FAQs About Having Your Olive Trees Sprayed
If you have an olive tree or olive trees on your land, you may have had well-meaning friends or acquaintances recommend that you have the tree sprayed. Indeed, spraying olive trees is an important part of maintenance when you live in a residential area. But if you're like many olive tree owners, you have a few questions you'd like answered before you hire a spraying company. With any luck, you'll find the answers below.
What does spraying olive trees actually do?
There's a common and understandable misconception that spraying olive trees is the same as spraying apple trees or other fruit trees. People think that spraying olive trees will prevent fungal disease or keep insects away from the olives. But in fact, olive trees are sprayed for pretty much the exact opposite reason that other fruit trees are sprayed. They're sprayed to prevent the olives from forming in the first place. The substance that your tree care company will spray on the olive trees is basically a growth inhibitor that will stop the flower ovaries from developing into the olive fruits.
Why would you want to spray olive trees?
When olive trees are used in residential areas, the olives they produce are more a nuisance than anything else. They're not usually edible, and yet, they appear every summer and fall to the ground, creating a huge mess that you have to clean up. If you don't sweep them up promptly, they tend to invite insects and other pests onto your property. Having your trees sprayed is a lot easier than dealing with this.
How often do you need to have the trees sprayed?
Most olive trees need to be sprayed twice in order for the spray to be maximally effective. The first spray should take place when the flowers have just appeared on the tree. The second spray should be given once the flowers are in full bloom. You'll want to repeat this process every spring.
Are there any drawbacks to having your olive trees sprayed?
There are no major drawbacks in most situations. However, if you have other fruiting trees near your olive trees and you definitely want them to set fruit, your sprayer will have to be very careful not to get the growth inhibiting spray on those trees.
If you have olive trees and are tired of sweeping up the messy fruits, then olive tree spraying is a good choice.
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