What sort of soil and drainage do olive trees like? Olive Trees will grow at their best in a normal topsoil. Drainage is the main criteria for a happy health Olive Tree. Topsoil and compost mix can be used; however, soil holds moisture much better than compost.
Good drainage can be acquired by using crocks and broken bricks/stones in the bottom of a pot/hole. The use of a French drain can also help if you are planting into poorly drained soil.
How long will it take a young olive tree to grow to maturity? A young Olive Tree will have a smooth trunk, this will take many, many, years to change.
I don’t want a tree that will grow too large – how large will an ancient olive tree grow? An Olive Tree trunk will not change substantially in this country. The crown will grow but will require an annual pruning in the growing season, this means you can choose how big your tree rows.
Can I keep an olive tree indoors? Given enough light and the correct watering, olive trees thrive indoors. Â Large olive trees look fantastic in hotels, restaurants, shops and offices. Stunning in art galleries and make a lovely backdrop to shopping malls. Â Olive trees make glorious container trees for the home.
And finally: “Olive trees – surely they won’t survive in the UK”! The trees we supply are Olea Europea and these are very well adapted to the UK climate. Remember that the Mediterranean winters can sometimes be as harsh as ours, so Olive Trees are no strangers to cold or even snow!