Getting rid of orange trees (Sun City, Sun City West: buying, cost, moving)

[phetaroi]

My large back yard has a nice variety of appropriate cacti and other plants for this region. I have 3 orange trees. One too close to the house, and I'm tired of picking up oranges off the ground every few days, especially when I don't eat oranges or drink orange juice (triggers my acid reflux something awful).

So I want to cut down two of the trees, but would then like to plant over the old root system some of those yellow flowering shrubs that are fairly common here. Is that going to be possible? Or is the orange tree root system too dense? And how would it be done?

Thanks

[smoochaz]

Wish I had your problem - I have those flowery bushes and wish I can switch them with your orange trees! Buying mature citrus is so costly - why don't you go to a local nursery or ask your landscaper - they may pay you good money for it?

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by phetaroi

My large back yard has a nice variety of appropriate cacti and other plants for this region. I have 3 orange trees. One too close to the house, and I'm tired of picking up oranges off the ground every few days, especially when I don't eat oranges or drink orange juice (triggers my acid reflux something awful).

So I want to cut down two of the trees, but would then like to plant over the old root system some of those yellow flowering shrubs that are fairly common here. Is that going to be possible? Or is the orange tree root system too dense? And how would it be done?

Thanks

In my experience here (5 sissoo, 1 palo verde, 1 ficus I think), the tree root system is going to depend on how the tree has been watered.
If the tree has been heavily watered near the base and the roots haven't been forced away from the trunk, you may have a nice "fist" of roots that can be dug up after cutting the tree down. If watered to the edge of the canopy, the roots might be more spread out.

I'm not sure how soon I would plant on top of any recently removed tree or shrub, I personally wait a year, but that's just me and not based on any science.

[phlinak]

Originally Posted by phetaroi

My large back yard has a nice variety of appropriate cacti and other plants for this region. I have 3 orange trees. One too close to the house, and I'm tired of picking up oranges off the ground every few days, especially when I don't eat oranges or drink orange juice (triggers my acid reflux something awful).

So I want to cut down two of the trees, but would then like to plant over the old root system some of those yellow flowering shrubs that are fairly common here. Is that going to be possible? Or is the orange tree root system too dense? And how would it be done?

Thanks

Like smoochaz said, I wish I had your problem.

[fluffythewondercat]

How about giving them away to neighbors or posting on NextDoor?

[wase4711]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

How about giving them away to neighbors or posting on NextDoor?

THIS is the way to do it; several people in our area do this all the time with lemons/grapefruits/oranges, etc, and the neighbors love it..

[Kate2345]

I third these ideas of not wasting mature citrus. Even baby citrus trees cost $150. You’ve got something valuable.

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by Kate2345

I third these ideas of not wasting mature citrus. Even baby citrus trees cost $150. You’ve got something valuable.

Removing and replanting? Good luck with that. Most likely a huge waste of time and money and you'll most likely end up with a dead tree.

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by Burning Madolf

Removing and replanting? Good luck with that. Most likely a huge waste of time and money and you'll most likely end up with a dead tree.

I think you're right on this. These are fairly big trees. As far as giving away the citrus...so many people do that here in Sun City West that it mostly gets tossed anyways.

I do appreciate all the responses, though.

[wit-nit]

No one is going to hand dig out mature orange trees to transplant without a costly mechanical tree spade service.
Have a gardener cut the trees down as far as possible, then hire a tree grinder service to take out the stump and the surrounding cut roots. Back fill hole with good growing soil then plant whatever you want that fits the area. If you're going to plant cacti there then fill with a cacti mix for good drainage.