Olive tree pruning & restoration in Corfu
Neglected olive trees can be brought back. We cut dead wood, suckers and overgrown branches to let light and air in and to make harvest easier.
- Free quote from photos
- Small machines, tight access
- Everything hauled away
Why prune your olive trees
Corfu's olive trees are famous for their size. Left alone they grow tall and dense, the centre fills with shade and dead wood, and fruit forms only at the top, out of reach. A well-planned prune opens the canopy, removes what is dead or crossing, and shapes the tree so it is easier to look after.
We prune with chainsaws and hand tools, from the ground and with ladders where it is safe, and we shred or haul away the branches. For very tall or very old trees we discuss what is realistic first: heavy restoration is often better spread over two or three seasons than done in one cut.
Pruning is different from felling: it keeps the tree. Removing a whole olive tree is a separate matter that generally needs official permission, see tree removal.
What's included
- Dead, diseased and broken branches removed
- Suckers and water shoots cut from trunks and bases
- Canopy opened for light and air
- Very tall trees lowered or thinned, in stages where needed
- Branches shredded on site or hauled away
- Firewood stacked tidily on request
How the job works
Assess the trees
We look at each tree or group: its health, its height and how much can safely be taken in one visit.
Agree the plan
We agree how much to cut, and whether to restore in one go or over several seasons.
Prune
We cut in the right order: dead wood first, then crossing and crowded branches, then shape and height.
Clean up
Branches are shredded, stacked as firewood or hauled away, and the ground is left clear.
Best time to prune
Olive pruning is usually done after the harvest, in late winter and early spring, before new growth starts. Combine it with clearing the grove so the ground is cleaned in the same visit. Very tall trees can be dangerous, so we may decline a cut we consider unsafe and suggest an alternative.
Common questions
Can you save an old olive tree that looks dead?
Often yes. Olive trees regrow from old wood and from the base. We can usually tell from photos, or by looking at the tree, whether it is worth restoring.
How much can be cut in one go?
It depends on the tree, but we avoid heavy cutting that stresses it. For badly neglected trees we suggest restoration over two or three seasons.
Do you take the branches away?
Yes. We shred them on site or haul them away, and we can stack good wood for firewood.
Do I need permission to prune?
Normal pruning keeps the tree and is not the same as removing it. Removing whole olive trees is a different matter, see tree removal.
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