The Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association has developed HOA lawn and landscape maintenance tips and welcomes you to share them with your HOA Boards and Community Managers. We hope you find the information below helpful for olive tree control and other plants and fruits.
If you manage any older properties, you may deal with the annual task of treating olive trees to help reduce flowering and fruiting. You may be receiving a notification from your landscaper and certified applicator that the time to treat your olive trees is quickly approaching. Below are a few tips to help assure your olive treatments go successfully this season.
Will the spray hurt my tree or other nearby plants?
“If you use the correct chemicals and follow the instructions on the label then it is unlikely that your tree will be hurt. The chemical could harm nearby plants so it is important that you take adequate precautions such as covering the plants.”
How do you protect underlying plants and flowers from drift or overspray?
“Underlying plants and flowers should be covered with plastic sheets or similar material to avoid over spray or chemical dripping on the plants.”
When do you typically spray olives to prevent fruiting?
“Olives are usually sprayed in late January through March.”
Can you treat to prevent olives with anything else besides spraying?
“Yes, when the client has concerns about power spraying or the site has restrictions then there are safer alternatives such as trunk injections or treatment.”
If I spray the olives before they bloom, will it help reduce my allergies?
“Yes, if you spray the buds before they bloom then pollen will be reduced in that immediate area but, remember there are many olives throughout the valley which will likely be producing pollen.”
If I decide not spray my trees this year, what are the consequences?
“The consequences will be the production of olives and the mess created by the fruits dropping in the fall and early winter.”
A few details to remember:
- Only licensed applicators can legally apply plant growth regulating products.
- Other fruiting or flowering trees may also be treated, ask your Pest Management Professional about your treatment options.
- If you missed the boat, be prepared for a messy cleanup since once fruit has set, the only way to remove it is to pick it .
We hope you find these lawn care tips helpful. For additional information or to schedule service, please call AMS Landscaping at (602) 944-0421.