AnnaJW

After a very strange winter/early spring, I think that Spring is finally here! I was working in the yard all afternoon today and noticed that all of my bananas are leafing out quickly all of a sudden. I have one Ice Cream that I'm hoping will produce fruit this year.

I do have a major problem - Crabgrass. Is there anything I do about the crabgrass around my banana plants? And another major problem - ANTS. I don't like to use anything that is not organic. Especially around food bearing plants. I cut an old leaf off of a banana today and several minutes later, the ants were all over it!

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-Anna Banana -

Living my life in MMORPG's

pitangadiego

The organic method is to pull it by hand. The effective method is Roundup - just shield the banana's trunk from getting sprayed (a nice piece of cardboard or the like should suffice.

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AnnaJW

Thanks! I'm trying to stick to Organic. I can't believe what a pain that stuff is!!!

__________________
-Anna Banana -

Living my life in MMORPG's

scooterbug

May I ask why you have a problem with ants?

I grow organically and avoid killing any insects in my gardens that may be useful.

They are like my free garden workers

I do use Roundup tho because as soon as the air hits it it turns into organic matter that's why you can plant a day or two later. Only the RU that gets on leafs and travels to the root zone kills.

If crab and quack grasses were a cash-crop I would be able to quit my job


WM sells a product that has the same active ingredients for much less dough$
"Eliminator® Weed and Grass Killer" ( I seem to remember that it is a little stronger ('-'?)

As pitangadiego cautioned .... since the pseudo stem is a leaf protect it from over-spray.

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Daddy sez ...........
"Never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level, and then
beat you with experience."

AnnaJW

If the ants would stay outside they wouldn't be a problem. I never used to bother them until they decided they wanted to be House Ants.
Last summer they were so bad in the house that it was starting to look like we were filming a horror movie starring ANTS. I think they are jealous of the spider we've had living on the kitchen ceiling for months now... ha:

__________________
-Anna Banana -

Living my life in MMORPG's

scooterbug

Oh you shudda said so.

That's no problem around the house, find out where they come in and sprinkle cinnamon they hate it. Completley safe around pets.

I use it on my houseplants also, seems like they like my african violets a little too much so I sprinkle them too

If you need a lot of the spice find a resturant food supply business.
I can get a one pound container of cinnamon for little more than what a small shaker costs at the grocers.

Good place to get powdered cayenne if you need it for larger garden pests like wabbits

__________________
Daddy sez ...........
"Never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level, and then
beat you with experience."