How to protect an olive tree in winter – and the best way to wrap it before temperatures drop

If you're lucky enough to have an olive tree in your garden, you'll know what a stylish focal point it can make. But learning how to protect an olive tree in winter will ensure it remains strong every year.

Olives are one of the best trees to grow in pots for a reason – they look brilliant flanking a front door, and they're a popular patio idea, too. Once know how to prune olive trees, you can expect a healthy tree all year round – as long as you know how to protect an olive tree in winter, that is.

'As olive trees are native to the Mediterranean, they may need a little extra protection if temperatures drop dramatically over the winter months,' says Gareth Mitchell, Founder of Tree2myDoor.

How to protect an olive tree in winter

If you’re a fan of olive trees, you probably already know that they are one of the best trees for small gardens. It’s just another reason to love and take care of them over the colder months.

But despite their Mediterranean roots, olive trees are more hardy than they seem, and their winter care is not complicated at all.

‘Olive trees feel at home in the warm, dry climate of the Mediterranean,’ says Petar Ivanov, gardening and plant expert for Fantastic Gardeners. ‘That said, olives are so robust that they can thrive in other environments, too, provided they are protected from cold and wet winters.'

They're tough, but that doesn't mean they won't benefit from a little protection during snappier spells.

'Olive trees are fairly resilient down to temperatures of -10 degrees, however they may require some extra protection during particularly cold and windy spells, particularly when it comes to younger plants and new shoots which are more susceptible to frost damage,' Gareth explains.

So, you're probably wondering how to protect an olive tree in winter.

If your olive tree lives in a pot, the easiest way to overwinter it is by moving it to a more sheltered location.

'The best way to grow olive trees in the UK is to keep them in pots,' explains Gareth. 'This means that it can be placed outside in an area with lots of sun for most of the year and then moved to a more sheltered location in the wintertime when temperatures start to cool.'

If you can't move the pot inside, Steve Chilton, garden expert at LeisureBench, recommends protecting your olive tree with a plant cover for winter like horticultural fleece.

‘When there's particularly cold or frosty weather forecasted, I recommend covering your olive tree in winter with a plant fleece,' he says. 'This fleecing is designed specifically for covering plants and protecting them from both the frost and the cold.'

If you’re at a loss as to how you should wrap an olive tree, then here’s a quick guide for you.

How to wrap an olive tree for winter

It's worth noting that there are different weights of plant fleece and it’s important to pick the right type, depending on the level of cold your area is experiencing.

But once you get your hands on the right fleecing, it's pretty simple.

'Start at the trunk and wrap your hessian or fleece fabric from the bottom up, ensuring each layer overlaps to limit any gaps where wind and frost can enter,' Gareth says. 'Use twine or garden string to secure the wrap, ensuring it is tight enough to stay in place but not too tight to limit air circulation.

'Drape a separate piece of your chosen material over the canopy of the olive tree and tie it around the lower branches, ensuring the entire canopy is covered.'

Steve Chilton

Steve is a passionate and knowledgeable garden expert with several years of experience within the field. As the director of LeisureBench, an industry-leading garden furniture company, Steve has developed strong expertise for all things nature and plants.

No matter which plant you're protecting from frost, preparation is key. You'll want to wrap your olive tree around two or three days before any forecasted frost or snow, so Gareth advises keeping an eye on the weather forecast.

'If you are going to keep the fleece on your tree for an extended period of time (longer than the frosty period), then you should make sure that there are a few centimetres of space between the plant and the fleece,' says Steve. 'You can do this by installing some framework first, although this isn't necessary if your fleece wrap is designed to be temporary.’

What you'll need

FAQs

Can an olive tree survive in the UK?

Olive trees are surprisingly well-suited to life in the UK, despite their Mediterranean roots. In fact, a cold spell can actually benefit them.

'Olive trees can thrive all year round in the UK,' says Gareth. 'Cold weather isn’t always a bad thing when it comes to healthy growth of your olive tree – as a fruit tree, it requires at least two months of cold weather to bear fruit.'

Who would've thought the cold would help olives grow?

Should you cover olive trees in winter?

Olive trees are hardy, but it's a good idea to cover them with plant fleece during particularly cold spells, especially if they're less than a few years old. By following the above steps, your tree should remain snug and protected against the winter elements.

Follow these steps and you should have a thriving olive tree come spring.