How and when to fertilize olive trees – for healthy evergreen growth and a bumper harvest of fruits year after year

Olive tree branches.

I’ve grown and cared for olive trees in all kinds of places while working as a professional gardener. I once looked after two lovely old and gnarled specimens in a front garden in Islington, North London. Even in this challenging concrete environment, they thrived.

However, while they are tough and resilient trees, I have found that olives can benefit from an occasional feed, especially when container-grown. They won’t mind poor soil, but that doesn’t mean they thrive on total neglect, so applying the right fertilizer at the right time will pay dividends.