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.