Northwest Palms

BANANA TREE

I JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE IN THE SUMMER THAT HAS BANANA TREES IN THE YARD // HOW DO I CARE FOR THEM. THEY WERE GROWING ABOUT 20 FT HIGH. THEY ARE DYING NOW. I BELIEVE THEY ARE MUSA's FROM PICTURES I SAW ON THE COMPUTER. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

THANKS TIM

The following thread was started by TIM on December 28, 2004 at 12:24 am PST

Hi Tim
It sounds like you have an established grove by the size you mentioned. If it is musa they are quit hardy. You did not mention where you live so I am presuming somewhere in the PNW. With no protection they may freeze to the ground in a very bad cold snap but will come back in the spring. With protection you will maintain a nice tall grove that will flower on the older trunks. What I do to protect my musa's is fold down the all the leaves so they hang around the trunks, this acts as insulation. I then tie a rope around the whole grove and pull them all together as much as possible. I then through a tarp or polly over the the whole grove and tie it down so it will not blow away. I the spring I remove the covering after the last frost and let things dry out for a few days before cuting off the old leaves. Bananas like lots of water and respond very well with fertalizer.
Have a great day
Dan

The above followup was added by dan on December 28, 2004 at 1:28 pm PST.