Those who grow musa basjoo in warmer climates know they can get out of hand fast. In my case, a few unwanted plants broke PVC piping that is part of our sprinkler system. DH has removed 5 basketball sized corms with a shovel. We could stand to get rid of more corms and want to know what safe removal methods you've utilized that might be a bit easier.
Removal with a shovel is probably the safest method but if one's plants are big (some of my trunks are 10" in dia), removal can be quite a job. If hired help is not an option, what other safe and effective removal methods have you used? I'm considering boiling water. Has anybody used that?
thanks for your comments
Eco-friendly ways of removing unwanted bananas
Inject the stems with Brush Killer until they die. You can get the large needles at a farm supply store.
^ Eco-friendly?
vos: I hate using chemical's too ... I think the only way to get rid of some stuff that becomes invasive in the south is with a bulldozer! I have a banana tree that my neighbor gave me. I don't know what kind it is and it's not really huge yet but I'm thinking about transplanting it from the area of the backyard it's currently located because it's near pvc pipes and also under electrical wires.
Pls do. Mine wasn't planted that close to the sprinkler system piping but the darn things expanded quickly. Don't get me wrong, I luv my bananas but I have learned w/ this experience to keep a really close eye on them.
Tomorrow I'm going to pour boiling water on one of them, mark it somehow and watch its demise (I hope).
Another strategy is to plant less vigorous varieties. My Thai black (and you all know I luv it, lol) has spread at a much slower pace than musa basjoo. I also have Zebrina and that's another one that doesn't seem to be as vigorous. But I still plan to keep a little patch of m. basjoo. I have placed an order w/ Brian of Brian's Botanicals for m. Siam Ruby. I'm hoping this is also a less enthusiastic grower as well.
I should have taken pics of the area where the 5 basketball sized corms were removed. it was only a 1' x 2' area. Hard to believe so many were dug out of that little patch.
If you keep breaking off the growing spears the plant will eventually die off. You have to prevent any photosynthesis in leaves.
Cut it to the ground and pour red apple cidar vinegar on it.
Down here our bananas can get to 20 ft with pie-tin sized diameter. When I visited E.C.H.O. down in N. Ft. Myers, they showed that these leaves and trunks are a nice source of potassium and other minerals. I try to bury them in mulch when cut down in plant beds.
Vinegar works as good as weed killer. I have heard. If you want to inject something I believe I would just pour it over the plant but it will kill everything around it like weedkiller is what I have heard. I'm going to use it on Poke weed thissummer to see what happens. Got thosoe things all over.
I'll adopt any small "shippable" trees!! can trade or pay shipping (within reason of course)
I have a friend who is terminally ill right now. He wants to continue to maintain his garden as long as he can but the bananas were getting out of hand. He cut them off at the base and painted straight Round Up on the stump. It appears to be working but we'll se what happens come warmer weather.
Vossner, If you can dig some, the PO has flat rate shipping boxes that some will fit in. They med to larger ones survived. I think you can't exceed 70 lbs.
Extremely smaller shoots don't normally reroot well.
Jeanne
Offer them to someone let them dig for you. I went to a Dave gardeners place and dug a bunch no problem if there getting them for free they dig them like there stealing them lol
Offer them to someone let them dig for you. I went to a Dave gardeners place and dug a bunch no problem if there getting them for free they dig them like there stealing them lol
Thats a great way !!!!!!!!!!! Here I am trying to get them started LOL. Im doing pertty good tho I guess they become like cannas after awile ?
Three or four years ago we started with 29. Spring before last we had 120. We gave 20 away. Last winter we lost ten in the winter due to the freeze, so then we were down to 90. No telling how many we have lost this year, we'll just have to wait and see.
Everyone is pretty optimistic about some of the other plants coming back from the roots, so I'm hopefull they will.
It is very hard to kill them when you actually want to! LOL!!
This message was edited Feb 28, 2010 9:57 PM
bananas are tough as long as the roots are in the groung there coming back!