Re: Banana Circles
If you're dumping fresh yard waste you might be doing your banana a disservice. Fresh waste ties up nitrogen as it composts. Instead, compost your yard waste separately and, after you have finished compost, amend your soil with it.
These days, for plants as a whole, it's generally recommended against digging a hole and filling the hole with good soil, amendments, etc. Plants will tend to turn the hole (now filled, of course) into a pot and not spread their roots as far. Instead, consider amending the top couple of inches with compost. This may also help avoid upsetting the microbiome in your soil (in nature, the top soil is often disturbed but not lower layers).
Even with a well prepared bed and even with years of soil improvement, you will likely get better results with fertilizing. I top dress with an organic fertilizer (maintaining that microbiome!) but there's nothing wrong with inorganic fertilizer (and may possibly increase yields).
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