Olive trees are hardy by nature and survive in harsh climates and poor soil for decades, sometimes even centuries. However, there is one combination that even a hardy in-ground or potted outdoor olive tree cannot withstand – that is cold temperatures combined with moisture and frost.
For instance, if the cold air is dry it won’t have any impact on the outdoor growing olive tree. Only when the air is filled with moisture will potential life-threatening problems occur for the tree.
With this in mind, let’s have a look at 7 useful tips on protecting your olive trees from frost, snow, and cold winter rains.
1. Create A Trench
For in-ground olive trees create a slopping trench around your in-ground olive tree that will collect and siphon away rainwater and snow melt-off.
Even in warm climates zones, excess rainwater during the winter can cause harm to an olive tree and it’s important to get the water away from the tree as quickly as possible.
2. Sheltered Location
If your olive tree is planted in a pot, move it to a sheltered location that will protect it from the winter wind but still allow some sunlight to come. Placing the tree near a window will also allow it to benefit from the indoor heat that escapes through the window during the winter.
Then, wrap the pot in old carpeting, horticulture fleece, or other thick material to help keep the tree roots from freezing.
3. Stop Winter Watering
Stop watering in-ground olive trees after the first frost of autumn. You want to avoid frozen root balls when hit by a frost.
Trees grown in pots should only be watered sparingly once a month during the winter. The exception to this is if the potted olive tree is located in an outdoor location where it will receive rainwater. If so, treat it like an in-ground tree and stop watering it altogether.
As well, make sure your potted olive tree has plenty of bottom drainage holes so water will run through quickly and not create soggy soil. Before planting an olive tree in a pot, place coffee filters inside the pot over the drain hole and a small piece of screen wire to prevent the growing medium from leaching out and clogging the drain holes.
4. Add Mulch
Before the first frost in autumn, water your olive tree thoroughly (in-ground or in a pot) and add a 2-4 inch layer of mulch around the base to help retain the water and help prevent the soil from freezing.
Use organic mulch like straw or peat moss. The organic compost will slowly decompose and improve soil fertility and structure. Add a fresh layer of mulch in the spring after feeding the olive tree with fertilizer. In case you arent’ sure which type of mulch you would need then contact Tree Service Sacramento for tree care department and ask them for the best available organic options.
5. Stop Feeding
Stop feeding the tree in autumn. The olive tree needs to rest during the winter and feeding it makes it develop new growth that is tender and very frost-sensitive.
Do not resume feeding the tree again until early spring after all danger of frost has passed.
6. Cover Tree
Cover the tree with horticultural fleece from early winter until late winter when temperatures begin to rise (a little longer if cold weather persists). The horticultural fleece will shield the tree from freezing temperatures and winds and can be used for potted trees or those grown in-ground.
The fleece traps an air layer underneath it and keeps the air surrounding the tree a couple of degrees warmer than the outside temperature so the tree won’t freeze.
7. Olive Trees Bounce Back
When winter temperatures dip down into the teens and below and remain there for a few hours or days, an olive tree may not survive. But even if the tree appears to be dead and after too much cold exposure, there is still a glimmer of hope.
Olive trees are very resilient and even if the above-ground portion of the tree froze, as long as the soil remained warm enough to prevent the roots from freezing the tree will bounce back. Wait until the temperature warm in spring, then prune off the visibly dead branches, then feed and water the olive tree.
If the roots did not freeze new growth will appear on the tree. Olive production will be delayed for a couple of years but the tree can bounce back to full health and production. An olive tree that re-grows after being frozen will be better able to survive the cold in the future.
Conclusion
Depending on where you live, you may never come across and hence have to deal with low temperatures and protect your olive trees from frost. You only need to be really concerned if there is a sustained freeze below 15°F which may be fatal for your olive trees and you should think about moving olive trees indoors if possible.
However, as with anything, it pays to be prepared, and we hope with this article you will be just that! So, are you ready for the winter? What actions did you take to protect your olive trees?