Q: I have two mature olive trees in my back yard. They do not fruit. I would like to know how much to water them especially now in the hot Tucson summer. Also both have sprouted suckers and I am not sure how or when to prune these.
A:ย Olive trees need water every seven to 14 days to a depth of 24 to 36 inches during the summer. In the spring and fall you can back off to every 10 to 21 days and in the winter every 14 to 21 days.
You can prune suckers any time. The way you prune them is close to the branch they are growing from without leaving a large stub or going too close to the branch so as to make a cut flush with the branch surface. There is a nice publication at the UA that provides illustrations of these cuts. You can search for it by using the publication number AZ1499. If the suckers are coming from under ground, prune at the ground level.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Questions may be emailed toย plwarren@cals.arizona.edu.
