ground. Of course all the roots were all over the front yard. We have clay soil also. I moved the planting spot in from the street and over from the lot line about 10 feet each way. I bought a willow oak from Home Depot in October of 2001. It was not a big one at all, maybe 10 to 15 feet. Today it is about 55 feet. Be sure to dig the planting hole twice as wide as the root ball, but do not dig it deeper. If you dig it deep and fill in with soft dirt, any water will run past the tree roots and pool at the bottom of the hole. You want the flare to be slightly above ground level. I used those tree rings made out of recycled tires for the first few years, so we didn't have to mow around it. The only problem we had with roots was, as they decayed, mushrooms sprouted where they were. Those are long gone now though.

Replant issues are typically restricted to established orchards and far less common with home fruit production. And it is not a disease but most likely the result of a depletion of soil nutrients from many years of tree growth. And depending on when the previous tree died, there could also be a build up with the soil biology that takes care of digesting the underground portions of dead plants that can slow establishment of new plants. Other than dealing with whatever remaining roots might be present - a concern with planting any tree in the same spot previously occupied by another tree - I would not hesitate to replant in the same spot or as close to it as I could manage. Replant ssues are almost always overstated :-)