How to Prune Musa Basjoo in the Autumn & Winter

In the Ground

• 1

  Mix 1/2 cup bleach and 1 gallon of warm water.

• 2

  Clean the pruning shears, lopper or tree saw in the bleach solution. This will stop the spread of any diseases from other plants previously pruned by the tools.

• 3

  Cut off any leaves blocking access to the base of the trunk.

• 4

  Saw or cut off the entire trunk, as close to the soil level as possible.

• 5

  Discard the leaves and trunk that were removed, or add them to a compost or mulch pile. Do not leave them laying near the pruned hardy banana tree, where they might attract insects.

Potted

• 6

  Mix 1/2 cup bleach and 1 gallon of warm water.

• 7

  Clean the pruning shears, lopper or tree saw in the bleach solution. This stops the spread of any diseases from other plants previously pruned by the tools.

• 8

  Decide where the musa basjoo will be placed once it is moved indoors. Measure the area.

• 9

  Cut away leaves and portions of the trunk as needed to make the plant fit in the allocated space. If necessary, cut the entire plant down to the soil level for winter storage indoors.