It can also take many shapes and can be trained into nearly every planting form you can imagine: shrub, tree, hedge, screen or privacy planting, espalier—even a container plant. They are astonishingly tough—the wood is rot-resistant, and if the top of the trees dies out, a new trunk can grow up from the roots. For an ornamental shrub that is hardy to zone 8, dwarf olive trees such as Little Ollie provide a Mediterranean … The sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans) is a small, evergreen shrub-like tree with dark-green leaves that have finely toothed edges. Fill an 8-inch pot with a mixture of equal parts seasoned manure, clean sand and potting soil. Let’s find out more about how to grow olive trees. Mix sharp sand, perlite and milled coir in equal parts. Tea olive trees should be planted in an area with full sun exposure to partial shade (although full sun is best). You should take care not to over-prune your olive tree as you could ruin the shape or risk over-production of non-fruiting shoots. Let’s find out more about how to grow olive trees. Olive trees grow best from softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings, but they will also start from hardwood cuttings. Minimally prune during the first four years, only enough to maintain shape. Don't fertilize at this point. Although an olive tree (Olea europaea) of any age and size can be successfully transplanted, the larger the tree, the more difficult and expensive it will be. Olive trees are relatively low maintenance and require little care in terms of food and water. Where possible, provide suitable wind protection, and cover your tree during winter to protect it from the harsh winter elements. Last year I removed several of the stalks to reshape the plant and give it more of a tree look. These are parts of the United States in which winter temperatures never drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. With time, older plants can be trained into a small, multi-trunked tree. If this isn’t … Water sweet olive regularly, about once a week, or more in very hot weather. Spacing will vary according to the cultivar. Video of … Think of olive trees and one visualizes the warm sunny Mediterranean, but olive trees can be grown in North America as well. But when dozens ripen all at once, you need a plan. Some experts believe that more space between trees – about 16-20 feet – will yield better fruit production. Rooting from cuttings of a parent olive tree is the most popular method for olive tree propagation. As olive trees are natively exposed to an average of 300 days of sunlight per year, they will need a lot of … If you plan on producing fruit from your tree then you will need to prune your tree. Gravel can be used here to help water to drain from the root-ball properly, or you could risk water being contained in the roots, and leading your tree to die slowly. Olive trees … Before you take the cuttings, prepare the pots to plant them in. The plant is 2+ years old and was in a 5 gallon ( 2 feet high) pot prior to planting in the ground. If your tree is a few years old and still isn’t 1 metre (3.3 ft) tall with a trunk and more than 3 or 4 strong lateral branches, you can hold off on pruning for another year. Your aim should be to thin out branches to let light into the center of the tree. The plant has grown and is now about 5.5 feet high and looks healthy. Olive trees are usually purchased in either 4- inch pots with numerous side branches and a height of 18-24 inches or in a 1-gallon pot with a single trunk and a height of 4-5 feet. Most olive trees take about three years to come into maturity and begin to set noticeable amounts of fruit. Native to Asia, the sweet olive is a large shrub or small tree that is capable of growing 20 to 30 feet tall in mild coastal areas. It is specifically aimed at store bought seeds but if you have access to … With over 1,200 varieties of olive trees available and 25 years of experience, Olive Grove Oundle also stocks a range of palm and ornamental trees.