cut banana tree

18 years ago

I'm not sure what type of banana tree I have, but they grow everywhere on south Alabama. A friend of mine was wanting to get rid of some trees growing in her yard so she brought them to me. One was about five feet tall and attached to one that was about seven feet tall, with two little pups also attached. She brought them in her car so she used a hack saw to cut off I'm guessing about three feet or so off the top of the "mama" tree. She said it would grow back by next year cause they cut them all the time and they always come back. It's a shame that she cut it cause it was so pretty. I'm worried that it won't grow back. What do you think? Also, I seperated the five foot tall one already, and I'm thinking about seperating the two pups also, which are about a foot tall each. Is this a good idea or should I wait?

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Comments (6)

unautre
18 years ago
"I'm worried that it won't grow back"

False worry. Believe her. In AL, with the hot months remaining, you'll probably have several more leaves hiding the point of cut.

1 foot is usually the recommended minimum pup height for separating. If you separate and the pups fail, you'll have more pups later.

No fert for now, just keep moist.
hibiscus909
18 years ago
I would leave the little pups attached for now. Your cut-off plant should be fine.

seahorse
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martiblueAL
Original Author
18 years ago
I appreciate the info. Thanks!!
Casa_Del_Gatos
18 years ago
Marti,

I am also in South Alabama (Silverhill) and these native plants are really hard to kill. I dug up a small mat growing behind the potting shed when I bought this house last year. I mean I DUG AND DUG, being careful to get all of the corm and transplanted half a dozen plants to another location.

I was just cleaning out some debris from Dennis (this is several months after the transplanting) and found two pups had appeared from nowhere in the original location!
terryfl
16 years ago
What is the lure of the banana tree? I am trying to kill 3 in the yard of my newish house and within 1 week they have re-sprouted a 6 inch growth. I am trying to get the corm out of the ground, but it is tough going so far. Any advice? I just want them dead! I have two that are about 6" in diameter and one that is 9" or so.
tsmith2579
16 years ago
Terryfl, take a spade bit (a.k.a., paddle drill) and drill a 1 inch deep and 1 inch wide hole in the stump or corm. Do not drill all the way through. Fill the hole with Roundup BRUSH killer. It will soak into the stump and kill the roots.