Bananacide!!

Nicole Townsend starts with ...
Silly me, I planted a banana too close to my fence. It is now 3 years old and getting thicker and the fence is getting damaged.
What is the best way to commit bananacide?
1. Dig it up? Are they shallow rooted? what should I expect?
2. Zero??
3. will any surviving small shoots cope with a transplant to a 'more appropriate area'?

Thanx
Nicole

Nicole Townsend says...
Terrific tip Bob!
Can it really be that easy?
I assume the kero will do it's good work and should NOT be lit??
...not sure if the neighbours would be happy with a burnt hole in the fence...he he he
Nicole

Scott G says...
I had a banana that was growing under an old fence. While I replaced the fence I dug up the section that had grown under it. That was quite easy because the underground stem is close to the surface and soft.

I keep my plant about 1m from the fence now by cutting off any new shoots (suckers) that grow out of the clump on the side nearest to the fence. This also avoids the problem of new trunks ending up leaning on the fence. If I remove a sucker and it has any roots I transplant it.

Bananas transplant easily. I have transplanted many. I have transplanted a 50cm of stump of a big healthy trunk and it went well. You just have to make sure to get the section that is below the soil that the roots grow from.

I have seen bananas planted in some pretty silly spots where they will do much damage in future years. A normal size plant can push a normal fence down if a trunk leans on it. I think 1m from a fence is too close unless you are prepared to manage it. Also for those who haven’t had experience with banana plants, they are heavy! If you cut down a big piece and it falls to the ground it will pulverise any small bushy size or less plant that it falls on. So give them some room from other precious plants. Banana clumps need good access to manage.

I would like to get some short banana plants. I have seen some that stay less than 3m or so. They look much easier to manage. Does anyone know where I can get one (I am on the Gold Coast)? Has anyone had experience growing them to see if they have any drawbacks (like poor quality fruit etc)?