olive tree espalier

Discussion in 'HortForum' started by Patrick Chase, Feb 10, 2006.

  1. Patrick Chase

    Patrick Chase Member

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    Location:
    Stockton, California, USA
    For aesthestic purposes I want to espalier a couple of olive trees on a three foot high, southern exposed wall where summer temperatures get over 100, and winters dip into the 20's. What are my chances of success? Any problems I need to be aware of? If it just isn't a good idea, what might be a good substitute? Thanks and happy gardening.
    Patrick
     
  2. LPN

    LPN Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Wow ... that sounds interesting! I know espalier is done with some fruit trees etc so why not an olive?
     
  3. Dee M.

    Dee M. Active Member 10 Years

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    The heat wouldn't be a problem but that sounds pretty cold for an olive. Are there healthy olives growing in the neighborhood? Some varieties are hardier then others so I would get those, If there is a good local nursery they could give you advice. Doing an espalier shouldn't be hard. One problem might be frost cracks in the bark that happen when the sun hits the frozen bark and warms it up too quickly. Painting the trunk white with a plant-friendly paint or wrapping it [you can buy tree wrap] can prevent that.
     
  4. oscar

    oscar Active Member

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    Sounds like a plan to me.....simple answer would be, try one and see what happens, nothing ventured, nothing gained.....not sure how many plants i have killed using that philosophy....ok yes i do, 1 small blue hesper palm, 1 agave 1..... what with frost and rabbits (i have the biggest, most well fed wild rabbits) *wonders why i dont give up*
    its the successes that make it worth while.
     
  5. Patrick Chase

    Patrick Chase Member

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    I read that olives trees are actually espaliered for commercial purposes. My hope is to be able to grow it much smaller in kind of a bonsai fashion, up to a few feet in height. Hopefully you're right,--why not an olive?
     
  6. Patrick Chase

    Patrick Chase Member

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    The cold isn't a problem here. Olive trees are grown all around the area. I even have one in my front court yard which is the reason I want to espalier a couple of them on the streetside face of the courtyard wall, so that the consistency and balance make some sense. I have, in fact asked some of the local nursery people to no avail.
     
  7. You're right. Why not do the simple thing and try? That's it. I'm going to the nursery tomorrow and getting a couple olive trees. I'm even a step ahead because there are no rabbit problems or any other worrisome critters here. Thanks (with fingers crossed). I like your philosophy.
     
  8. Junglekeeper

    Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years

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    Here's more encouraging feedback, Patrick. A pruning book I was flipping through said an olive tree can be trained as a fan against a wall. I see espalier as a compressed fan. If you can, post a picture in this thread of your trees in the fall and tell us how it went.
     
  9. LPN

    LPN Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    I have a small 7 foot Olive tree (Olea europea 'Arbequina') in my front garden. I think these cultivars are quite hardy by Olive standards. It's been a fairly fast grower which has suprized me.
     
  10. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Location:
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    Olives have been espaliered for easier hand picking and
    hedgerow trellised for machine picking for a while now.
    The hard part is not trying to espalier Olives in Stockton,
    the problem will be how to keep the trees scaled down in
    size without a lot of hands on pinching and trimming. I
    believe you will want to select either a natural semi-dwarf
    or look for some Olives grafted onto dwarfing rootstock.
    If you do not want a fruiting Olive you may want to look
    for some information regarding Olive Stop and the likes.

    Jim
     
  11. Patrick Chase

    Patrick Chase Member

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    Thanks for the reply, Jim. Your input and all of the others (see especially Junglekeeper above) are all giving me the confidence I need to go ahead and try my best. Hopefully I will be able to post the living proof of all of your efforts. I don't mind, at least I say that now, the rigors of having to pinch back a little more than normal for espaliers. Wish me luck.
    Patrick
     
  12. mr.shep

    mr.shep Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Location:
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    I would suggest you look towards getting your plants from
    a grower nursery. If it were me I'd go with some of the oil
    producing varieties mentioned in this link. The hard part
    will be in the training of the tree to grow into an espalier
    attached to a wall. It is easier to train and an Olive to a
    trellis but either way is doable. It just takes initiative,
    time and patience but the reward may very well be worth
    your trouble.

    I believe the 'Arbequina' is a natural semi-dwarf so you may
    want to look for one of these if you can find one. If a local
    nursery cannot help you find a source for a fruiting Olive
    as opposed to an ornamental Olive then come back in and
    tell me and I'll put you in touch with some grower nurseries
    near you, close enough to you, through a private message that
    may still have some Olives available for retail sales.

    California Olive Oil Industry Survey Statistics 2004

    Jim
     

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