How to prevent olive tree fruiting this season
As cold winter months thaw away, olive trees begin to come out of their dormant state and begin to produce blossoms that eventually turn into fruit.
Growing your own olives can be enjoyable to some people, but not everyone. If you don’t want to deal with a fruit-producing tree, you’re not alone. Overripe olives on driveways and sidewalks are a hassle to clean up.
Luckily, there are methods to prevent your olive tree from producing fruit. There are some great products out there that assist in preventing fruiting. In this article we’ll share our favorite ways to abort blossoming and prevent pollination.
Monterey Florel Growth Regulator
This product is a growth regulator that reduces or eliminates undesirable fruit development on olive trees (as well as other ornamental trees and shrubs).
How Florel Works
Florel Growth Regulator by Monterey breaks down into ethylene, a naturally occurring compound, in the plant. When a plant is under stress it produces ethylene. If the plant is in bloom at the time of excess ethylene production, the first symptom is blossom abortion. This is how Florel brand Growth Regulator works. It causes the plant to abort its blossoms.
How much Florel do you need?
The average size tree will require 5 to 20 gallons of spray for treatment. Make sure to read the detailed instructions on the product packaging.
If your olive tree is stressed, don’t spray
Do not apply it to trees that are stressed. It is recommended to apply Florel using a hand pump or backpack sprayer for more accurate applications.
Where to buy it
You can purchase Florel Growth Regulator here on Amazon.
A similar product called Fruit Stopper is also available in-store at Home Depot & Lowe’s.
Want to learn more?
Our FAQ page is a great resource for answers to commonly asked questions. You are also welcome to explore our specs & forms.