Sunday, November 28, 2010
Cutting down the banana tree
Yesterday evening I decided it was time to cut down the Zebrine Banana tree! We were expecting our first hard freeze, the pond this morning had ice covering half of it. This dwarf banana is not supposed to be hardy in our area, zone 7.
Here is the banana before I cut it down in the weedy patch that just goes crazy during the heat of the summer. Wish I could make it a 3 season garden at least, instead of just a spring garden.
The stump shown here is at least 5 inches in diameter. The trunk and leaves must have weighted 25-30 pounds when I carried it to the brush pile. So easy to cut I was amazed, two strokes and it was done.This was planted from a 1 gallon pot in May!
I filled a recycling container with leaves and set it over the stump, then I added more leaves around it. Not sure if I killed it or saved it, time will tell I guess.
Our house and dried up pond taken last evening. See the dried up Johnson Grass, that is usually in the water. Another out of control plant as you can see. The cold frames are seen on the left of this image.
Randy, it is amazing how quickly they grow. We never planted this one, but only the solid green banana and have many divisions around the garden as a result of it. They have done really well here. And now I am reminded to cut them back, for they do look a bit pitiful. ;)
ReplyDeleteHope you and Meg had a wonderful holiday.
I hope the banana tree comes back. I saw a huge one in front of the nursery near here, and it was a mess from getting frozen last week.
ReplyDeleteIs your pond so low from the lack of rain this summer? It still looks so pretty with the trees reflected in it.
You have a really beautiful back yard. I was going to ask that question as well...if anyone knew if the banana would grow back again? It's tropical and it does die on the first freeze normally so cutting it back is good....but will it grow back like a canna or some of the other tropicals out there in our yards? Keep us posted in spring. They do grow fast don't they?:)
ReplyDeleteYour banana tree did a great amount of growing in a season. I hope it survives for you Randy. Your place looks lovely lit up by the early evening light.
ReplyDeleteSimply amazing how fast that banana tree grew.
ReplyDeleteI hope your tree comes back. I should try that idea with crocosmias next year. They are iffy here, but I sure like them.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of your house and pond. The reflections of the trees in the water are beautiful!
Love your home and backyard with that nice pond. The reflections and fallen leaves makes one feel like autumn is fast fading and winter is coming.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog. To answer your question, yes, sulphur and white butterflies use the Cassia bicapsularis as a host plant. I haven't noticed yet with the Cassia polyphylla - Desert Cassia, as it's just started blooming since I grew it from seed starting the spring of last year. I did read that butterflies love it so I'll be on the watch for their visits to it.
Have a nice week ~ FlowerLady
You have a great lot with trees all around and I don't see any neighbors...how nice.
ReplyDeleteAlso, seems to me like you are doing everything you can to protect the banana tree... hope it survives.
I still remember the scene with your plants growing happily earlier, it is a pity really for them to be in a state like this. I thought the banana can fruit before winter comes, i am so sorry! I hope some suckers will come out of it next time. I also pity the number of man-hours spent in making the plants so lush, and then suddenly it will be so desolate like this. Now i suddenly feel better to be living in the tropics devoid of plant killers like there.
ReplyDeleteWhew! There's a lot of hard work involved in taking care of tropicals in your climate. I remember your earlier post on this kind of banana. The plant is beautiful and I hope it grows back.
ReplyDeleteThe view of your house is beautiful. especially with the reflection of the trees in your pond.
Will be interested to see how the banana fares over the winter. We took a drive this weekend to Abbeville and saw so many ponds that were almost non-exsistant. Today's rain is just sprinkles so far. Could use some measurable rainfall.
ReplyDeleteAren't banana trees great?! A bit of tropical delight for us in more northern climates. Min is about five years old and continues to prosper up here in the mid ohio valley. I simply mulch it with raked up leaves and it pokes its pointed head up once the ground warms up.
ReplyDeleteGuests are always amazed. I've transplanted a few and given away shoots. here are some photos of mine just starting and mature at the in the middle of summer.
http://beyondmygarden.blogspot.com/2009/11/call-of-red-bellied-wood-peckers-pierce.html
That was an amazing banana tree plant. I have a friend that grows them here... I think she might winter them over??? (Don't know how she does it, though. Guess I should ask!!) ha. Happy Winter! (Suppose you'll be skating on your pond again this Winter?
ReplyDeleteI grew Siam Ruby this summer, I will likely leave it in the ground to die a cruel death. I was so disappointed in it. I also grow Musa basjoo which is almost too hardy, nearly rampant. I look forward to cutting it down every winter and regaining a little space in the garden, even if only until spring.
ReplyDeleteRandy, this is a reply to your comment on my post on our tropical fruits. You might not be able to see lanzones and jackfruit as fresh fruits there because these are very perishable. Maybe preserved in syrup jackfruit can be available in Asian stores. The flesh of lanzones looks like lychee but lanzones is not yet preserved, so better come here and i will let you eat the freshly harvested ones, haha.
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