Long-time readers may remember that my Mexican Olive tree has had a tough beginning getting established here. This is a tree that does very well in heat and drought, but is more prone to freeze damage than I realized.
During its first winter (2023-2024) some growing tips were lost during the one freeze we had, but the tree recovered and grew taller.
Last winter we had two freezes, and I thought the second event had killed this tree. However, weeks later, a few inches of the trunk and one lower branch finally showed some new growth, and my goodness, how it has grown since!
In the photo below there is a distinct difference in bark texture between new branches (smooth) and old branch and trunk (rough).
The Mexican Olive is now about a foot taller than its height last year and is blooming as well. An offshoot from the lowest original branch is growing vertically and seems to have taken over as the leading branch and/or trunk.
There are many other new branches growing as well. When I noticed that some of them were rubbing against old dead branches, then I cut away the dead ones. The photos below are before and after that surgery (the rubbing point is top left in the first photo).
Once leaves have dropped in the winter, I may cut some other low branches away, especially any that are basically lying on the ground.
One of the many reasons I like this Mexican Olive tree is that the leaves it drops are sturdy and form a small area of leaf litter habitat, which is so important as shelter for several small creatures. Such habitat is rarely found in this new development where there are no mature trees, and where many homeowners would rather discard dead leaves than keep them on the ground.
Rewilding My Lot 
Leave a comment