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The olive tree can live for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years. It is a very hardy, drought tolerant evergreen tree which requires minimal care once established. Mature trees can grow to 30 to 50 feet in height with similar width when planted outdoors. Olive trees can also thrive in pots for indoor or patio use, and are easy to prune and maintain.
Immediate Arrival
Your tree arrives as a young sapling, between four and six feet tall. When you receive your olive tree you will want to water thoroughly. After being cooped up in a box for a few days while getting to your home, your tree will be very thirsty and will want a breath of fresh air! The potting mixture in the pot that you receive is fast draining, and the pot has drainage holes at the bottom. So when you water thoroughly, you will see water come from the bottom of the pot. That is normal. What we want is to keep the potting mix moist. Stick your finger in the potting mix to find out when to water your tree; when the potting mix feels dry 1 inch below the surface, water thoroughly again.
Outdoor Planting
If you are in zone 8, 9 or 10 your olive tree can be planted outdoors. Choose a place for your olive tree that receives full sun, at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Olive trees can withstand temperatures as low as 16º F; however you should take care to protect your tree from extended periods of freezing temperatures and frost, especially during the growing seasons. Make sure the soil is well draining, as olive trees do not like "wet feet". If necessary, amend the soil by adding pea gravel, decomposed granite or sand to improve drainage. Dig a hole roughly twice the width of the pot, and no deeper than the height of the pot. Remove your olive tree from the pot by turning it upside down and gently tapping the edge of the pot with the heel of your hand. With your thumbs, gently loosen or break up the sides of the root ball, and place the tree in the center of the hole. Push soil mixture back into the hole and just over the top of the root ball. Firm the soil with your hand. Finally, make a rim of soil around the edge of the hole to hold water and direct it to the roots of the tree. Fill with water.
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Indoor Planting
If you choose to replant your tree in a different pot to keep it indoors, use one that is 1 to 2 inches wider than the current pot. Make sure you use a pot that has a large drainage hole, or multiple small drainage holes at the bottom. When replanting, do not pull the tree by its trunk. Remove the tree by gently turning the pot upside down, tapping on the pot with the heel of your hand. Use fast draining potting mix, and begin to fill the container one third to a half full. Moisten the mix. With your thumbs, gently loosen or break up the sides of the root ball, and place the tree on top of the potting mix. Adjust the amount of mix to fill the rest of the pot, making sure the top of the root ball is about an inch below the rim of the pot. Firm the potting mix lightly with your hands. Water thoroughly. If you plan on keeping your olive tree inside, choose a place that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Make sure you keep your tree away from heating vents and not too close to a window, both of which could dry up your olive tree.
General Maintenance
After the spring bloom, you can prune your olive tree to encourage growth, and shape your olive tree to your liking. Clip the tips of the branches just above the point where a pair of leaves attaches to the stem, and you will see new branches grow from the point of the cut. The clipped branch should remain about 6 inches long. The olive tree is very hardy and drought tolerant, and once established requires minimal care. However, a regular watering cycle and the application of a balanced fertilizer in the spring will help your olive tree thrive. Your olive tree will need less water in the winter, when olive trees naturally take a rest, but do not let the soil mix completely dry out. Olive trees do not like "wet feet"! It is important to make sure your olive tree is planted in fast draining soil. Do not over water your olive tree.
Olives
Although olive trees typically require cross pollination to maximize fruit bearing, a single tree may still flower in the spring and may bear some fruit in the fall. Fruit bearing potential is affected by weather conditions, soil quality, irrigation and other environmental factors. Fruit bearing in olive trees typically begin when the tree is 4 to 5 years old; 2 to 3 years after you receive it.
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