aphid

With their unique gnarled branches and distinctive color, olive trees are an attractive addition to a landscape.  However, their prolific fruit can cause problems. To lessen fruit production, it is best to start in the winter by pruning the tree to reduce branch and leaf density.  This allows treatments for fruit reduction to be applied evenly and effectively to the foliage in late winter/early spring. 

While many different programs are available for fruit reduction, three treatments starting as flower buds open and continuing through the bloom period provides optimum fruit suppression in most years.