How to Prune Banana Plants

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When, how, and why to trim a banana tree
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Banana trees grown in warm climates bear loads of delicious fruit, and even banana trees grown in colder climates make for great decor, even though they don’t fruit. In either case, smart pruning ensures lush, healthy plants all year round. We’ll let you know when to prune, how to prune, and why you should, so that you can keep your banana plants looking perfect.

Pruning a Banana Plant

  • Use a sharp, clean blade to cut any brown dead leaves. Use an upward motion to slice them off 0.5–1 in (1.3–2.5 cm) from the main stem.
  • Cut away the entire above-ground portion of any dead trees, such as those that have spent their fruit or died from frost.
  • Cut away any suckers at ground level, but keep the largest sucker alive. This will be next year’s plant, after the current plant spends itself.
Section 1 of 4:

When to Prune Your Banana Tree

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  1. Banana trees mostly grow larger in the spring, and pruning at that time can help them grow even taller. At this time of year, pruning the leaves isn’t super necessary, but pruning the suckers that emerge from the ground helps the plant to dedicate more resources to growing big and tall. [1]
    • You may also see new suckers throughout the summer and into fall, so keep an eye on the ground around your banana tree throughout the warm seasons.
  2. After a growing season of 12-18 months, the plants begin to flower and bear fruit, after which they die off. They also die off in the cold. After a banana tree’s lifespan, cut away the entire above-ground portion to make way for new growth. [2]
    • When you grow banana trees in cooler climates, they may never bear fruit, so pruning is mostly done in the spring during new growth, and winter, after the plant’s main stalk, or “pup,” has died.
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  3. Dead or dying banana leaves are quite obvious. They will appear wilted, dry and brown. Once they are brown, there’s no reviving them, so prune them in order to keep your banana tree looking lush and prevent overcrowding. [3]
    • Banana tree leaves can become damaged for a variety of reasons. Some common reasons include frost, insects and dehydration. Regardless, approach any dead leaves the same way.
    • Be sure to make sure your banana plant is getting enough water. Keep the soil constantly moist in warm months. [4]
  4. If your banana tree leaves have holes, they might have been affected by insects. This commonly happens during spring and summer. If this is the case, you might need to treat your tree with medicine or other treatments. [5] In these cases, pruning is often just for mitigation, but you’ll need more intensive care to solve the problem.
    • There are a number of different diseases and pests that may result in holes in the leaves. Check out PSU’s knowledge base to diagnose yours.
    • Although banana trees are not often infected with insects, it’s good to stay aware of any ailment your tree might have.
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Section 2 of 4:

How and Where to Cut

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  1. When pruning, use sharp, clean tools. Garden shears or machetes work best. A clean cut is healthiest for the plant. [6] Plant specialist Ryan Glynn recommends cleaning your tools with isopropyl alcohol.
    • Using sharp, clean tools is also much safer, since they’ll cut easier, and banana stalks can be tough.
  2. Cut away any dead leaves at the base of the leaf stalk, about 0.5–1 in (1.3–2.5 cm) from the main stem. [7] Make an upward cut that slopes down and away from the main stalk. Leave the base of each leaf stalk, where it joins the main stem near the ground. This helps keep the stalk strong and supported.
    • Don’t cover the cuts with any sort of ointment or treatment, which may only damage the plant. A clean cut is healthy enough.
  3. Generally, pruning off healthy stalks isn’t necessary. Some growers prefer to do it, though, and say it leads to taller, sturdier plants that bear larger fruit. If you like, trim away healthy stalks until only about 4 central stalks remain. Start at the outside, and prune toward the center, and make the cut just like you’re cutting away the dead leaves. [8]
    • Avoid pruning away more than ⅓ of the plant’s matter at a time. Any more, and your plant could go into shock.
    • Prune healthy stalks in the spring, while the plant has new growth. If you need to, space prunings a couple weeks apart to prevent shock.
  4. Suckers grow off the main underground rhizome and produce new plants. It’s best to keep these in check to prevent overcrowding. Cut them as close to the ground as you can, then use a sharp trowel to dig up as much of the underground portion as you can. [9]
    • Leave the largest, healthiest sucker alive. This will be the new plant during the next growing season, once the current plant has fruited and died off.
    • Suckers, dead leaves, and even the dead tree itself, can be cut up and used as mulch for other plants, including other banana trees.
  5. Banana trees die after fruiting, and they also tend to die after a big frost or other cold weather. After a frost, give the plant 1 week, then inspect the damage. If the entire plant is browning or dead, cut away the entire above-ground stalk, then decide how you want to overwinter it. [10] More minor frost damage, often displayed as brown spotting, can be left alone.
    • For overwintering, many growers simply cover the cut stalk with mulch or a plastic pot to keep it insulated in cool temperatures. It often sends up new shoots in spring.
    • Other growers prefer to dig up the underground rhizome entirely, then pot it and bring it indoors .
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Section 3 of 4:

Benefits of Pruning a Banana Tree

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  1. Banana trees grow from a single underground rhizome, similar to a potato. The rhizome sends out many shoots, which become the above-ground part of the plant. These shoots often crowd each other and compete for nutrients, so pruning them helps achieve healthy plants with big fruits. [11]
    • Dead leaves don’t really sap many nutrients, but they can block sunlight to healthier parts of the plant.
  2. Generally, bananas don’t technically need pruning unless you’re growing them for fruit. Even then, they tend to take care of themselves! If you’re growing them ornamentally, though, pruning ensures that only the healthiest leaves remain, ensuring that the plant stands tall, proud, and strong. [12]
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Section 4 of 4:

Frequently Asked Pruning Questions

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  1. If you live someplace with relatively mild winters that don’t often reach below 0 °F (−18 °C), winterize the plants outside. To do this, wait for the plant to die from the cold, then cut the entire plant to ground level. [13] Cover the stump with mulch, a plastic pot, or both to keep the underground rhizome insulated until the last frost of spring. [14]
    • If your winters reach below 0 °F (−18 °C), transfer each plant and the soil around them to a large plastic bin, or a pot that allows for 6 in (15 cm) of soil all around the rhizome. [15] Store the plant in a sunny spot in your home until after the last frost of the spring.
  2. It’s not necessary to prune living leaves, but some growers prefer to do so, and say that keeping only 4-5 central stalks helps the plant grow larger and bear more fruit. It also helps ornamental plants look more lush and strong. [16] It’s up to you!
  3. In a word, no. Leave the flowers be, when in doubt. Banana trees produce both male and female flowers. The female flowers grow upside-down and sprout bananas from underneath each petal, each giving a bunch of bananas. Male flowers hang beneath the bananas. It’s not necessary to prune either type, so leave them (and their stalks) be. [17]
    • That said, pruning off the male flower can sometimes speed up fruit development.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Should you trim the leaves on a banana plant in winter?
    Grant Wallace
    Landscaper
    Grant Wallace is a Landscaper and Owner of Grantlanta Lawn in Atlanta, Georgia. With over seven years of experience, he specializes in lawn maintenance and landscape installation. In 2012, he earned his BA from the University of West Georgia. Grant has been profiled in Shoutout Atlanta, Canvas Rebel, and Voyage ATL.
    Grant Wallace
    Landscaper
    Expert Answer
    You can, but you don't have to. Banana trees go dormant in winter; at that time, their leaves get droopy and crispy. In the spring, the banana tree will push out new growth. Some homeowners prefer to cut off the crispy parts to give their tree a cleaner look, but it's subjective.
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  • Question
    Cut back plants last fall and covered with mulch and tarp. End of March in Virginia and plant popped through tarp. How should I proceed?
    Ethan Smith
    Community Answer
    Leave the tarp because it has a hole already, or just pull it off. You could cut or pull the plant but it seems like you wanted this because of the mulch and covering it. Covering it with a tarp and leaving mulch in a humid area like the coast would definitely make the spot under the tarp a wonderful place to grow in the winter.
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  • Question
    A few of my banana trees have bent in half and basically fallen. The trunk is soggy feeling in that bent area. Do I cut it just below the soggy area and wait for new chutes to grow or dig up the tree?
    Asukiwa
    Community Answer
    Just remove the old trunks and dispose them somewhere over the soil so they can rot and fertilize the area. Then you can wait for new trunks to grow.
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      Warnings

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about pruning banana trees, check out our in-depth interview with Grant Wallace .

      References

      1. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/banana/
      2. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B992&title=minor-fruits-and-nuts-in-georgia#title1
      3. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG040
      4. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/banana/growing-guide
      5. ↑ http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/t0308e/T0308E05.htm
      6. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/banana/
      7. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/banana/growing-guide
      8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgi266ebHlA&t=442s
      9. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/banana/
      1. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/banana/
      2. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/banana/
      3. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/banana/growing-guide
      4. ↑ https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/banana/
      5. ↑ https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=622378
      6. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B992&title=minor-fruits-and-nuts-in-georgia#title1
      7. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/banana/growing-guide
      8. ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG040

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Having a healthy banana tree means knowing when and how to prune the leaves. Check your banana tree frequently for signs of dehydration and frost or insect damage, which can happen any time of year. When you see brown, dry, wilted leaves, use a pair of garden shears to cut the outermost layer of leaves and work your way in toward the stem. When you get to the stem, use a sharp blade or knife to cut the stalk to about 1 inch from the trunk. Make sure you have harvested any fruit and your plant has already flowered before pruning the stem. To learn how to treat holes in your banana tree’s leaves, keep reading!

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