How to Trim a Banana Tree After Freezing

Looking out on a frozen tropical landscape is devastating. All the plants you've so lovingly nurtured look dead and brown. But don't be hasty about trimming those plants back, especially not banana plants. The dead leaves on a cold-damaged banana actually help insulate the plant against further freezing weather. Once the danger of frost has passed, you can begin to trim those dead, hanging leaves and discover whether your banana plant has survived the cold.

Kitchen shears
Ladder (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Look at your banana plant to see if there is any green visible on the leaf stems or trunk. Press the trunk to see if it is mushy or if it is still firm.
- 2
  Trim the dead leaves back to the trunk starting at the bottom, using kitchen shears, starting at the bottom of the plant. Regular clippers do not work well on banana leaves. Do not pull the leaves away from the trunk, because this may damage the already stressed plant. They will curl up and fall away as they dry.
- 3
  Cut back the top leaves far enough to allow the new growth to emerge from the center, leaving 3 to 6 inches of stem. If the center leaf is dead, and lying on its side, it may block the new leaf from emerging, so cut that back enough so that the center is unblocked. Use a ladder if necessary to reach the top leaves
- 4
  Do not cut the new growth when it comes out, even if the top of the first leaf is brown. Allow three leaves to emerge before trimming anymore off the plant. This gives the banana plant time to recover from the freeze.

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