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Olive tree disease

pierrestafracepeWMw3vypierrestafracepeWMw3vy Posts: 2
in Problem solving
My olive tree is showing these growths which are dropping leaves and killing off whole branches. Does anyone have any idea what they are and how I can remove them? 

Posts

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Are you sure it’s a disease and it’s that causing the problem with your olive tree? The photos are a bit blurry but it could be lichen. That doesn’t harm trees as it’s not parasitic, but if leaves are dropping the lichen gets to photosynthesise more so it becomes more noticeable. 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I'm thinking along the same lines as @Nollie.  Have you actually tried removing any of it ?  Does it leave any marks/wounds behind ?  If it does prove to be a lichen, then it won't harm the tree and any un natural leaf loss could be down to other factors.  You mention dead branches - are they dead ( as in they will snap off ) or are they simply bare ? A rough idea of your location together with a bit more info on how the tree is kept and the medium it is growing in may at least help to rule out some issues :)
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited May 2023
    It has been a hard year for olives in the UK:  hot and dry, then frost after frost.  But I don't think you have a problem.  I would go for lichen like the others.  Lichen likes clean air, good; and a damp atmosphere, Ok.

    Your olive will be making new growth soon.  I am confident.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • pierrestafracepeWMw3vypierrestafracepeWMw3vy Posts: 2
    I'm based in Malta and it hasn't been hard for olive trees here. The tree is in a large pot on a terrace with plenty of sunshine. I'm adding another couple of photos which are a bit clearer.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I'm sure you can find local Maltese who know better than us.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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