cloth between corm and mulch

jooonbug · 08-22-2013, 04:23 PM

So the previous owner of my current home planted this banana tree. I noticed that between the corm and the mulch (chunks of wood), he pinned down some sort of dark cloth. You can see it in this picture:

What do you suppose the cloth is there for, and do you think I should remove it?

sunfish · 08-22-2013, 04:28 PM

Sure why not. Weed fabric

2woodensticks · 08-22-2013, 04:32 PM

weed control ,moisture retention..anything that will help

jooonbug · 08-22-2013, 04:47 PM

What's interesting is that this is the only place in the entire yard where he put down the cloth. The soil around all the other fruit trees is completely bare, with no mulch. I thought maybe this was part of some super secret banana growing technique.

I'll soon be heavily mulching most of the fruit trees. I don't like the fact that the cloth seems to be impermeable to all the invertebrates and even to the tiny broken down mulch particles that should be feeding the plant.

john_ny · 08-22-2013, 06:29 PM

If it's solid black plastic, I don't think it's so good. However. if it's woven weed barrier. the rain can get through (and i think the beneficial juices from the breaking down mulch) From your picture, I can't tell which it is.

Lemmysports · 08-22-2013, 07:01 PM

Agreed, it looks like a weed control fabric. Personally, I would get rid of it and just heap some compost/mulch on it. I like the worms to be able to move around, don't have much problem with weeds in my compost, and would be worried it would impede some pups. I'm sure it won't hurt if you leave it though.

LilRaverBoi · 08-22-2013, 10:10 PM

It was probably an attempt to either prevent weeds from coming up around the plants or to keep pups to a minimum (and in a limited area so the mat doesn't spread). Leave it or remove it, it's up to you....personally, I'd remove it.

jooonbug · 08-23-2013, 12:40 AM

Thanks everyone, I'll remove it when I get around to applying mulch in a few weeks.

08-22-2013, 04:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
jooonbug Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 11,107 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 15 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	cloth between corm and mulch So the previous owner of my current home planted this banana tree. I noticed that between the corm and the mulch (chunks of wood), he pinned down some sort of dark cloth. You can see it in this picture: What do you suppose the cloth is there for, and do you think I should remove it?

08-22-2013, 04:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,527,825 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,593 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: cloth between corm and mulch Sure why not. Weed fabric

08-22-2013, 04:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
2woodensticks PURA VIDA!! Location: close to tampa florida Find me on the map! Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 697 BananaBucks : 59,540 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 421 Times Was Thanked 469 Times in 286 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 310 Times	Re: cloth between corm and mulch weed control ,moisture retention..anything that will help __________________ got to love em..{neotropical rattlesnake..cascabell}

08-22-2013, 04:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
jooonbug Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 11,107 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 15 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: cloth between corm and mulch What's interesting is that this is the only place in the entire yard where he put down the cloth. The soil around all the other fruit trees is completely bare, with no mulch. I thought maybe this was part of some super secret banana growing technique. I'll soon be heavily mulching most of the fruit trees. I don't like the fact that the cloth seems to be impermeable to all the invertebrates and even to the tiny broken down mulch particles that should be feeding the plant.

08-22-2013, 06:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
john_ny Member john_ny's Photo Gallery Location: Staten Island, NY - southernmost county in NY State. Find me on the map! Zone: USDA7- Sunset34 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,014 BananaBucks : 898,093 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,057 Times Was Thanked 2,284 Times in 832 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 37 Times	Re: cloth between corm and mulch If it's solid black plastic, I don't think it's so good. However. if it's woven weed barrier. the rain can get through (and i think the beneficial juices from the breaking down mulch) From your picture, I can't tell which it is. __________________ John

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08-22-2013, 07:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lemmysports Location: Tampa, FL Zone: 9b Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 80 BananaBucks : 16,191 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 31 Times Was Thanked 84 Times in 44 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 13 Times	Re: cloth between corm and mulch Agreed, it looks like a weed control fabric. Personally, I would get rid of it and just heap some compost/mulch on it. I like the worms to be able to move around, don't have much problem with weeds in my compost, and would be worried it would impede some pups. I'm sure it won't hurt if you leave it though.

08-22-2013, 10:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 155,036 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: cloth between corm and mulch It was probably an attempt to either prevent weeds from coming up around the plants or to keep pups to a minimum (and in a limited area so the mat doesn't spread). Leave it or remove it, it's up to you....personally, I'd remove it. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

08-23-2013, 12:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
jooonbug Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 20 BananaBucks : 11,107 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 15 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: cloth between corm and mulch Thanks everyone, I'll remove it when I get around to applying mulch in a few weeks.

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