Rejuvenating an Orchard

[shawnee]

We're in Kansas and the orchard we purchased 7 years ago is about 35 years old. We have had tornadoes and droughts, but the eastern section seems to be in a BIG decline. Lots of scale-like mushroom hard growths on branches which leads to that branch dying, declining apple tree vigor and harvest. Ground tested and seems to be ok - lots of gaps of trees due to storms.
My question is, how do you go about replacing trees after they've been cut down? Do you need to get rid of that stump, do you NOT replant in that spot but begin another row in between same row or stagger rows? Totally in the dark here. Thanks for any input!

[OrangePippin-Richard]

There is an issue with apples called replant disease, which is best avoided by planting the new trees in new locations - don't use the same holes as the existing trees.