Weed & Brush Control (Advice Needed)

Okay guys I need some good advice here. I'm in charge of care taking of approximately ten acres of land on my Grandparent's ranch. The ten acres is divided into two sectional plots of six and four acres respectively. The four acre plot is currently active agricultural land with peach trees, apricots, oranges, lemons and grapefruit. On that section I disc in between irrigation cycles and use a farm hand to help me control the weed growth along the fence line and around trees where it is difficult to get with a disc harrow. The other plot has become a real pain in the neck. It was once a very nice apricot orchard that has now become completely inactive with the very dry apricot trees being used for firewood. I would say that only about two rows of ten trees are worth irrigating since they bare good fruit. My issue is should I nonetheless disc this orchard or would brush cutting/mowing be the way to to? We were hit very hard by weeds which love to grow right around the trees and in fact intertwine themselves within the trees. With that said would spraying be ideal also? When and how often? Basically I want some general advice from some experienced farmers. I live in Southern California and my local city code enforcement is all over the old ranches like ours that refuse to sell out.

"my local city code enforcement is all over the old ranches like ours that refuse to sell out."

Then I would keep it mowed! Continuous brushhoggin will in very short time make it look nice.

If you have to minimize the use of herbicides, spray an appropriate herbicide for the type of weeds you have in a three foot or larger diameter around the base of the tree and mow out the rest. Glysophate(Round Up) sprayed around the base may take care of all the weeds and the grass.

(quoted from post at 02:35:04 06/23/10) "my local city code enforcement is all over the old ranches like ours that refuse to sell out."

Then I would keep it mowed! Continuous brushhoggin will in very short time make it look nice.

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Cool the brush hog does seem to get it done quicker then discing.

Cool, thanks for the advice Jerry.