The ideal shape for an olive tree is that of a wine glass, with three to four main branches opening from the main trunk. To encourage a young tree to develop a good shape, wait until your olive reaches about 1.5m in height before choosing three or four strong, well-placed shoots to form the main framework.
How do you trim and shape an olive tree?
Using a lopper, begin at the base of the olive tree and remove any suckers or water shoots which divert strength from the main tree, pulling them away or cutting as close to the base as possible. Next, turn your attention to the crown which can become quite dense and block light from reaching the centre of the tree.
When can you shape an olive tree?
If you are wondering when to prune olive trees, it is between winter’s end and flowering. You can prune olive trees in spring or in early summer once the tree begins to open its flower buds. Pruning an olive tree while it is in bloom allows you to assess the probable crop before you trim.
Should you trim an olive tree?
If you prune back your Olive tree ‘hard’ it will result in a dense growth or a light ‘formative’ prune will give your tree a natural shape. As with many fruit trees, olives fruit on new wood, so if you’re going to try for fruit a regular prune will increase your yield.
What is a standard olive tree?
Standard Olive Tree ‘Olea Europa’ Large 1.5 to 1.6 metres tall, Hardy Trees. Olive trees are a great choice for a Mediterranean themed garden, they add a more rugged look than the formality of a standard Bay Tree.
How often should olive trees be pruned?
Olive trees grow slowly and generally require little pruning each year if they are healthy and well-maintained. You will want to begin shaping your olive tree when it’s young, or about 2 years old, and then check it each year in the late spring or early summer for some maintenance pruning.
How do you thicken an olive tree trunk?
How do I make my olive tree trunk thicker? If your olive tree grows indoors, try to move it outside in spring-summer seasons and expose it to air movements. Because the movement of air means the olive tree trains and develops a much thicker, more resilient trunk.
How do I keep my olive tree small?
Olive trees are slow growing and do not need much pruning other than to keep to the desired size and shape. Prune in late spring to mid-summer, to remove dead, diseased or dying branches.
Should I prune my potted olive tree?
Olive trees are among the best trees to grow in pots, so if you are growing your tree in a container then pruning and shaping will help it to look its best. ‘Whether your olive tree is planted in the ground or in a pot, it will benefit hugely from an annual or biennial prune.
How often do you water an olive tree?
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.
What do you feed olive trees?
Olives thrive on mineral- rich, well-drained soils. These do not contain a high proportion of organic matter, so it is best to avoid compost and well- rotted manure. Instead an annual application of Vitax Olive feed will keep your plants in perfect condition.
How do you care for a potted olive tree?
Potted trees will need to be watered more often than trees planted in the ground. Allow the soil to dry somewhat before watering, then water until the soil is soaked. The normal, healthy potted olive tree will need fertilizer twice a year, once in the spring and once mid-summer.
How much is an olive tree worth?
Generally, you can expect to spend around $50-$100 for a young olive tree. On the other hand, if you want to purchase a more established tree, this could set you back over $500. Your final price will vary depending on your location, the nursery, and the popularity of olive trees at that time of year.
How tall does a standard olive tree grow?
25-30 feet tall
Olive trees are evergreen and can grow to 25-30 feet tall, with a spread just as wide. Their oblong leaves are silverish and grow from branches emanating from a gnarled, twisted trunk. Some experts believe that more space between trees – about 16-20 feet – will yield better fruit production.
What does half standard olive tree mean?
A ‘half-standard’ tree is a tree a single straight main trunk cleared of lower branches for the first 1.2 – 1.5m, often grown for a small garden bed or container. Half-standard trees should be specified by both girth and pot size.
What kind of fertilizer do olive trees need?
Established olive trees require fertilizer to stay healthy and produce every year. They need a balanced fertilizer with a 16-16-16 nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium ratio or similar.
How do you rejuvenate an olive tree?
To revive dying olive trees recreate some of the conditions of their natural Mediterranean environment with full sun, well draining gritty soils, and avoid watering unless their is a drought. Olive trees die back in Winter but often recover in Spring with warmer temperature and more sunlight.
How hard can you prune olive trees?
If you prune hard in late winter or early spring you’ll get a flush of new growth which defeats the purpose of the prune. To avoid this, you can prune after fruiting – hard prune that is – which is at the end of autumn or in early winter. Better still, give it a light prune each year to keep the canopy in check.
Why is my olive tree trunk thin?
If your olive tree is leggy that looks like it’s all legs (stems and branches) with stretched-out, spindly growth and sparse leaves it’s often a sign your tree isn’t getting enough light. Mostly this is a case for indoor olive trees, though outdoor olive trees may also become leggy if you don’t prune them yearly.
Why does my olive tree look sparse?
Root Rot. Root rot occurs in soils that have poor drainage or are excessively wet. The rot is caused by fungal organisms living in the soil. Because the roots are no longer feeding the tree, tree growth is stunted and the foliage becomes sparse.
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.