How to Prune an Olive Trees

Olive trees have been grown for hundreds of years to produce the olives that help create olive oil. Olive oil is one of the healthiest forms of cooking oil, and is commonly used as a healthy alternative. Pruning an olive tree properly can help the tree to yield more fruit during harvest time.

Items Needed

• Pruning sheers


• Rubber gloves


• Tree paint

1. Prune an olive tree during early spring before the buds have developed on the branches of the tree.


2. Observe the tree to see if there are any suckers at the base. 


3. Put on rubber gloves. This will prevent blisters from forming while pruning the olive tree.


4. Remove any suckers using hand sheers.


5. Observe the olive tree to see if there are any dead or diseased branches present. This occurs every season, and is not a sign of the tree being unhealthy.


6. Cut any dead branches off of the olive tree using hand sheers. Make the cut as close to the base of the tree as possible to thoroughly remove the afflicted branches. You want to leave approximately 2 inches of the branch attached to the trunk of the tree.


7. Stand at the base of the tree and look up to determine if enough sunlight is able to shine down into the middle of the tree. If enough sun is not allowed to hit the middle branches, they will not produce as many olives due to the lack of sunlight.


8. Trim back any branches from the center of the tree that appear to be crossing over other branches. This will allow sunlight to easily flow through the branches of the olive tree evenly.


9. Apply tree paint to the areas where you have removed the branches in order to prevent pests from plaguing the tree.