Olive trees

hilary Stait 467

I have 2 Olive trees.Last year they began to sprout from the bottom of their trunks. Now they are sprouting from several new places along the entire trunk.  Should I leave them like this? Willit effect their growth?

hilary Stait 467

They are in v big pots and are lollipop shape.

hilary Stait 467

They are healthy and happy so I will leave them alone. I dont mind if they lose there lollipop shape as its already a bit lanky!! Thanks for your advise.

Dovefromabove

I prefer olives when they’re allowed to grow ‘au naturel’ ... they have an elegant quirkiness which is at odds with attempts to force them into lollipop shapes. 

hilary Stait 467

Dovefromabove. I have to agree with you. I will lwave well alone.

dappledshade

Another vote for au natural trees 😁
Especially olives, because they are charmingly irregular and let so much light through.
Here's my littler of the two, in its pot. It's about 5 years old. I never do anything to it except for feeding in Spring and picking off any brown leaves (and disposing of, in case of fungus- they grow back very fast too).
They're very easy going trees and surprisingly tough considering where they come from.
I would never be without my olives 💚

amancalledgeorge

As a Greek I'm always conflicted when productive trees like them are used as an ornamental...they are beautiful but shame to never have them grow fruit which is their reason to exist. I suppose more of a philosophical block than a gardening one...but there you go.

dappledshade

amancalledgeorge said:

As a Greek I'm always conflicted when productive trees like them are used as an ornamental...they are beautiful but shame to never have them grow fruit which is their reason to exist. I suppose more of a philosophical block than a gardening one...but there you go.

As a Londoner half Greek, I agree!
Mine flower and bear fruit. They're very pretty when left to do their own thing.