Olive Trees and Winter Shade.

ben.foster

Hi there,

I’d like to frame my front garden path with a couple of standard olive trees. We live in a valley, so this spot gets next to no direct sunlight all winter, yet in Summer, this south facing spot will be bathed. Would these sun lovers be happy with this set-up? If so, plant now or hold off until spring? I would just suck it and see, but they’re rather pricey when bought somewhat mature. 

Thanks!

Ben 

Pete.8

Hi Ben - I can only speak from my own experience. 
I have an olive - now about 10ft - in a big pot in my south-facing garden and it seems happy enough. I give it very little attention other than a trim in mid-summer, feed it occasionally in the growing season and do my best to ensure it doesn't dry out too much. I've had it about 15 years.
I don't think there's much point in buying them at the onset of winter and all the bad weather we may get. If it were me I'd wait until spring.
As to the suitability of your valley location, I don't really know, but if it's bathed in sun for most of the growing season, I can't see there's a problem.
I'm in the south-east so we don't get much in the way of severe weather, but temps did get to -7c last winter, that had no effect on my olive

Lizzie27

I also have an olive (more of a bush than a tree) about 4 years old in a pot by the front door. We face south but because of the building's layout, the olive is in shade until about 1-2 pm then full sun until sunset. It seems okay so far, I bubble wrapped the pot when it was very cold in the winter but apparently they don't mind the cold, it's the wet that kills them. As Pete says, better to get them in the spring perhaps.