Olive trees react slowly to drastic changes in their environment. A more difficult case when an olive tree leaves turning brown and dropping because of a fungal infection. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Galls up to 2 inches in diameter appear on the tree. Hi, I'm Vangelis, a founder of Oliviada. The heaviest olive leaves fall is in winter during harsh weather and in spring during new growth. Click here to join. Root rot occurs in soils that have poor drainage or are excessively wet. Kalamata olive oil obsessed, olive grove owner. The rot is caused by fungal organisms living in the soil. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'oliviadaolive_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_4',139,'0','0']));No, olive trees are evergreen. This type of tree prefers slightly moist soil near the roots. But they also are sensitive to overwatering, since they are native to arid climates. But avoid overwatering them, or you may have a problem like the unstoppable dropping of leaves. To comply with natural olive tree needs, keep it in your sunniest location. Thus, sometimes there may be some problems with olive leaves, and as a consequence you notice your olive tree dropping leaves. I bought a small (maybe 10in tall) olive tree a month ago, and now there is lots of new growth but as the leaves unfurl they dry up and fall off. Because the roots are no longer feeding the tree, tree growth is stunted and the foliage becomes sparse. If the exposed tissue is brown or black, the root is dead. If you can ensure a drainage system before planting them, that will be an excellent idea. Verticillium wilt is a fungal disease that lives in the soil. The best thing to do is to try to ensure that there is a drainage system to prevent the roots from being soaked. With the right environment, these majestic shrubs can be extremely easy to care for—just think of the dry regions they naturally call home. The tree will most likely die in one or two years. Olive Tree Dropping Leaves Reasons & Prevention. Soon after new growth appears, the leaves on individual branches will wilt and die. Lack of water can cause the leaves to dry out and wilt. Although olive trees are technically evergreens, they still shed leaves. We occasionally add Amazon affiliate links to help the reader find relevant products. But if the tree gets too dry, which often happens in the winter when watering is less frequent, the leaves will dry out and drop. Keeping your potted olive tree in a sunny window will help provide adequate light. Sadly, even by taking good care of your trees, it’s not always possible to retain their healthy growth and stop our olive tree leaves from changing color or losing leaves altogether. How to Plant a Texas Ash Tree in and How Much Soil? Once the olive tree gets affected, the tree will die if this disease is not managed. Jill Kokemuller has been writing since 2010, with work published in the "Daily Gate City." For instance, if you have just purchased your olive tree and it was kelp in a greenhouse full of light, so it is normal that your tree is shedding some old leaves while adapting to your home environment. What to Do When a Weeping Cherry Is Not Thriving. And the trees are attractive too. They grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, blooming in the summer with the white blossoms followed by olive drupes. Don’t worry too much, it will grow new on top very fast. ... It’s also advised that you do not attempt to heat the plant as this can cause it to drop its leaves. It will go through the cuts and wounds of the tree. For instance, olive trees need to have plenty of moisture.