Lets see, trying to get a orchard back into production located in southern California. Chip the trees and start growing cactus for the new landscapes coming down the road.
Most likely that is what will happen.
Damn near the entire northern part of the orchard has crown gall bacteria in the soil which can live for more than 4 years and can also be spread by the little critters underground. I told them to 'nuke it from orbit' (sterilize the soil) because it also has Bermuda grass, and that wasn't very well received.
As for chipping the trees, I think I'm just gonna burn them given the fact that there was fire blight on some of the trees in that area. I'm a total newb and as such I heavily lean on caution.
Here are just a few pics. As time goes on it and I learn more arboriculture becomes less of a 'get it back into production' and more of a crime scene, but this is an excellent case study of what NOT to do in an orchard; which you bet I'm taking notes.
I would love to meet the people who planted the orchard about 5+ years ago.