Caring for Your Olive Tree Gift

Olive Tree Care Upon Receipt

If you’ve received one of our olive trees as a gift, what follows is the same guidance I give all of our customers. These simple steps make a meaningful difference in the first days and weeks.

Remove the plastic bag, the low-tack tape holding the moss, and the bamboo stake. These were added for shipping and are no longer needed.

Your tree will need water upon arrival. Remove it from its burlap bag or any decorative cachepot you received to expose the nursery pot and give it a thorough drink.

Olive trees require excellent drainage. Never allow the roots to sit in standing water. After watering, let the container drain completely before returning it to its cachepot.

The soil should be fully moist, but not saturated.

Important: If you received one of the trees in a rustic wooden cachepot, please note that the wooden container also has drainage holes. Always use a saucer when placing your tree on furniture or fabric to prevent staining.

Ongoing Olive Tree Maintenance

Sunlight Requirements for Olive Trees

Provide full sun, or as much light as possible. A minimum of four hours per day is required, though more is always better. Olive trees can be kept indoors for a short period, but they are not well suited to long-term indoor living.

In my own experience, I have kept trees indoors for close to a year. They held up reasonably well and recovered once planted outside, but this is not ideal for long-term health.

Avoid letting leaves rest against window glass, which can intensify sunlight and cause burn.

Whenever possible, move your tree outdoors or plant it in the ground once temperatures allow. In colder regions, containerized trees can live outside during warm months and be brought indoors during winter.

Olive trees are best suited to USDA Zones 9–11, with success possible in Zone 8 when cold-hardy varieties are paired with careful siting and protection. Here, site selection, olive variety, and exposure all matter. You can confirm your zone using the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Water Requirements for Olive Trees

Water once or twice per week, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Olive trees prefer a wet–dry cycle. If water remains trapped in the container, the roots can suffocate.

Care for Olive Trees Before an Event

If you are preparing your trees for an event, water them the day before and allow them to drain completely before placing them back into their cachepots.

Repotting and Transplanting Olive Trees

Transplanting Olive Trees into Larger Containers

When repotting, always use a container with drainage holes.

Choose a container approximately 1.5 to 2 times wider than the original. Use a well-draining potting mix—ideally one with a sandy or mineral component, such as a cactus blend.

To repot, gently remove the tree, loosen the roots slightly, and place it into fresh soil, filling in around the root ball.

Important: If your tree arrived in a white ceramic cachepot, it was recently transplanted. Allow it to rest for at least one month before repotting again.

Transplanting Olive Trees into the Ground

If planting in the ground, follow the same principles noted above: choose a sunny location with good drainage and some protection from strong wind.

Water one to two times per week, depending on conditions, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings.

Olive trees do not tolerate overwatering. Prolonged soggy soil will lead to root decline.

If you are gardening outside Zones 9–11, or attempting to grow olives in Zone 8, it is worth consulting a local nursery for region-specific guidance. Conditions vary widely, and small adjustments can make a meaningful difference.

What to Expect Over Time

Olive trees are precocious compared to many fruit trees. Some may produce a small crop in as little as two to three years, with more consistent production beginning around year five.

They are also alternate-bearing, meaning heavier crops one year may be followed by lighter ones the next.

Olives fruit on new wood, so thoughtful pruning supports both structure and productivity.

Growing and Shaping Olive Trees

If your interest extends beyond basic care, olive trees respond well to thoughtful shaping and pruning over time.

In the early years, focus on establishing a strong structure rather than aggressive pruning. Remove any damaged or crossing branches and allow the tree to develop a balanced, open canopy.

As the tree matures, light annual pruning helps maintain shape, encourages airflow, and supports consistent fruiting. Because olives produce on new wood, selective pruning can improve both structure and productivity.

If you’re interested in a more detailed approach, including conventional orchard pruning or keeping trees small in containers, we’ve developed additional guides that explore these methods in greater depth.

Continue Exploring

In my experience, once a tree is in hand, curiosity tends to follow. If you find yourself wondering what’s next, these pages will guide you a bit further:

• Spring and Fall Planting Guide (coming soon)
• Can Olive Trees Grow in Your Climate?
• Choosing the Right Olive Tree Variety

If this one tree becomes the beginning of something more, you’re always welcome to explore our collection of olive trees.

Attribution

This guidance reflects:

• Standard horticultural references, including UC ANR materials
• Ongoing consultation with olive specialists
• Practical experience working directly with customers