How and when to prune an Olive tree?

How to prune a young olive tree?

Pruning a young olive tree helps establish a good structure from its early years. The goal is to form a strong, well-balanced tree that is ready to eventually support a beautiful, productive, or decorative canopy. This so-called “training” pruning helps direct its growth and prevents mistakes that would be difficult to correct later on.

When to prune a young olive tree?

Training pruning of the olive tree generally takes place from its 2nd or 3rd year after planting, when the tree begins to develop a more significant framework. The young olive tree should also measure at least 1 metre in height.

The ideal time to carry out the pruning is between March and April, at the end of winter, once the severe frosts have passed and before the active growth of vegetation resumes. It is at this time that the sap rises, which facilitates healing.

Training pruning of the olive tree

To properly prune a young olive tree, here’s what you need:

• A sharp pruning shear for small branches.
• A pruning saw if necessary for the developing framework branches.
• Protective gloves.

Tip: Remember to disinfect your cutting tools before and after pruning to prevent the transmission of diseases and fungi from one plant to another.

Steps for training pruning:

• Select the main stem, then prune it to 60-70 cm above the ground, if possible just above a junction with another branch.
• Keep 4 to 5 framework branches harmoniously oriented around the trunk (for a goblet shape).
• Remove:
  • weak or poorly oriented branches,
  • shoots that cross or grow inwards,
  • suckers at the base of the tree.

Tip: do not perform overly severe pruning. Allow the tree some freedom to develop well in its early years.

After about four years, successive training prunings will have already shaped the framework of a tree that generally reaches about 1.5 metres in height. At this point, the framework branches form what is known as the “goblet,” a term describing the iconic open shape of the olive tree.

Once the desired shape is achieved, you can then proceed to either maintenance pruning for an ornamental olive tree or fruiting pruning if you wish to harvest olives.

A young olive tree is pruned and shaped when it reaches 1 metre in height

How to prune an ornamental olive tree?

The olive tree is often used as a decorative plant in isolation. In this case, pruning primarily aims to maintain a harmonious, balanced silhouette that fits the available space. This pruning is also an opportunity to preserve healthy foliage and limit the risk of disease.

When to prune a decorative olive tree?

The maintenance pruning of the olive tree should be carried out once a year to maintain its health and shape. The ideal time to prune a decorative olive tree is between March and April, at the end of winter. A light pruning can also be done in summer to correct the shape or remove unwanted shoots.

⚠️ Absolutely avoid pruning in autumn or winter: the tree enters a vegetative rest and becomes more susceptible to diseases and frost.

The maintenance pruning of the decorative olive tree

Before starting to prune your olive tree, equip yourself with these tools:

• A clean, sharp pruning shear for small branches.
• A pruning saw for thicker branches and possibly a pole saw for high branches.
• Gardening gloves to protect your hands.
• A healing paste (optional) for large cuts.

Tip: Before each pruning of your olive tree, remember to disinfect your tools (pruning shear, saw…) to avoid the transmission of diseases between trees.

Steps for pruning:

1. Observe your olive tree.
2. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches.
3. Cut the crossing shoots, those growing inward, or those that disrupt the shape.
4. Thin out the branches to allow light to enter the heart of the tree.
5. Redesign the silhouette (round, cloud, free…) according to your aesthetic preferences.
6. For cloud or bonsai shapes, make more frequent and meticulous cuts.
7. Also remove the suckers that grow at the base of the trunk.

? Good to know: Every spring, also remember to pinch the young shoots when temperatures become mild. This simple action, performed on the still-soft tips, limits length growth and encourages beautiful branching.

? Patricia’s opinion: Although very aesthetic, cloud pruning and ball pruning of the olive tree are not forms that suit it naturally. Cloud pruning, in particular, exposes the main branches to the harshness of the sun. Both types of pruning can weaken the tree and promote the appearance of scale insects.

How to prune an olive tree to produce olives?

When cultivating an olive tree for its olives, pruning takes on a technical dimension: it aims to encourage regular production while maintaining a good balance between wood and fruit. Fruit pruning aims to renew the bearing shoots, limit the phenomenon of alternation, and improve the taste quality of the olives.

When to prune a fruiting olive tree?

Fruit pruning of the olive tree is carried out annually, between March and April, at the end of winter, when the tree begins to awaken.

? No need to combine with maintenance pruning: fruit pruning replaces it if you are growing the tree for its harvest.

Fruit pruning of the olive tree

Before starting, prepare:

• A clean and sharp pruning shear,
• A pruning saw for larger branches, or a pole saw for high branches,
• Gloves to protect your hands,
• A healing paste if significant cuts are necessary.

Steps for pruning:

1. Remove the shoots that have already borne fruit, as they will not produce again.
2. Keep the young shoots that are two years old, as these will bear the next olives.
3. Shorten vigorous or overly long shoots by a third, especially if they are too far from the trunk: fruits produced at a distance are often less tasty.
4. Also shorten branches that grow upwards: cut them just above a shoot directed downwards or horizontally.
5. Remove dead wood and shoots that cross or grow inwards to encourage light penetration.
6. Remove suckers at the base of the trunk.

Why is this pruning important?

• It allows the fruits to be more often in contact with the sun, enabling them to ripen more quickly and reveal even more enjoyable flavours.
• It helps to limit the natural phenomenon of alternation: the olive tree tends to produce many olives one year, then few the next. Well-managed pruning helps to rebalance this cycle by reducing excess flowers and fruits.

⚠️ Be careful not to prune too severely: a drastic cut will divert the tree’s energy towards wood production, to the detriment of the fruits.

Specific Cases of Pruning the Olive Tree

How to Prune a Potted Olive Tree?

If you are looking to prune an olive tree planted in a pot, you will need to engage in gentle pruning. This is recommended to revitalise the tree’s growth, as well as to control its development and enhance its aesthetics.

When to Prune a Potted Olive Tree?

Pruning of the potted olive tree should be done at the end of winter (March-April), just like maintenance pruning.

How to Prune a Potted Olive Tree?

1. Remove the suckers at the base of the trunk.
2. Eliminate dead wood and any small crossing branches.
3. Lightly shorten the shoots to maintain a compact size.
4. Ensure light can enter the centre of the branches by removing a few small branches.

? A potted olive tree has limited resources. Avoid excessive pruning that could weaken it. You must ensure that all main branches are preserved, as they form the framework of your tree. Only branches that point downwards or those that have grown along the trunk can be removed, within reason.

How to Prune an Overgrown Olive Tree?

An olive tree left to its own devices can quickly become too large to maintain easily or remain harmonious in a garden.

When to Prune an Overgrown Olive Tree?

As with other olive tree prunings, the end of winter and the beginning of spring is preferred, ideally between March and April.

How to Prune an Overgrown Olive Tree?

1. Gradually shorten the main branches over 2 to 3 years to avoid excessive stress.
2. Remove overly vertical branches or those that disrupt the overall balance.
3. Prune to lower the crown and encourage regrowth at a more accessible height.

⚠️ Proceed gradually, over several years, as cutting everything at once will cause the tree to react by producing a lot of wood, to the detriment of fruiting.

Severe Pruning of the Olive Tree

Severe pruning of the olive tree is a rejuvenation act that should not be taken lightly. Keep in mind that in most cases, the olive tree prefers light and selective pruning, as heavy cutting can damage the tree. Severe pruning is reserved for trees that are:

• Neglected for several years,
• Sick or damaged,
• Or very young, for which you want to form the framework.

When to Perform Severe Pruning on an Olive Tree?

Severe pruning of the olive tree should be done at the very beginning of spring, around March-April, to allow the tree time to regenerate.

How to Prune an Olive Tree Severely?

1. Cut back the main branches by 50% or more depending on the condition of the tree.
2. Remove all secondary shoots and unbalanced branches.
3. Apply a healing paste on large cuts to prevent the tree from becoming ill.
4. Water and monitor the tree closely in the following months.

This type of pruning requires patience and attention. The olive tree will regrow, but it will take 2 to 3 years before a full canopy is restored.