The following should be taken into account when selecting a site for an olive grove.
- Soil type and drainage - waterlogging kills olive trees.
- Availability of nutrients in soil.
- Soil acidity, olives grow best in soils with a pH of 7.0-8.0.
- Rock will impede infrastructure development such as irrigation trenches.
- Climate - olives like cool winters and hot summers.
- Winter frost is necessary for most varieties.
- Rainfall.
- Water storage for irrigation.
- Cost of irrigation infrastructure.
- Access to and cost of power for irrigation.
- Prevailing wind and windbreaks to protect trees during flowering.
- Previous crops which may have been hosts to fungi or nematodes.
- Availability of labour for pruning and harvesting.
- Proximity to markets and/or processor.
- Steep slopes will affect irrigation and harvesting by machine.
- Proximity to concentrations of wildlife which could damage trees.
- Fire danger.
- Security, susceptibility to vandalism and crop stealing.