Olive Trees Fertilizer Program
Olives tend to thrive in the natural soils we all share and they only like to be fed light applications of low nitrogen fertilizers.
Olive trees fertilizer program. At mcevoy ranch we use an organic fertilizer in pellet or crumble form that releases its nutrition slowly applying once in the spring and once mid to late summer. A common olive tree fertilization scheme used by hundreds of experienced olive farmers involves adding 8 15 lbs. Foliar sprays at this period will help increase yield and improve the chemical quality of the oil. Fertilizing landscape trees for those who maintain a few olive trees in the garden or in pots a general fertilizer applied annually or semi annually is often sufficient.
There are guidelines that can be followed however that will help in the development of an appropriate irrigation program. Unlike a lot of other types of trees olive trees do not need a special form of fertilizer to be able to grow and thrive. If planting is done after mid august but before march 1 do not fertilize at the time of planting. 4 7 kg of n p k 11 15 15 fertilizer in every adult tree once or twice a year.
They are semi wild hardy tough plants that will tolerate poor growing conditions especially low fertility better than most plants. In fact more fertilizing often creates negative results. They also tolerate a very wide range of soil ph. Phosphorous calcium zinc copper manganese and magnesium deficiencies are rare in olive trees.
Organic fertilizers such as compost and aged animal manure supply trees with a fertilizer source that decomposes over an extended time. Organic and chemical fertilizers each benefit olive trees. Olive trees are not big feeders says paul vossen. Adding too much fertilizer tends to make the trees produce sucker growth at the sacrifice of flowers and fruit.
The most suitable period is during fall and winter in non irrigated trees. Olive trees do not need special olive tree fertilizer but results will be exponentially more satisfactory with a good nutrition regimen. Poly olive is a special soluble foliar npk fertilizer for olive trees with microelements. Instead results will be significantly better simply by following a good nutrition regimen.
Apply nitrogen if needed at a rate of 6 to 1 5 lbs of urea per tree per year until annual foliar tests reveal acceptable rates of nitrogen. While they do have some deep roots that reach down for stability the majority of the actively feeding roots are closer to the soil s surface making deep watering unnecessary. Otherwise fertilize after planting and regularly throughout the growing season. 2 4 applications of multi k from february to october 3 kg 100 litre of water at a rate of 8 10 litre tree.