When To Remove A Limb From My Olive Tree

Q: I have a large olive tree. One limb partially blocks a path. Is this a safe time of year to remove it? 

A: My rule of thumb is you can take off twenty-five percent of a tree’s foliage during the growing season and not hurt the plant. So by this rule, pruning would be okay. But I have another rule of thumb that says mid-fall is not the best of times to prune a tree or shrub. It can affect the plant’s winter readiness, especially if there’s enough time for post-pruning sprouting to occur. I suggest you practice your limbo moves and wait until December to prune.