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Hi Sam,

diane_marsh1diane_marsh1 Posts: 3
in Plants
Need some help . My 8 foot plus olive tree is not only very leggy but only flowers and fruits at the end of the branches. I have quite a lot of flowers but the fruit is very sparse what do I need to do please.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,099
    Tell us where you are and where the tree is growing - pot or ground, soil, aspect....
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • diane_marsh1diane_marsh1 Posts: 3
    In England Worcestershire. The tree is growing in a very very large terracotta  pot for about 12 years in, compost,soil and every few years the top soil replaced with soil conditioner. The flowers at the end of the branch are numerous but only bear a very few olives. It is placed in a sunny position and has some wind protection but if wind does pick up the branches do blow about a bit . 
  • diane_marsh1diane_marsh1 Posts: 3
    No never pruned it as I didn't know the best way to do it and didn't want to cause any damage to it. Thank you so much for your speedy and helpful response .I will have a look on the internet so see best way to it .
    My Thanks Once More
    John
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,699
    If you have never pruned your Olive shrub/tree, it sounds like your plant will benefit from it, especially for encouraging more branching and therefore more leaves. You can prune them now till early autumn. 
  • BenDoverBenDover Posts: 480
    Like other fruit trees, olives fruit on new wood, so if you want more fruit you need to prune it annually. Also, it fruits on the previous years growth, so if you're going to prune it (which can be anytime during the growing season after/before frosts), you need to do it early in the growing season so it has enough time to put on new growth for next years fruits.
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