pruning olive trees

[selfraising]

Hi
I have an olive tree that is about 3 years old. Do I need to prune it and if so when and how?

[Geordie]

For new trees try to achieve a bare trunk up to about five feet then keep the centre of your tree open by aiming for a goblet shape. Remove all suckers at least once during the summer months. Formative pruning in mid spring and heavier pruning in mid summer and prune fairly hard every three years - keep the centre open!

PS they love seaweed extract

[Stacey Steve]

Do you actually get fruit from Olive trees in the UK (I live about the middle of England)?

[selfraising]

I did have fruit the year before last but they didn't ripen very well but I obviously need to do a lot of pruning!! Also I had a grape vine growing over the top so the olive wasn't getting full sun but I will be interested to see what it does this year.

[selfraising]

For new trees try to achieve a bare trunk up to about five feet then keep the centre of your tree open by aiming for a goblet shape. Remove all suckers at least once during the summer months. Formative pruning in mid spring and heavier pruning in mid summer and prune fairly hard every three years - keep the centre open!

PS they love seaweed extract

Thanks Geordie, that's a big help. I've noticed that there are several thickish stems growing up from the base of the tree, should I cut these down as well and just leave the main stem?

[crichmond]

If they are growing from the base of the stem then you need to prune them off as close the the main stem of the tree as possible.

I prune my olive tree every winter around jan or feb as there is always new branches that face downwards, but as yours is still a young tree you may not have this problem.

Mine is a mature tree of about 100 years that I have used to make a feature on the patio.

[selfraising]

Thanks Crichmond. Wow a 100 year old olive, that's impressive! Have you had any fruit of it?

[blossom]

Here in Oz they prune the trees so the branches start at about 2-3ft. We have a few in our garden, one it branches at 1ft.
I had read before leaving the UK that it is very unusual to get fruit as it is just too cold.

[selfraising]

Hi Blossom
I think it probably is unusual, though there is someone growing them down in the south west as a business, I think. Be interesting to see if they get a harvest. Although I had fruit, they didn't ripen fully but I live in hope!!

[MaureenHall]

2 of my olives have fruited, I got 1 fruit from each

[selfraising]

2 of my olives have fruited, I got 1 fruit from each

You've obviously got the knack At that rate you'll soon be opening your own olive farm!

[greenerthanever]

UK Olive Tree Survey

Some responses to a UK survey here are interesting:
Know your Olives - East of Eden Plants Guide to Olive Trees
Hope this helps.

[ophiopogon]

I have got a recipe for preparing olives for eating