Mulching ?

hyper36 · 06-16-2008, 04:56 AM

Is it necessary to mulch around Bananas, the Organization that I bought mine from said to mulch real heavy with "HAY", but looking through all of the galleries I do not see any. Can anyone help me out.

CookieCows · 06-16-2008, 08:57 AM

This is my first year growing bananas but I spent most of last winter on this site asking questions and absorbing as much knowlege as possible getting ready. If you type in 'mulch' in the search box it'll take you to old posts and I bet the wiki has information on it too. I topped my bed with composted cow and horse manure and then bought a some bags of cypress chips.. which I know I didn't need to get that extravagent but .... it's my first bed! For the rest of our yard... flower beds and vegetables we just get shredded bark by the truck load real cheap from a small local lumber mill.

I would worry about seeds producing weeds with using hay. Unless you mean straw.

Deb

Randy4ut · 06-16-2008, 09:11 AM

Michael,
I mulch all my beds with 3-4" of cypress mulch with very good success. Many others on this board use a variety of different types, but the main advantages for using mulch is the moisture retention in the summer, added insulation in winter, and weed suppression. The reason I use cypress is alot of my beds are around my pool area and the cypress does not "float" like other mulches, it is a bit more bug resistant, cypress does not need replacing as often, and I personally like the look of it. Mulch in general has many advantages, but I also think it really dresses up a bed better than not using any... IMHO...

AltadenaGarden · 06-16-2008, 10:01 AM

I don't mulch. I actual have had very good success growing St. Augustine grass around the bananas. I just make sure to feed my bananas every month during the growing season. The ground is mostly shaded around the bananas and the dedication sprinkler waters them every other day.

mskitty38583 · 06-16-2008, 10:43 AM

when i mulch i use hardwood mulch( i love the color) but i think that next spring i will be using ceder mulch( bugs dont like ceder). mulch will help keep the water from evaporating, when you water your trees.

Kylie2x · 06-16-2008, 12:07 PM

I mulch everything...When I cut the pampas back I shred it as well as the leaves small limbs that are around.. I also use the grass clippings and composted manure (we have cows..).. All of these things provide protection and give back to the earth... It may not sound as aesthetically pleasing as some of the commercial mulches but it darkens with age and seems to dissapear as the plantings mature..
Kylie

mskitty38583 · 06-16-2008, 01:12 PM

kylie that is exactly right. i put grass clippings in my compost buckets along with my veggie scraps so they go back too.

06-16-2008, 04:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
hyper36 hyper36's Photo Gallery Location: Spring Hill, Florida Zone: 9 Name: Michael Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 10 BananaBucks : 382 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 9 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Welcomes: 0	Mulching ? Is it necessary to mulch around Bananas, the Organization that I bought mine from said to mulch real heavy with "HAY", but looking through all of the galleries I do not see any. Can anyone help me out.

06-16-2008, 08:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
CookieCows Member CookieCows's Photo Gallery Location: Kentucky Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Deb Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 604 BananaBucks : 3,339 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 205 Thanked 91 Times in 86 Posts Welcomes: 83	Re: Mulching ? This is my first year growing bananas but I spent most of last winter on this site asking questions and absorbing as much knowlege as possible getting ready. If you type in 'mulch' in the search box it'll take you to old posts and I bet the wiki has information on it too. I topped my bed with composted cow and horse manure and then bought a some bags of cypress chips.. which I know I didn't need to get that extravagent but .... it's my first bed! For the rest of our yard... flower beds and vegetables we just get shredded bark by the truck load real cheap from a small local lumber mill. I would worry about seeds producing weeds with using hay. Unless you mean straw. Deb __________________

06-16-2008, 09:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Randy4ut Moderator Randy4ut's Photo Gallery Location: Cleveland, TN Find me on the map! Zone: 7a/b Name: Randy4ut Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 870 BananaBucks : 11,620 Feedback: 17 / 100% Thanks: 391 Thanked 319 Times in 151 Posts Welcomes: 28	Re: Mulching ? Michael, I mulch all my beds with 3-4" of cypress mulch with very good success. Many others on this board use a variety of different types, but the main advantages for using mulch is the moisture retention in the summer, added insulation in winter, and weed suppression. The reason I use cypress is alot of my beds are around my pool area and the cypress does not "float" like other mulches, it is a bit more bug resistant, cypress does not need replacing as often, and I personally like the look of it. Mulch in general has many advantages, but I also think it really dresses up a bed better than not using any... IMHO... __________________

06-16-2008, 10:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
AltadenaGarden Banana Hobbiest AltadenaGarden's Photo Gallery Location: Altadena CA Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Shawn Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 84 BananaBucks : 344 Feedback: 1 / 100% Thanks: 12 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Welcomes: 25	Re: Mulching ? I don't mulch. I actual have had very good success growing St. Augustine grass around the bananas. I just make sure to feed my bananas every month during the growing season. The ground is mostly shaded around the bananas and the dedication sprinkler waters them every other day. __________________ : Announcements Naners Expected in August - Blue Java

06-16-2008, 10:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: sparta, tn. Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,588 BananaBucks : 15,152 Feedback: 24 / 100% Thanks: 23 Thanked 456 Times in 390 Posts Welcomes: 59	Re: Mulching ? when i mulch i use hardwood mulch( i love the color) but i think that next spring i will be using ceder mulch( bugs dont like ceder). mulch will help keep the water from evaporating, when you water your trees. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION "kokomo" beach boys:

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06-16-2008, 12:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kylie2x Senior Member Kylie2x's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,039 BananaBucks : 2,558 Feedback: 20 / 100% Thanks: 123 Thanked 102 Times in 86 Posts Welcomes: 145	Re: Mulching ? I mulch everything...When I cut the pampas back I shred it as well as the leaves small limbs that are around.. I also use the grass clippings and composted manure (we have cows..).. All of these things provide protection and give back to the earth... It may not sound as aesthetically pleasing as some of the commercial mulches but it darkens with age and seems to dissapear as the plantings mature.. Kylie

06-16-2008, 01:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: sparta, tn. Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,588 BananaBucks : 15,152 Feedback: 24 / 100% Thanks: 23 Thanked 456 Times in 390 Posts Welcomes: 59	Re: Mulching ? kylie that is exactly right. i put grass clippings in my compost buckets along with my veggie scraps so they go back too. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION "kokomo" beach boys:

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