How often should I water my Olive Tree?
Olive Trees are surprisingly hardy and can tolerate extremes of temperatures fairly well. However, it is possible to over or under water an Olive Tree if you’re not careful. Also, it depends on whether your tree is planted in the ground or in a pot. Here, we look at ever watering-based questions surrounding olive trees to help keep your tree thriving all year round.
One common misconception is that because an olive tree is all-weather tolerant, it doesn’t need watering often. This is not true! The olive tree isn’t a desert plant, so it needs regular watering to survive. And, if the tree goes without water for too long you might find that fruit won’t appear. This happens when the tree is stressed and needs hydration (much like humans!). It’s worth noting that if your tree is young, they are generally more vulnerable to drying out than more-established trees. We advise watering newly planted olive trees every third day for the first two weeks. Then, cut back the watering to once weekly after the first two weeks. If you have a mature olive tree, in summer it will need watering every 3-5 Days if keeping in a pot.
Why are the leaves on my olive tree falling off?
Both overwatering and underwatering can cause the leaves of an olive tree to fall off. And, if the leaves have started to dry up, discolour and turn brown or yellow this could be a sign of underwatering. Most trees and plants can only survive lack of water for so long before they start to show signs of failing.
How do I know if my Olive tree is dead?
If there is no new growth at the top, scrape back a little of the bark on various branches. If they are moist and green inside, it’s a sign they are still alive. But if they are dry and brownish, then the chances are the tree is dead. If this is the case, remove the top parts and some of the trunk down to the new growth. After this, you will have an olive bush rather than a tree for a while. However, over time, provided it’s watered correctly, it will eventually be possible to train it as a tree again.
Take a look at our hand selected range of Olive Trees.
