LA POTATURA DELL’OLIVO – PRUNING THE OLIVE TREE

March brings with it the first clear signs of spring: the plants in the garden and on the terrace slowly begin to grow and passionate gardeners are anxious to get to work since there is much to do to get ready for summer. March marks the beginning of the new gardening season and is the best time to plan projects and buy plants. It is time for planting shrubs and pruning roses, shrubs, ivy and lavender.
We are interested in talking about one particular plant, very important in Italy and in our region: the olive tree. It is between March and May, or to be precise, at the beginning of spring and the flowering season that olive trees are pruned.
The purpose is to renew the branches, remove dead wood and promote the penetration of light and air. Clippers and saws are the traditional tools for trimming olive trees, joined over time by more professionally-advanced technological tools.
Because of the complexity and delicacy of the operation, numerous courses – even some free ones – are now offered throughout the region to teach proper techniques and to avoid costly errors.
In fact, the experts say, “In molti tagliano, ma in poche potano!”  – “Many can cut, few know how to prune!”