Olive pruning what it is used for and how it is done
Olive pruning when and how
Olive tree pruning is one of the most important things to do when growing this kind of tree; it is essential care so that the production and quantity of fruit is sufficient and of good quality.
The olive tree, as we have said many times, is a tree that also has a great historical and cultural value, known by all as a true symbol of peace, capable of giving birth to a fundamental product for our diet and our beauty: the ‘extra virgin olive oil!
Precisely because of its importance in Italian culture, pruning done properly is very important.
When do you prune? How ? At what period ?
Let us begin by saying that good pruning is that which tends to safeguard the health of the tree in order to stimulate olive production.
There are several techniques for pruning the ‘olive tree
It is now well known that each olive-growing territory has created its own pruning system that takes into account the characteristics of both the plants and the land, the climatic conditions, the type of soil… but we can also say that basically the pruning system follows common rules.
The most common pruning mode is for polyconic pot management.
According to the time of year of distinguish two pruning:
“Dry” or winter pruning, which is carried out between January and March, and is what we might call the main one. In summer, the so-called “green pruning” is carried out, which basically consists of cutting suckers and suckers (i.e., those vertical branches that arise from particular buds, called “latent” buds, on the trunk or branches).
In any case, it is necessary to prune before the flowering period. In northern Italy, pruning is done between March and April; in warmer climates, and thus in the south, pruning can be brought forward to January and February, precisely because the climate allows it.
Exceptional pruning
There are also exceptional cases of extraordinary pruning of olive trees, such as:
- Rejuvenation pruning, in the case of rehabilitation of abandoned olive groves that have not been pruned for some time.
- Reform pruning, when the decision is made to change the entire conformation of the plants,
- Sluping; an intervention aimed at restoring plants affected by “wolfsbane,” which is an olive tree disease that results in the death of the inner wood.
Some advice
- Excessive pruning is never good: creating unnecessary wounds to the plant and leading to a vegetative-productive imbalance could be a problem
- It is good to use quality tools (scissors, saws, billhooks, loppers, etc.) especially to work safely.
- Remember that pruning remains can be bio-shredded and composted
Terrano Oil Mill
Oleifice Terrano annually selects the best olives from its territories with a high agricultural vocation, in which olive groves are cultivated according to tradition and therefore without the use of any chemical fertilizer or pesticides. All production processes are still carried out according to artisanal dictates; from sorting to washing, from gramoling to decanting, albeit with the aid of state-of-the-art machinery. The extraction of the oil is eff carried out cold, with subsequent decanting performed in an absolutely natural way. Bottling of the products is effucted just before sale without performing any filtering process. Such procedures guarantee a product of great fragrance and unique organoleptic sensations.
