The olive tree needs the perfect mix of dry and wet soil. If the soil is too wet, it will grow fungus or bacteria and the tree will die. If the soil is too dry, the tree won't be able to absorb enough nutrients to survive. Olive trees can't survive the extreme cold either! This is why the Provence area is perfect. There is not too much rain, just enough sun, and it almost never gets too cold.
Olive trees are sensitive plants so in order to protect them it is important to pay attention to them. Because the olive is a large part of the culture in Aix, people take great care of olive trees. The main thing that harms these plants is the cold. In 1956, there was an extreme frost where two-thirds of olive trees were killed! Now, a lot of care is taken to protect them from the winter weather.
