How do you protect your olive tree for the winter?

This symbol of the Mediterranean looks great, so to embellish your terrace, garden or vegetable patch, you've succumbed to the charm of the olive tree. This beautiful tree with its grey trunk, green-grey foliage on top and silver on the underside stands out for its presence and longevity. And it's precisely so that you can preserve it for a long time that we're explaining how to help it get through a fine winter without worry.

As a general rule, as soon as the temperature approaches five degrees, it's time to bring your olive tree inside. If you live outside the Mediterranean basin or in regions where the temperature can drop below minus ten degrees, it's best to keep it in pots over winter. There is a risk that the above-ground part will freeze at minus six degrees.

Install it in a frost-free room or greenhouse and close to a source of light. However, it should not be stored in a heated room, as there is a risk of the leaves falling off. If the pot is too heavy to move, you can wrap the trunk and foliage in a winter veil. As far as possible, a draught-free position close to a sunny wall is ideal. Your olive tree will then be able to recover the heat accumulated in the wall.

If winter temperatures in your region rarely drop below zero degrees, your olive tree will do well outdoors. Almost all soils are suitable for it, with a preference for calcareous soils, even stony ones with a good depth.

To prevent frost, you can place dead leaves or mulch at the base of the tree. In the event of severe frost, you can install a wintering veil over its trunk and a cover or canvas over its foliage (do not use plastic sheeting, as this would cause condensation, which the olive tree does not appreciate). As soon as the temperature rises, be sure to remove all protection.

Additional tips

• Don't prune your olive tree during a cold spell, as this could destroy it. Pruning is carried out in spring, once the frost period has passed. Its purpose is to eliminate broken branches or restore harmony to its cut.
• Water only if necessary. If the root ball is still damp, wait a little. Olive trees tolerate drought more easily than humidity.
• If you decide to plant your olive tree in the ground, wait until the end of winter instead, ideally between March and June. You will then bring him decomposed manure or mature compost.

Now you know more about olive trees in cold weather, all you have to do is wait a few years before harvesting your first olives!