How to Remove an Olive Tree

There are many varieties of olive trees, but most of them only grow in areas of the U.S. that have long, dry seasons of hot weather such as California and Arizona. The Russian variety of olive tree can exist in other states because it tolerates more moisture. Removing olive trees consists of mechanical and chemical methods to kill the trunk and roots. Proper timing is also important to prevent the spread of additional seeds.

Trash bag

Work gloves

Safety glasses

Chainsaw

Truck

Herbicide with triclopyr, imazapyr, glyphosate or picloram

Wait until spring or summer to cut down the olive tree unless you know the specific variety. Most olive trees do not produce seed, but some do produce seed in the fall and winter. If you cut down these trees during seed production, you will scatter additional seeds.

Examine the ground under the olive tree and look for any small olive seedlings sprouting out of the ground. Pull these seedlings up with your hands and place them into a garbage bag for disposal.

Put on work gloves and safety glasses. Use a chain saw to cut the olive tree trunk off as close to the ground as possible.

Cut up the fallen olive tree into sizes that you can lift, place them in a truck and dispose of them at your local landfill.

Spray the top of the stump immediately with a herbicide that contains one of the following ingredients, imazapyr, glyphosate, picloram or triclopyr, according to the U.S. Forest Service website.

You may need to repeat the herbicide and hand-weeding techniques for up to three years if you want to kill any remaining olive tree seeds.

As long as the tree does not have seed on it, you can place the olive tree branches into a wood chipper and use the wood as mulch in your landscaping.