Will Roundup Kill Banana Plants?

Herbicide Description

• Roundup is the product name for a group of herbicides made by Monsanto Corp. that contain glyphosate as an active ingredient for the removal of plant life. It is non-selective and kills all plants, regardless of type. Roundup only affects plants it comes in direct contact with, according to the Roundup Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The glyphosate spreads throughout the plant, inhibiting a certain enzyme found only in plants. This stops the formation of necessary amino acids. The death of the plant is gradual, taking up to six weeks for the killing of a banana plant.

Benefits

• The complete removal of a banana plant becomes necessary when an older tree stops producing or becomes infected with disease that can spread to other plants. For example, the banana bunchy top disease moves easily between plants, often requiring the destruction of an entire orchard. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture recommends the use of Roundup for the chemical removal of diseased banana plants, according to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The use of Roundup stops the spread of disease by reducing re-growth of diseased plants because the herbicide spreads through the roots and suckers of the plant.

Method

• The University of Hawaii at Manoa recommends spraying the plant with an approved aphicide to kill all aphids. This reduces the spread of aphids to other plants. Then cut off the banana bunch at the point where it ties into the stem. Use a sharp object, such as a screwdriver, to create a 45 degree sloping hole into the stem approximately 1 foot from the ground. Inject 0.04 ounces of Roundup Ultra Max per 2 to 3 inches of stem diameter into the hole. Repeat for each stem in the mat. Plants under 2 inches in diameter may be injected in a downward hole pierced in the top of the stem. Remove the plant after it turns brown and dies.

Precautions

• Always wear long sleeves, gloves and safety glasses when handling herbicides such as Roundup. The Roundup Ultra Max label for Hawaii warns against the human or animal consumption of any fruit or plant materials from treated plants. Roundup may be used as a spray to treat weeds around banana trees if they have established for over three months.