1. First choose your olive tree!
From our vast range of olive trees – old, young, ancient and gnarly, even twisted or shaped, there is probably one style – or even one particular olive tree – that’s just right for you. But if you can’t find the perfect tree, just contact us and we can work together to find what you are looking for without even leaving your armchair!
Important – when picking an olive tree – choose it by trunk!
When choosing an olive tree from our range its important to choose the trunk that really appeals as this does not change, but the crown is ever changing and can be pruned to suite the height and size you require. We are often asked, ‘if I buy a younger smooth trunk, how long will it take to become gnarly’. The answer is simple, it will not become gnarly. If you want an Olive tree with a characterful gnarly trunk then you will need to have one from the outset. The other thing to consider when choosing a tree is the crown (the leafy bit).
2. Young and smaller Olive Trees
Smaller olive trees are packed carefully in robust cartons to protect them in transit and are delivered by a UK courier.
When you receive your olive tree, you will be able to plant or repot it where you wish.
3. Moving a mature Olive Tree
Our olive trees are carefully transported by a national carrier. We will carefully “contain” the leaves and branches to prevent damage, and place it onto a pallet. We try very hard to not damage any of the trees but sometimes when they are wrapped shoots are broken and these need to pruned back below the break and new shoots will then grow from the cut.
Access to the delivery address. If you have any concerns about access please let us know.
Questions to ask yourself: What are the access situations to get to the final planting place? Walk through the route the olive tree will take from the road to your garden – e.g. through archways, alleyways, overhanging trees or roofs. Also think about the driveway surface, is it level, stepped, or gravel? Are you going through a house or into a flat think about the weight and size of the tree very carefully before purchasing it.
4. Delivering and setting your large olive tree
Delivery dates are planned by us and are NOT on the website at the time of ordering we will give you a date by email and if this is not convenient we can of course change to a date that is. Most of the tree are delivered on a pallet. If you require assistance planting or repotting it is best to find a local landscaper.
5. Once your olive tree is delivered….
Its time to start enjoying it. If you plant it make sure the hole you dig is not much bigger than the root ball this helps to keep the tree stable, you just need a little bit of soft soil on the bottom of the hole and around the edge and tamper it down well. All newly planted trees will require watering as there roots will not be keyed into the ground for a least a year, so water it summer and winter for the 1st year and do not rely on the rain to do this. If you are keeping the tree in a pot use top soil to replant it. The key thing is to water any tree in a pot frequently especially in the summer and feed it from May to September, in the winter water once a week do not rely on the rain.
Extra information on how to make the most of your Olive Tree
Here’s how to build your own planter
Starting place: Thinking about the combination of the tree you want, and the space you have.
Good drainage is essential so check this out first by digging a small hole to the depth of the root ball and add water to see how quickly it drains away if it does not drain away you have a problem.
Then there are two ways of creating your planter.
1) You get the olive tree delivered, place it where you want it, and then start building around it. (We recommend this route)
2) You build the planter, then plant the olive tree in it when it is delivered. but think about the weight.
With both options you’ll need to determine the root size of your tree, and how much space it will need. Olive trees can cope with confined spaces, but if you want the tree to look at its most natural, then put a little thought into the container you are building. The container needs to be in scale with the crown of the olive tree, to balance the crown.
Consider if you are going to plant around your tree? Lavender, aromatics, and herbs look great, as do unusual grasses and leave enough room for them
We recommend you buy your tree first, and then decide on the size of the container you’ll build, once it’s in situ.
Building materials:
There are loads of gorgeous building materials that you can choose to build around your olive tree. Consider which will work best in your environment:
– Slate
– Stone, including dry stone walling
– Reclaimed brick or new brick
– New sleepers (NEVER use old or used railway sleepers, they are contaminated with all sorts of oils and dirt, and can harm your tree and anything you plant around it) Certainly for the most inexpensive option the new sleepers are a swift and least costly solution, but the final result is excellent.
For more information simply email us on: info@villaggioverde.co.uk and tell us which tree you are interested in.
