Olive Tree Care Soil
Olive trees like extremely well draining rocky soil.
Olive tree care soil. Plant your olive trees in soil that drains well. The olive will grow in almost any soil conditions including acidic alkaline stony or sandy soils but they require good drainage. Soil preparation for olive trees. Planting your olive tree without exception olive trees require well drained soil.
Olive trees don t necessarily require extremely large pots that would be difficult to move around. Use olive tree soil mix or planting soil mix. Place your container grown olive trees in a spot that receives at least 6 hours of full sunlight each day. Water the trees once a week for their first year.
Plant your tree in a mix of potting soil and perlite or small rocks. Once you begin to see a quantity of new growth feed the olive tree with nitrogen rich compost conventional fertilizer or concentrated organic. Avoid sites where water stands during rainy periods or where ground water seeps into a hole two feet deep. Any commercial well draining potting soil will be fine for an olive tree.
Plastic containers retain more water which can be deadly for an olive tree. Placing a inch or two of styrofoam gravel or any other kind of filler on the bottom of the pot will keep the soil well drained. It is a good idea to have your soil tested to determine if it is lacking in any essential minerals and nutrients. Preparing your soil before you plant will greatly improve your plant s performance and promote healthy vigorous growth.
When selecting a container opt for clay or wood. Allow the soil to dry somewhat before watering then water until the soil is soaked. Do not however confuse the olive for a desert plant. The care and feeding of olive trees 02 09 2015 planting olive trees require a well drained soil and a sunny position.
Leave about an inch between the soil and the rim of the container so you ll have room to water. If your tree is in a nursery container turn it upside down and tap the bottom. Once your new olive tree is planted it is a good idea to provide drip irrigation as the tree will need water every day especially during the summer months throughout its first year. Potted trees will need to be watered more often than trees planted in the ground.
Plant the trees in full sun where they can get at least six to eight hours of direct light daily. Olive trees like soil that drains easily like a cactus mix. And of course make sure your container has plenty of drainage holes. It needs regular watering to thrive.
A pot will sustain growth up to three times wider than the pot itself. Slide the tree out and gently separate the roots. The best time to start growing olive trees in containers is spring after all threat of frost has passed. Choose a sun bathed area sheltered from stronger winds.