Olive Tree Garden Ideas – If you’re thinking of growing an olive tree in your garden, here are some tips for establishing a successful Mediterranean-style planting. Olive trees are self-fertile and benefit from cross-pollination.
In fall, wait until the risk of frost has passed before planting them outdoors. Once the danger of frost has passed, gradually expose the tree to more sunlight and wind. Make sure the soil doesn’t dry out.
Mediterranean climate
For those living in a Mediterranean climate, olive tree garden ideas can be as varied as the region itself. For starters, olive trees are drought tolerant and can be planted in any well-drained soil. They do not like heavy clay soils, but they are not fussy feeders either.
If your soil is particularly poor, it will benefit from regular feedings of fertilizer, but it may not be necessary. Alternatively, you can cover your olive trees with a layer of organic mulch to conserve moisture and inhibit weed growth.
Olive trees are slow-growing evergreens with gray-green foliage and a silvery underside. Their small, dark-purple fruit is prized for its variety of shapes and sizes, and they can live for more than 1,000 years.
Common olive trees make great ravine hedging and are durable enough to be neglected in containers. In addition to their beautiful looks, olive trees are also low maintenance, so they are suitable for gardeners with limited space.
The olive tree is an endemic species of the Mediterranean region. Though it can live in a cold climate, it is almost impossible to crop successfully in such climates. Their form and foliage make them suitable for garden styles that emphasize modernity.
These trees also look good in large pots. They can add height to patios. Their grey-blue foliage adds a touch of sophistication to modern designs.
Pruning
Pruning olive trees is a delicate art that requires judgment and skill. Aim for a martini-glass shape with the trunk as a glass stem and four strong lateral branches.
To prune olive trees properly, you should use clean pruning shears to prevent the spreading of disease. A hand saw dipped in isopropyl alcohol is useful for thicker branches. However, do not use it on fruiting olives.
Olive trees respond well to pruning, and it is important to do so judiciously. While cutting back heavily can discourage fruiting, cutting too little can result in too much old wood. Old wood restricts light and can suffocate new growth.
You should prune olive trees in a way that allows the new fruiting growth to flourish. In addition, thin-branched olive trees will be easier to harvest. This will keep olives from falling prematurely and allow you to harvest more olives.
To ensure a healthy tree, prune your olive trees at least once a year. If you are pruning olive trees for aesthetic reasons, it is a good idea to do it between late spring and early summer. In fact, pruning olive trees can actually help them resist various diseases.
Incorrect pruning can also make the trees more susceptible to disease. If you have a Mediterranean climate, try to prune them in early spring, when the temperatures are still mild.
Watering
To keep your olive tree healthy, you should water it at least once a month. In warm weather, you can water it daily or weekly. For cooler weather, you should water it once a month, or every other week.
Make sure the soil doesn’t become too dry and too wet, otherwise it will grow poorly. If you want to avoid diseases, you can spray the soil with a Bordeaux mix. Olive trees are drought-tolerant and will tolerate tap water.
You should choose a spot in your yard that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Southern exposure is ideal. Avoid placing the tree next to a window. Too much direct sunlight can burn its leaves.
You can also consider placing your olive trees outside during the summer. In addition to fresh air, olive trees prefer temperatures that are 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When it comes to watering olive trees, it’s best to follow these tips to keep your olive tree healthy.
For smaller growers, you can hand-pick the fruit as they develop. Alternatively, you can spread a tarp over the ground and shake the limbs manually to release the fruit.
If you’re not planning on growing an olive tree in a pot, you’ll need to make sure you choose a position where the water doesn’t run off. Don’t plant olive trees in a dip; they will pool water. To prevent this, build up the ground around the tree so that water runs away from the base.
Growing in pots
If you are considering growing an olive tree in pots, there are a few things you should consider. Most olives grow well in rocky soil, so they won’t thrive in fertile soil.
When selecting potting soil, the most important aspect is drainage, so you may want to add lava rock or perlite to the soil to improve it. Make sure to water the soil only when it is completely dry, and drain excess water out of the bottom hole.
You can propagate your olive tree by taking cuttings of its stem tips. You will need to select cuttings with a minimum of two leaf nodes.
Then, dip the cutting into a hormone rooting powder and insert it into a moist potting mix. Don’t overwater it, as this will stunt its growth. After you’ve chosen your pot, make sure the soil drains well. You can also place broken pottery or stones in the pot to provide more drainage.
Olive trees grow slowly during fall and winter. You can keep your tree in indoors until frost season is over. You’ll want to gradually expose it to more sunlight and wind before transplanting it outdoors.
It’s important to make sure the soil does not dry out, as this can damage the roots. You can also top dress larger containers with fresh potting mix every couple of years. Keep in mind that olive trees can be quite thirsty!
Pests
Olive trees are susceptible to two types of pests, the olive knot, and the olive psyllid. The former is a bacterial disease that enters the plant through cuts. Avoid using dirty equipment when cutting down the trees to minimize the damage caused.
The latter affects the leaves of the trees, causing them to drop prematurely. The symptoms of olive psyllid infestation include yellowing leaves and a 30% reduction in harvest. A sticky paint around the trunk of the trees can reduce the number of scabs and other fungus diseases.
While there is no known cure for olive psyllid, pesticides containing neem oil and insecticidal soap are effective.
Other effective ways to control olive fruit flies include using borage, an aromatic herb with culinary use.
Borage also attracts beneficial insects like honey bees, which help keep the balance of your garden. Another plant that attracts bees to olives is borage, a low-maintenance annual herb that is beneficial for pollination. Borage’s leaves and stems are edible and can be used to spice salads and drinks.
Another herb that can help your olive tree repel pests is dill. Dill attracts ladybugs and lacewings, which feed on aphids.
Lemon balm, a shrub or perennial, adds a bushy impression to your landscape and is popular with bees and wasps. Lemon balm also attracts tachinid flies, which feed on caterpillars.
Yields
Growing olive trees in a landscape require special care. The trees need special attention during hot weather, but they handle dry conditions favorably once they’re established. Olive trees are best grown in non-stratified soils with moderately fine textures.
Clay loam, sandy loam, and silty loam are all ideal soil types for this type of tree since they provide aeration and allow the roots to breathe. Avoid dense clay soils, which may retain too much moisture and promote root rot.
To increase your olive tree’s productivity, fertilize the soil regularly. Applied fertilizers should be at the appropriate rates depending on the tree’s maturity stage and the desired yield. You should also monitor leaf and soil nutrient content.
Mineral fertilizers should be applied according to the growth stage of each tree. You should also pay special attention to pruning olive trees every year to avoid damaging their leaves. Lastly, remember to water well after applying fertilizers.
Related: How to Make Vertical Garden Planters DIY
When selecting cultivars, consider the chill hours of the soil where you plan to plant your trees. Some varieties require less chill than others and don’t produce fruit in areas with a severe winter. It’s best to choose cultivars with higher chill hour requirements for areas with long winters. Those with low chill hour requirements may start blooming during the winter, but the next frost will kill them.***
