Occasionally a sap-sucking insect known as Brown or Black Olive Scale will be seen on olive trees. It is rarely a problem if the trees are in good health. We usually only spray our mature trees for scale every two to three years and only then if they need it. However, certain areas of Australia are more prone to the scale.

About Psyllids: Psyllids, also known as jumping plant lice or lerp insects, are sap-sucking insects related to whiteflies, aphids and scale insects. In Australia, there are hundreds of species of psyllid, most of which are of not of any economic significance. Most psyllid species are host specific and live and feed only on a group of closely related plants or a single tree species), including the psyllids which feed on eucalypts.

Western flower thrips is the most widely distributed thrips species, occurring throughout all olive-growing districts in California. It has a wide host range, feeding on grasses, field and forage crops, vegetables, and fruit crops.

Anthracnose is one of the most destructive olive diseases in Australia, capable of devastating crops and oil quality. This guide outlines how to identify early symptoms, understand the infection cycle, and apply proven prevention strategies to protect yield and grove health.

Verticillium wilt is a soil-borne fungus disease caused by the organism known as Verticillium dahliae. Verticillium wilt can kill trees and is difficult or impossible to control and is considered a serious disease in olive trees.

As discussed previously, taking leaf samples is essential to assess your trees’ nutritional status. This information guides the creation of a fertiliser program, a critical component for boosting or maintaining yields. Typically, no fertiliser is needed in winter, unless you’re addressing soil amendments. However, some groves have severe nutrient deficiencies requiring fertiliser even in winter. Where proper irrigation systems aren’t in place...