The olive tree and its roots

Olive roots spread over a large area

The roots of the European olive tree are excellently adapted to dry and barren soils and are thus able to extract even small amounts of moisture and nutrients from the earth. The growth of the roots is there depending on the nature of the soil. If the soil is loose, the roots can reach a depth of seven meters - around the water requirement to cover from the groundwater. On the other hand, on firmer - for example rocky - subsoil, the roots spread out on the surface and branch out heavily. this is also valid for pot and tub olives. As a rule, the root system is about as wide as the tree's crown.

A root can be assigned to each main shoot

Another typical feature of olives is that each main shoot above the ground can be assigned a certain root and the associated root network. So you should when pruning the olive

make sure that you do not damage or damage any main shoots if possible. to separate - this has the consequence that the corresponding roots also die off. The rot that may result from this can eventually spread to the entire root system and the tree as a whole.

Caring for olive roots properly

So that you can enjoy your olive tree for a long time, you should pay special attention to the roots when caring for them. Tree care appropriate to the roots includes the following points:

• Pour olives only moderately (substrate should be dried before each watering)
• Waterlogging through good drainage in the pot avoid (pebbles)
• the pot should be about a third larger than the top of the tree
• Transplant the olive into a larger pot about every one to two years
• when transplanting, be careful not to damage the roots
• especially the roots in winter Protect from cold and frost (Bark mulch / brushwood cover)

Tips & Tricks

Good winter protection is essential, because olive trees are Mediterranean plants and are therefore not used to frost - even if some varieties are described as frost-hardy. Make sure that roots, trunk and crown are adequately protected in icy winters! Here you can special plant heaters (these look like a chain of lights) help.