Banana trees
Madison Asked
This spring my banana trees have already started to come up from the ground about a foot or so. Last night it dropped to freezing temperatures and they are now starting to brown. What can I do to save them?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hi, Madison: I received a very similar question from another reader just the other day. Here is what I told her…
Some varieties of bananas are more cold tolerant than others but anytime tender, new groth is exposed to freezing temperatures it will cause damage. The good news is that the roots should be fine but everything aboveground will be injured. You will want to cut back the damaged foliage and cover the plant with additional soil or mulch. Heavy mulching is a common practice for protecting bananas in the landscape during the winter months. It should be pulled back after our frost-free date passes (May 10th). With the freezing nighttime temperatures in the forecast you will want to add some protection to prevent any more damage. Mulch works great but a blanket or bucket will work too. Anything you can put over the foliage will give protection. Keep an eye on the nighttime lows and cover when necessary for the next few weeks.
Angie Oakley
Ketnucky Living-Ask the Gardener
