Approaching an unpruned tree is daunting - banches keep you at bay, then cut and slap at you as your approach. Loads of water spouts emerge from the base of the tree, and at all angles from the tree. These sap the energy destined for flowers and olives. Below are a couple of photos of the shoots, an unpruned tree, and the final tree with all cut from within.
Our neighbour and master pruner Paul, has given me a few tips: open the centre of the tree, cut anything growing down, or crossing over an other branch, or is dead, and leave the base of the tree clear. So here is the result in these photos above. These trees haven't been pruned since they were planted (8 years ago) so I am giving them their first cut. they havent been watered in two, so they are in dire straights. In taking so much out I wonder if I am not damaging the tree or at least putting them into deep shock. However, as olive trees have lasted for centuries, through wars and and famines and still produce, I figure I will be learning something. I am amazed by how much comes off a tree to give it a chance. Olive grown on the previous years new growth, and nows the time. So far few of the trees have any flowers. Mostly you are meant to prune after the olives are picked (June, Queens birthday weekend), so timing is not ideal this year. We'll see the results in the next two. Here's a pic of David taking a load of cuttings in my truck!
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