Olive Tree Pruning Pdf
Pruning an olive tree while it is in bloom allows you to assess the probable crop before you trim.
Olive tree pruning pdf. An appreciation of the processes involved in the growth of tree will help us to understand the principles behind pruning. To prune an olive tree choose a time either in late spring or early summer and make sure your tree is at least 3 4 feet tall before pruning. Pruning reduces the tree size and at the same time stimulates new growth. An olive tree can live quite happily with little pruning.
Pruning is not difficult but there are a few rules to follow for good results. Prune olive trees in the spring when the weather is dry. Keep in mind that olive trees started out thousands of years ago as bushes and they re happy and produce well with a bushy growth. If you are wondering when to prune olive trees it is between winter s end and flowering.
Pruning why how and when how a tree works before we discuss pruning we need to consider what a tree is and how it works. You can also grow the olive tree as a bush. Pruning a young tree. The olive fruit grows on one year old wood so it is desirable to leave 10 to 18 inches of new shoots for fruit production.
During the summer olive like all other mediterranean. Pruning involves trimming off some branches completely and cutting others back and when done properly the result is a better harvest of olive fruit and a healthier tree. Pruning shapes trees to enable easy access by people. Diseased you can spread the disease to the next tree by using contaminated pruning shears.
Roussosp aua gr olive and environment olive olea europaea l is one of the most characteristic tree crops of the mediterranean basin. Olive trees can be pruned in spring or summer but pruning an olive tree during bloom allows an assessment of the potential crop before cuts are made. Best time to prune olive trees. A good source for more specific information on this topic is pruning and.
Little or no pruning should be done. To maintain tip top health or if growing an olive tree for fruit however pruning will be required. Cutting during wet weather encourages disease. Pruning olive trees is easier than you might think.
Pruning cuts are potential entry points for diseases spread by water. Choose 3 4 strong lateral branches to form your main shape and make slanted cuts to remove branches. A trim when needed especially for the lollipop or pom pom olive trees will keep them in good shape. You can prune olive trees in spring or in early summer once the tree begins to open its flower buds.
Pruning configures the olive tree in a form that enables efficient harvesting whether by tree shaking machinery or by hand harvesting methods. Roussos agricultural university of athens greece laboratory of pomology iera odos 75 e mail. Pruning is used to control the height of olive trees. A tree is a dynamic living organism that has a self supporting woody stem.