Annual pruning of olive trees is a necessity, not just for aesthetic appeal but for maintaining their health and productivity. This guide will show you how to prune an overgrown olive tree, when, and the equipment you'll need.
Importance of Regular Pruning
Regular pruning of olive trees keeps the tree in a desirable goblet shape. This shape is not only pleasing to the eye, but also reduces the risks of diseases. Notably, it allows sunlight to penetrate into the crown of the tree, which encourages better production.
Pruning Overgrown Olive Trees
When it comes to overgrown olive trees, regular pruning is beneficial as it promotes better air circulation and exposure to sunlight, which results in an increased fruit production. Once your olive trees have reached the age of three or four years, they will start needing an annual maintenance pruning. Moreover, every two or three years, you will want to do a fruit-producing pruning.
Severe Pruning of an Overgrown Olive Tree: A Step-by-Step Guide
Observe and Plan Pruning
- Start by removing any dry or dead twigs.
- Sun-facing, non-fruiting branches should also be removed.
Equipment
- Having the right tools is paramount. You'll need a hand pruner, telescopic pruner, and both a small and large saw.
- It's also key to disinfect these tools before you start pruning.
Start Pruning
- Begin by removing any unnecessary twigs from the trunk.
- All vertical stems should be cut, leaving only the horizontal and drooping ones.
- Remove any parts that are badly oriented to maintain the goblet shape.
- Use your saw for thicker branches, but be careful not to harm the surrounding branches.
- The telescopic pruner is perfect for making precise cuts on the top of the crown.
- Lastly, old cut stubs that aren't aesthetic and could cause disease should be removed.
The goal of this exercise is to open up the center of the plant. This cuts out excess foliage, thus allowing better air circulation and more sunlight to reach your tree. This results in a higher-quality fruit production. And don't worry about pruning too much, your plant will regenerate the cut foliage.
Best Time to Prune an Overgrown Olive Tree
The ideal time to prune your olive tree is after the end of winter, specifically in February if you're doing a maintenance prune. For fruit production pruning, hold off until March or April, always depending on the weather. Remember, pruning should be done after the last frosts and before the tree blooms in May.