Olive trees are iconic plants that can live for hundreds of years. With their gnarly trunks and silvery green leaves, olive trees add character to any landscape. Repotting your olive tree ensures it stays healthy so you can enjoy it for years to come.
When to Repot an Olive Tree
Olive trees have relatively shallow root systems and don’t mind being somewhat root-bound. However, all potted plants eventually need more space for their roots to grow. Signs it’s time to repot your olive tree include:
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Roots growing out of the drainage holes – This is a clear indication your olive tree has run out of space Visible roots signal it’s crucial to repot right away,
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Slow growth – If your olive tree doesn’t seem to be growing much from year to year restricted roots could be the cause. Repotting into a larger container will encourage new growth.
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Leaves yellowing – Yellow or dropped leaves can indicate your olive tree is stressed and struggling to take up nutrients and moisture. A cramped root system is often the culprit.
Ideally, olive trees should be repotted every 2-3 years. Younger trees may need repotting annually until their growth rate slows down. The best time for repotting is late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
How to Repot an Olive Tree Step-By-Step
Repotting an olive tree is a straightforward process, though maneuvering a large plant can pose logistical challenges. Follow these steps for a successful repot:
1. Choose a Pot
Pick a container that is 2-4 inches wider and deeper than the current pot. Terracotta and plastic pots both work well for olive trees. Make sure the pot has drainage holes.
Avoid going more than 4 inches bigger at one time, as the soil may stay too wet until the roots grow in. It’s better to gradually increase pot size over several repottings.
2. Fill the New Pot with Soil
Fill the bottom of the new pot with a 2-3 inch layer of coarse material like gravel, broken terracotta, or foam peanuts for drainage.
Then fill one-third of the pot with a well-draining potting mix formulated for citrus and Mediterranean plants. Olive trees need soil that drains readily.
3. Remove the Olive Tree
Turn the olive tree on its side and gently slide the root ball from the old pot. If roots have massed densely, you may need to cut or break the pot to remove the tree.
Inspect the root ball and trim off any dead, diseased, or circled roots with sanitized pruning shears. Removing a few live roots is okay too, as it will encourage new branching.
4. Place in New Pot
Sit the root ball in the prepared pot atop the soil. The old soil line should sit an inch or two below the pot rim. Refill around the roots with potting mix, lightly firming as you go.
Leave a 1-2 inch gap between the soil and the pot rim for watering. Give the tree a deep watering to settle the soil. Stake the tree while roots establish over the next few months.
Olive Tree Repotting Tips
Follow these tips for healthy, productive olive trees:
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Repot in early spring when the tree is just starting to grow.
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Water sparingly until new roots grow into the fresh soil. Too much moisture can cause root rot.
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Apply a balanced fertilizer a month after repotting. Slow release pellets work well.
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Prune back the top growth by a third to compensate for root loss after repotting.
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Keep newly repotted trees out of hot sun for a few weeks until the root system stabilizes.
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Monitor for pests like olive fly that can attack stressed trees. Treat promptly if issues arise.
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Consider spraying the leaves with olive leaf extract to boost health after repotting.
Taking the time to repot your olive tree pays off with a healthier, more productive plant. With the right care, most olive trees will thrive for decades in containers. Does your olive tree need some new soil room to grow in? Now you know how to repot it successfully!
More Mediterranean Crops for Cold Climates
If you enjoy growing things in places they wouldn’t normally do well, learn how to pick figs and lemons in cold places.
A Bit About Olive Trees
Shining light in olive groves in Italy drew me in, so when I saw that little plant in Toronto, I had to have it.
Olives (Olea europaea) are long-lived plants that you can shape into a bush or a tree. In climates where they are winter-hardy, they can become small trees.
Gardeners in cold climates can grow olives in pots, where they do very well. They make fine potted patio plants because they are tough as nails.
When you stand next to an olive tree on a windy day, the young branches with their small, leathery, silvery-gray leaves move in the wind. This makes for a beautiful soft glow.
(If you want to add silvery-grey tones to the garden, artichoke and cardoon have silvery-grey leaves too.)
HOW TO REPOT AN OLIVE TREE – REPOT YOUR OLIVE TREE FOR INDOORS OR OUT!
FAQ
When should you repot an olive tree?
What is the best potting soil for an olive tree?
Do olive trees need big pots?
Do olive trees transplant easily?
How do you repot an olive tree?
Add fresh potting soil around the sides, gently pressing it down to eliminate any air pockets. Leave a small gap between the soil surface and the rim of the pot to allow for watering. After repotting, thoroughly water your olive tree to help settle the soil and remove any remaining air pockets.
How to repot a crooked olive tree?
Being squeamish doesn’t help much. Pinch the tree between the legs and then pull hard. If still nothing happens, you have to get strong helpers or even smash the old pot. If you want to correct the crooked growth of your olive tree when repotting, the root ball is shortened on the side that is opposite to the center of growth.
Can You repot an olive tree in a terracotta pot?
If you want to combine the advantages of both materials, put your olive tree in a plastic pot in a terracotta plant pot in summer. That way, the tree doesn’t tip over so quickly. The bigger the tree, the more difficult it is to repot. Therefore, especially with larger specimens, repotting while lying down has proven to be practical.