Instruction
How to Control Pest Infestations
Instruction
How to Control Pest Infestations
A Guide for Managing Pests in Olive Trees
Prevention is the key weapon to maintaining healthy olive trees. It’s far easier to keep trees and fruit free of pests than it is to eradicate an infestation. In this article, we’ll look at good practices for pest prevention as well as treatment once pests have attacked your trees.

Above: Aphids attacking a branch
Preventing Pest Infestations on Olive Trees
Preventing Pest Infestations on Olive Trees
Olive trees will fend off pests on their own when they are healthy specimens and have their own version of antibodies to protect themselves. Pests may arrive airborne, in a good downpour or through the soil. Begin with healthy tree practices:
Healthy Tree Practices
Let’s make sure we’re on the same page with our pest control verbiage. First, find “best practices” immediately below. Then, find various types of pest problems identified below that you may encounter in caring for olive trees.
Click the ” + ” below to expand the selection.
Sunlight
Moisture
Nutrients
Drainage
Pruning
The last piece of maintaining healthy olive trees is regular inspection of your olive trees. It’s essential to catch any infestation as early as possible to prevent the spread of disease or pests. If you are managing an orchard, determine a regular inspection schedule, walking various rows and blocks of trees to inspect leaves, fruit, branches and trunks for any problems. Keep a log of findings and observations so that you know a timeframe for when a pest arrives in your orchard. Then you will know whether or not your treatment is effective in the timeframe set out by instructions.
Common Olive Tree Pests
Brown or black spots? Woolly white “snow”? Leaf or fruit loss? Discoloration? Limb death? Once you’ve found an anomaly to a healthy olive tree, you must treat it immediately to prevent the spread of problems. In California, we are lucky to have fewer pest problems arise than in other parts of the U.S. or Europe and Australia where olive trees are also commonly grown. Here is a list of some common pests, followed by suggested treatments.
Woolly Aphid
Scale Insects
Olive Peacock Spot
Scab Disease
Powdery Mildew
Verticuillium Wilt
Olive Fruit Fly
These are the primary olive tree pest problems in California. New pests arrive on a regular basis, unfortunately. The key to good health for your trees remains regular inspection. Identifying anomalies, and seeking treatment immediately.
Resources
Resources for Olive Tree Pest Control
Here are some excellent, detailed guides on pest control:
Want more help on treating olive tree pests? Just contact us.
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