How to Prune a Non-Fruiting Olive Tree
Olive trees grow native to the Mediterranean, producing the olives from which olive oil and other products are derived. Another type of olive tree, also native to the Mediterranean, does not bear fruit. These non-fruiting olive trees are valued for their naturally curving shape and are used as shade trees in areas too infertile to grow fruit-bearing trees. Non-fruiting trees can bear much more pruning than their fruiting cousins, and doing so keeps the tree healthy and shapes it for optimum shade coverage. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Prune your non-fruiting olive tree after the growing season when it becomes dormant. Wait until most of the leaves have dropped and the rest are brown and dry. Pruning when dormant gives the roots a chance to grow enough during the winter to support lots of new growth in spring. Your tree will also fill in faster this way.
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Look for dead or diseased branches. Dead branches will be black and dry and have no leaves during the growing season. Diseased branches may have scars or discoloration on the bark or bore holes from pests. Cut these branches all the way back to the trunk using a branch saw and ladder.
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Cut away suckers with pruning shears. Suckers are smooth, green shoots growing straight from the lower trunk and roots. They steal nutrients from the healthy top growth and look unattractive. Snip them at the base and discard them.
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Look up through the branches of your tree. Cut away one of every two branches that are touching each other or growing perpendicular to each other. This helps air flow through the branches and prevents mold and fungus.
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Stand back and examine the tree's shape. If you like a few low-growing branches for climbing or aesthetics, pruning is done. If not, lop off any branches growing 2 feet or lower below the canopy with a branch saw.
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