Regular pruning keeps your olive tree shapely, healthy, and productive. Knowing how to prune an Arbequina olive tree properly can boost its fruit yield and maintain a manageable size. In this olive tree pruning guide, we’ll explain why pruning is important, when to prune, and how to do it step by step. Don’t worry – Arbequina olives handle pruning very well, and with a few tips, you’ll prune like a pro!
Why Prune an Olive Tree?
Pruning is an essential part of olive tree care for several reasons:
- Health: Removing dead or diseased wood helps prevent pests and fungal issues. It also lets more sunlight and air reach the tree’s interior.
- Shape: Olives can grow quite bushy. Pruning keeps your tree to a desirable shape and size – important if you’re growing it in a pot or small yard.
- Fruit Production: Olives fruit on the previous year’s growth. Pruning encourages fresh shoots that will bear olives in the next season, and it can improve the size and quality of the fruit.
When to Prune an Arbequina Olive Tree
Timing is key. The best time to prune an olive tree is late winter or early spring, as it’s coming out of dormancy. In most areas, this means around February or March, before the new growth and flower buds emerge. Pruning at this time ensures you don’t accidentally remove all the upcoming flower buds, and it’s easier to see the branch structure on a tree that has lost some of its leaves over winter.
Avoid heavy pruning in late fall, as this can encourage tender new growth that might get damaged by winter cold. Pruning in the heat of summer can be done lightly if needed (for example, trimming an overly long branch here or there), but major cuts are best saved for the cooler months. For very young olive trees (under 2-3 years old), hold off on major pruning – just remove any dead bits – so the tree can establish itself first.
What You’ll Need
Pruning an olive tree doesn’t require fancy tools. A pair of sharp hand pruners will handle small branches, and loppers or a pruning saw can tackle thicker limbs. It’s a good idea to wear gloves (olive leaves can be a bit sharp) and maybe safety glasses if you’re cutting overhead branches. If you suspect any disease on the tree, wipe your tool blades with rubbing alcohol between cuts to avoid spreading it.
How to Prune Your Olive Tree (Step-by-Step)
Follow these basic steps to prune your Arbequina olive tree:
1. Remove Dead or Diseased Branches: Start by cutting out any dead wood (branches that are dry, gray, and lifeless). Also prune away branches that show signs of disease or pest infestation, cutting back to healthy wood. Clearing out the dead and sickly growth improves the tree’s appearance and directs energy to healthy branches.
2. Trim Suckers and Water Sprouts: Next, cut off any suckers growing from the base of the trunk or roots. These shoots won’t produce fruit and only steal energy. Likewise, remove “water sprouts” – those thin, vertical shoots that might pop up along branches or the trunk. They typically don’t fruit much and just clutter the tree’s shape.
3. Thin the Canopy: Look inside the tree’s canopy and thin out areas that are very crowded. Remove one of any pair of branches that are crossing or rubbing each other. The idea is to open up the center of the tree so light and air can reach inside. An open canopy helps future fruit develop and prevents the tree from growing too tall.
4. Shape and Shorten: Step back and assess the tree’s overall shape. If some branches tower above the others, trim them back by about one-third to balance the shape. Cut just above a leaf node to encourage new growth. If desired, remove a few low branches to raise the canopy, or lightly trim the top to limit height. Aim for a neat, balanced look that suits your space and makes it easy to harvest olives.
5. Don’t Over-Prune: Remember, olives grow on last year’s branches. Try to leave a good number of healthy shoots from last year, since those will bear flowers (and then olives) this year. It’s better to prune moderately than to over-prune and risk losing a season of fruit.
After pruning, clean up the fallen twigs and leaves from around the tree. Dispose of any diseased material (don’t compost those). You can chop healthy pruned branches into smaller pieces for compost or use them as mulch.
Additional Pruning Tips
- Prune lightly each year: Instead of a drastic prune every year, many gardeners do a light trim annually and a heavier prune every 2-3 years. Arbequinas will still fruit even if you skip pruning one year, though the tree might grow a bit thicker.
- After-prune care: If you prune in spring, consider giving your olive tree a good watering and a dose of balanced fertilizer as the growing season begins. Pruning stimulates new growth; a little extra nutrition helps the tree rebound and set a new flush of healthy shoots.
- Height control: Don’t hesitate to keep your olive tree at a height that’s easy for you to manage. Many home growers keep their Arbequina around 6-10 feet tall so that harvesting olives and pruning remains convenient.
With these guidelines, you’re ready to prune your Arbequina olive tree confidently. A little annual pruning goes a long way to ensure your olive stays healthy, looks great, and produces plenty of fruit. Happy pruning!
(For more on caring for Arbequina olives, including watering, fertilizing, and pest control, see our comprehensive [How to Grow Guide].)