By Jt46
London,
United Kingdom 
We had a flourishing olive shrub in a border but it ea# getting forced forwards by a bossy yew. We dug it out and repotted it in a large pot with drainage holes, terracotta shards and a mixture of John Innes number three and some general compost. Unfortunately the roots were damaged when they came out and the surrounding soil disintegrated so it came out as bare roots.
The leaves are now brittle and some have fallen off. The soil has moved from round the trunk as it has blown and rocked in the wind. Is there any hope? The soil seems moist but not waterlogged but there really isn’t a developed root system.
18 Oct, 2017
The root damage means its unable to support the topgrowth - you can try reducing its size by two thirds, firm the soil down with your hands and keep it well watered as necessary somewhere very mild and sheltered over winter. You'll know by spring whether it will grow again.
18 Oct, 2017