GROWING OLIVE TREES
GROWING OLIVE TREES
Our 3 part guide to successfully adopting your mature olive tree!
Our 3 part guide to successfully adopting your mature olive tree!
with Hunter Olive Trees
with Hunter Olive Trees
1. BEFORE YOU PLANT
1. BEFORE YOU PLANT
Soil Conditions for Olive Trees
Olive trees are incredibly adaptable and can thrive in most soil types - provided the site has good drainage.
The key principle is simple: olive trees prefer to dry out rather than sit in consistent water.
Sandy, loamy, rocky, slate-based soils, quality garden soils, or a mix of these are generally considered ideal for olive trees due to their free-draining nature and ability to keep the root zone healthy and well aerated. Olive trees come from the rugged Mediterranean environment - dry conditions, rocky soils, and harsh coastal landscapes. They'll appreciate the extra care while settling into their new home, but once established, they’re remarkably hardy, drought tolerant and low maintenance.
Clay soils can also grow olive trees successfully; however, drainage may require some additional preparation prior to planting.
Olive trees are incredibly adaptable and can thrive in most soil types - provided the site has good drainage.
The key principle is simple: olive trees prefer to dry out rather than sit in consistent water.
Sandy, loamy, rocky, slate-based soils, quality garden soils, or a mix of these are generally considered ideal for olive trees due to their free-draining nature and ability to keep the root zone healthy and well aerated. Olive trees come from the rugged Mediterranean environment - dry conditions, rocky soils, and harsh coastal landscapes. They'll appreciate the extra care while settling into their new home, but once established, they’re remarkably hardy, drought tolerant and low maintenance.
Clay soils can also grow olive trees successfully; however, drainage may require some additional preparation prior to planting.
Clay Soil
There are a few factors that can contribute to water logging around the olive tree’s root zone.
Clay Soil
There are a few factors that can contribute to water logging around the olive tree’s root zone.
Heavy clay soils that drain slowly.
A freshly dug planting hole can sometimes act like an underground water tank and hold water around the root ball.
The natural contours of your land may cause water to collect in certain areas after rain or following a deep-watering session.
The good news is there are several simple and effective ways to improve drainage before planting.
Heavy clay soils that drain slowly.
A freshly dug planting hole can sometimes act like an underground water tank and hold water around the root ball.
The natural contours of your land may cause water to collect in certain areas after rain or following a deep-watering session.
The good news is there are several simple and effective ways to improve drainage before planting.
Install an agricultural drain (French drain) from the planting hold to redirect excess water away from the root zone.
Install an agricultural drain (French drain) from the planting hold to redirect excess water away from the root zone.
Use raised mound planting to lift the root zone above wetter ground.
Improve soil structure with gypsum and organic matter to help break up compaction and encourage better drainage over time.
The Golden Rule
Regardless of soil type, the goal is always the same:
Ensure the root zone drains well and does not remain waterlogged.
Prepare the site in your garden before we delivery your tree. Give your tree the best possible start and support healthy long-term growth!
Use raised mound planting to lift the root zone above wetter ground.
Improve soil structure with gypsum and organic matter to help break up compaction and encourage better drainage over time.
The Golden Rule
Regardless of soil type, the goal is always the same:
Ensure the root zone drains well and does not remain waterlogged.
Prepare the site in your garden before we delivery your tree. Give your tree the best possible start and support healthy long-term growth!
2. PREPARE FOR DELIVERY
2. PREPARE FOR DELIVERY
One of the advantages of purchasing a mature olive tree from us is that we do everything we can to make delivery and planting as straightforward as possible.
Once you've chosen your tree, we'll provide the recommended planting hole dimensions based on the size of the grow bag, so you can prepare the site before delivery day.
Approximate Planting Hole Dimensions
400L Grow Bag
One of the advantages of purchasing a mature olive tree from us is that we do everything we can to make delivery and planting as straightforward as possible.
Once you've chosen your tree, we'll provide the recommended planting hole dimensions based on the size of the grow bag, so you can prepare the site before delivery day.
Approximate Planting Hole Dimensions
400L Grow Bag
1m diameter
500mm deep
750L Grow Bag
1m diameter
500mm deep
750L Grow Bag
1.3m diameter
600mm deep
1000L Grow Bag
1.3m diameter
600mm deep
1000L Grow Bag
1.5m diameter
600mm deep
If your planting hole is prepared and there is suitable access for our truck or machinery, we may even be able to place your tree directly into the planting hole during delivery.
For many customers, this takes much of the heavy lifting and guesswork out of the planting process.
1.5m diameter
600mm deep
If your planting hole is prepared and there is suitable access for our truck or machinery, we may even be able to place your tree directly into the planting hole during delivery.
For many customers, this takes much of the heavy lifting and guesswork out of the planting process.
On Delivery Day
If we have machine access to your planting hole, here are a few simple steps to help ensure everything goes smoothly:
On Delivery Day
If we have machine access to your planting hole, here are a few simple steps to help ensure everything goes smoothly:
Step back and check the angle and orientation of the tree before it's lowered into place.
As we lower the tree into the planting hole, be ready to guide it into its final position.
Remember, these are big, heavy, mature trees and can be difficult to reposition once planted.
Have soil ready to backfill around the root ball.
Give the tree a generous watering.
Apply a seaweed solution to help reduce transplant stress and encourage healthy root development.
If desired, apply a suitable fertiliser as recommended by your local nursery.
Step back and check the angle and orientation of the tree before it's lowered into place.
As we lower the tree into the planting hole, be ready to guide it into its final position.
Remember, these are big, heavy, mature trees and can be difficult to reposition once planted.
Have soil ready to backfill around the root ball.
Give the tree a generous watering.
Apply a seaweed solution to help reduce transplant stress and encourage healthy root development.
If desired, apply a suitable fertiliser as recommended by your local nursery.
That's It!
With the hard work done, your olive tree is ready to settle into its new home and become a feature of your landscape for years to come.
That's It!
With the hard work done, your olive tree is ready to settle into its new home and become a feature of your landscape for years to come.
3. AFTER YOU PLANT
3. AFTER YOU PLANT
Watering
Over time, after transplanting, you’ll need to keep water up to your tree as it settles in. The goal is to maintain lightly moist soil while encouraging the roots to re-establish and spread.
This usually means deep watering 2–3 times per week for the first couple of months, depending on your climate and soil.
Once established, olive trees are drought-tolerant, making them a low-maintenance and a great long-term addition to your landscape.
Seaweed solution
Support your tree’s roots with a seaweed solution as it settles into its new home. Apply fortnightly as the roots reestablished into their new home, then reduce to monthly after a couple of months. Many seaweed products can be applied to the leaves, trunk and branches as well as the soil. This helps the tree as it recovers from transplanting. Always follow the product instructions. Remember, seaweed solution is not a fertiliser. It’s a plant tonic that helps reduce transplant stress and encourages strong roots and healthy growth.
Fertiliser
Once your tree has settled in and begins active growth, apply a quality slow-release fertiliser. This works well in early spring and again in early autumn. Your local nursery can guide you on the best option. Always follow the product instructions. We use a handful of organic pellet fertiliser, such as Searles 5-in-1, however, there are many others on the market.
Lace bugs
Watering
Over time, after transplanting, you’ll need to keep water up to your tree as it settles in. The goal is to maintain lightly moist soil while encouraging the roots to re-establish and spread.
This usually means deep watering 2–3 times per week for the first couple of months, depending on your climate and soil.
Once established, olive trees are drought-tolerant, making them a low-maintenance and a great long-term addition to your landscape.
Seaweed solution
Support your tree’s roots with a seaweed solution as it settles into its new home. Apply fortnightly as the roots reestablished into their new home, then reduce to monthly after a couple of months. Many seaweed products can be applied to the leaves, trunk and branches as well as the soil. This helps the tree as it recovers from transplanting. Always follow the product instructions. Remember, seaweed solution is not a fertiliser. It’s a plant tonic that helps reduce transplant stress and encourages strong roots and healthy growth.
Fertiliser
Once your tree has settled in and begins active growth, apply a quality slow-release fertiliser. This works well in early spring and again in early autumn. Your local nursery can guide you on the best option. Always follow the product instructions. We use a handful of organic pellet fertiliser, such as Searles 5-in-1, however, there are many others on the market.
Lace bugs
Olive trees can occasionally attract lace bugs, which live on the underside of leaves and may cause yellowing or speckled damage to the leaves. Lace bugs are a tiny insect usually a few millimetres long and are often dark in colour. They have delicate lace like wings. Lace bugs feed on the underside of the leaves, and as such they can be difficult to spot until the damage becomes noticeable. But there is no need to stress, lace bugs are usually easy to manage. Your local nursery can recommend a suitable treatment or spray. When treating the tree, thoroughly cover the foliage and pay particular attention to the underside of the leaves.
Olive trees can occasionally attract lace bugs, which live on the underside of leaves and may cause yellowing or speckled damage to the leaves. Lace bugs are a tiny insect usually a few millimetres long and are often dark in colour. They have delicate lace like wings. Lace bugs feed on the underside of the leaves, and as such they can be difficult to spot until the damage becomes noticeable. But there is no need to stress, lace bugs are usually easy to manage. Your local nursery can recommend a suitable treatment or spray. When treating the tree, thoroughly cover the foliage and pay particular attention to the underside of the leaves.
We delivery mature olive trees across many states of Australia and every location is different. Your tree’s performance will vary depending on climate, soil, and care. If you’re unsure, we recommend speaking with a local arborist, landscaper, or nursery for advice specific to your area.
Have fun! We hope you love your trees and enjoy watching them thrive
The Hunter Olive Trees Team
We delivery mature olive trees across many states of Australia and every location is different. Your tree’s performance will vary depending on climate, soil, and care. If you’re unsure, we recommend speaking with a local arborist, landscaper, or nursery for advice specific to your area.
Have fun! We hope you love your trees and enjoy watching them thrive
The Hunter Olive Trees Team
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Explore Our Current Tree Stock
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