PLANTING. Despite their Mediterranean origins, olive trees are tougher than you might think but it’s wise to position your tree in the sunniest site possible, and select a well-drained, sheltered site. Olives planted close to a warm wall where they can bask in the sunshine will be the happiest.
Where should I put my olive tree?
Olives are Mediterranean plants so thrive in conditions closest to the hot, dry climate of their native habitat. Choose the sunniest and most sheltered spot available – a south-facing spot with a brick wall behind it will work well.
How close to the house should an olive tree be?
Plant the trees away from fences, houses, or sewer lines to keep these structures safe. Maintaining a 20 feet of distance between the olive tree and your house is best because some olive trees’ roots can spread to about 20 feet at maturity.
Can you leave olive trees in pots?
Olive trees can survive a number of years in a pot, although they will ultimately need to be planted in the ground to survive. As long as you have a sufficiently large pot, the tree can live up to eight or nine years in it. Keep the pot in full sun.
What is the best way to look after an olive tree?
During the growing season keep the compost moist and feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser every month to ensure it produces a good crop of fruit. Prune olives in early spring to keep an attractive shape and to remove any dead, diseased or dying branches.
Do olive trees grow better in pots or ground?
Olives planted close to a warm wall where they can bask in the sunshine will be the happiest. The olive tree is slow-growing and is therefore ideal for pot-growing; it will thrive in a large pot in a bright spot on the patio or balcony, or in an unheated conservatory or greenhouse.
Is it good to have olive tree at home?
But we can enjoy olive trees (Olea europea) in containers indoors, at least for short periods of time. Because they don’t thrive indoors over the long run, it’s best to move potted olives outside or plant them in the ground when the weather warms up. If you grow an olive as a houseplant, choose a dwarf variety.
Are olive trees good luck?
Olive Tree is a symbol of peace, wisdom, fertility, prosperity, health, luck, victory, stability and tranquillity. Moreover, the olive tree symbolizes the eternal link between man and the earth.
How often should an olive tree be watered?
When establishing an olive tree, keep the soil moist, yet not saturated. Water an establishing olive tree once weekly for the first year or anytime the top 2” of soil becomes dry. After an olive tree is established, deep watering once monthly is sufficient.
Can olive trees be kept small?
In its natural habitat, an olive tree can reach up to 20 ft (6 m) tall. However, indoors, planted in a pot, you can keep it much smaller. Dwarf olive trees only grow to 6 ft (1.8 m). Pruning olive trees will keep them compact.
How often should I water olive trees in pots?
We advise watering newly planted olive trees every third day for the first two weeks. Then, cut back the watering to once weekly after the first two weeks. If you have a mature olive tree, in summer it will need watering every 3-5 Days if keeping in a pot.
Should I bring olive tree inside for winter?
Never bring your olive trees indoors in winter. Outside, bring them as close as possible to a window so that they may benefit from the warmth of the house. Mulch the base of your olive trees to protect them from the cold. Wrap the pots with a thick cover, and avoid letting rain fall in.
Can I leave my potted olive tree outside in winter?
Potted olive trees can be left outside until late September, early October, and should then be brought inside until the beginning of May.
Can you overwater an olive tree?
An olive tree has small, shallow roots, and if it’s overwatered for too long these can rot away. Even if the tree does make it through in one piece, it might not be able to produce fruit again. If you live in a particularly rainy region, overwatering can occur without you manually watering your olive tree at all.
Should you cut back olive trees?
If you wish to harvest fruit from your olive tree, pruning will be necessary. You should be Pruning Olive Trees in late Spring or early Summer when the weather is milder but before flowering. As the olive tree is an evergreen plant, new growth will be produced from most of the pruning cuts.
How long do olive trees last?
Humans have grown olive trees for thousands of years. The oldest known olive tree is 1500 years old, but the average life span is 500 years. Olive trees are loved for their fruits, eaten fresh or brined and pressed into oil.
Do you need two olive trees?
Do you need two olive trees to get crops? Arbequina olive trees are self-pollinating, so you only need one to get fruit. However, planting another olive tree will increase your harvest.
What kind of pots do olive trees like?
Terracotta or wood is a preferable choice when growing olive trees in pots or containers. This is because they are more ‘breathable’ options and will help with drainage and insulation. A good quality plastic pot however, has the benefit of being more lightweight and less prone to breakage.
Should you water olive trees in pots?
Olive trees do not like wet conditions, and whether you have planted your Olive in the ground or in a pot, they must have free drainage. During the summer months, your Olive will only need small amounts of water (work with your ground conditions) but will require monitoring more closely if it is planted in a pot.
What does an olive tree represent?
The olive tree, or more specifically an olive branch, is a symbol of peace and friendship dating back to ancient Greek mythology.
Can I plant an olive tree near my house?
Ordinarily, patios will not be a problem because the soil beneath them will be dry and compacted. Therefore, the roots will not grow into this area as much. It’s still recommended, however, that you plant at least 8-10′ away from patios, water pipes and sewer pipes.