Simple question Mulch or weed barrier?

superbouncyballs · 05-04-2014, 11:34 AM

I have recently ordered 2 banana plants they are a Muso Basjoo and a Mekong Giant. I'm in NE Pa zone 6

My question is I normally when crating a new flower bed put down a weed barrier. However these will put off runners and such and push up the weed barrier. I learned this Folly once with bamboo.

what do you people do? do you just do a very heavy layer of mulch to prevent weeds?

Abnshrek · 05-04-2014, 03:10 PM

I do a heavy layer.. :^)

crazy banana · 05-04-2014, 04:51 PM

Heavy layer of mulch works for various reasons here in SoCal:
Prevents weeds, helps maintain moisture in the soil and it is free from the landfill.

Kat2 · 05-04-2014, 05:40 PM

Why spend money to put plastic in your garden if you have a good source of naturally decomposing (don't buy the red junk--get chips from a tree trimmer) stuff that will feed the earth? Besides most people mulch over that stuff anyway to cover it up and then the weeds grow in that nice stuff--weeds that are determined so they end up destroying your expensive efforts to keep them away. Ages ago I bought into the black plastic concept which I did not cover but then spent hours pulling up pieces of that nasty stuff a year or so later.

How to avoid using weedblock? Lay cardboard down then chips. Many layers of newspaper in a pinch. Do not put down old carpet! The removal of that stinky stuff is even worse than plastic.

superbouncyballs · 05-04-2014, 06:50 PM

Thnaks All this is what I was thinking.

I have used cardboard in the past. I like to put something down when starting a new flower bed. this will get cardboard and mulch then.

Should I worry about the runners that come up? I'm sure I will see them trying to push through.

If I understand correctly though these runners should be cut off.

Also here in hte north I should not expect my banana plants to flower correct?

Olafhenny · 05-04-2014, 06:51 PM

Hi Balls (do you have a first name or a handle, which resembles one?),

What kind of mulch do you have in mind? That term could mean anything from crushed
rock (worst) over last year's leaves to grass clippings (best). Anything, other than crushed
rock, will be better than ground cloth, if that is what you mean by weed barrier.

But do not throw your ground cloth out. It is the best thing you can put on the bottom
inside of flower pots in the house. It keeps the soil contained without leakage, while
letting the water freely drain into the water catcher, which you hopefully placed under
the pot. Garden centres usually try to sell you 6 inch wide rolls of fly screen for that
purpose, but that only does half the job.

Good luck,
Olaf

bengal tiger nanas · 05-04-2014, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olafhenny

Hi Balls (do you have a first name or a handle, which resembles one?),

What kind of mulch do you have in mind? That term could mean anything from crushed
rock (worst) over last year's leaves to grass clippings (best). Anything, other than crushed
rock, will be better than ground cloth, if that is what you mean by weed barrier.

But do not throw your ground cloth out. It is the best thing you can put on the bottom
inside of flower pots in the house. It keeps the soil contained without leakage, while
letting the water freely drain into the water catcher, which you hopefully placed under
the pot. Garden centres usually try to sell you 6 inch wide rolls of fly screen for that
purpose, but that only does half the job.

Good luck,
Olaf

interesting as always

cincinnana · 05-04-2014, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbouncyballs

Also here in hte north I should not expect my banana plants to flower correct?

Yes ....unless your lucky.....a Snowballs chance in Herschy....

Kat2 · 05-07-2014, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbouncyballs

Should I worry about the runners that come up? I'm sure I will see them trying to push through.

If I understand correctly though these runners should be cut off.

Leave a space around the plants where you don't put cardboard or paper but only mulch so the pups can come up. I don't grow ornamentals but would think you'd want them to grow so you add to your "stock" meaning you don't have to buy more plants when the others are done. Someone else will correct me if I'm off base.

superbouncyballs · 05-20-2014, 08:33 AM

Well Thanks all for the suggestions. I ended up digging a big ring of grass away. about 5ft in diameter. putting the plants in the middle and then a big pile of well composted horse pooh. to fill the rings

05-04-2014, 11:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
superbouncyballs Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 3,540 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Simple question Mulch or weed barrier? I have recently ordered 2 banana plants they are a Muso Basjoo and a Mekong Giant. I'm in NE Pa zone 6 My question is I normally when crating a new flower bed put down a weed barrier. However these will put off runners and such and push up the weed barrier. I learned this Folly once with bamboo. what do you people do? do you just do a very heavy layer of mulch to prevent weeds?

05-04-2014, 03:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 218,156 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Simple question Mulch or weed barrier? I do a heavy layer.. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

05-04-2014, 04:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,641 BananaBucks : 1,636 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,021 Times Was Thanked 2,962 Times in 1,115 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,998 Times	Re: Simple question Mulch or weed barrier? Heavy layer of mulch works for various reasons here in SoCal: Prevents weeds, helps maintain moisture in the soil and it is free from the landfill.

05-04-2014, 05:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kat2 Location: Now nesting in Titusville, FL Zone: 10A or 9B ish. Like it matters? Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,153 BananaBucks : 247,485 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,921 Times Was Thanked 2,669 Times in 1,322 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 595 Times	Re: Simple question Mulch or weed barrier? Why spend money to put plastic in your garden if you have a good source of naturally decomposing (don't buy the red junk--get chips from a tree trimmer) stuff that will feed the earth? Besides most people mulch over that stuff anyway to cover it up and then the weeds grow in that nice stuff--weeds that are determined so they end up destroying your expensive efforts to keep them away. Ages ago I bought into the black plastic concept which I did not cover but then spent hours pulling up pieces of that nasty stuff a year or so later. How to avoid using weedblock? Lay cardboard down then chips. Many layers of newspaper in a pinch. Do not put down old carpet! The removal of that stinky stuff is even worse than plastic. __________________ Last edited by Kat2 : 05-04-2014 at 05:43 PM.

05-04-2014, 06:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
superbouncyballs Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 3,540 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Simple question Mulch or weed barrier? Thnaks All this is what I was thinking. I have used cardboard in the past. I like to put something down when starting a new flower bed. this will get cardboard and mulch then. Should I worry about the runners that come up? I'm sure I will see them trying to push through. If I understand correctly though these runners should be cut off. Also here in hte north I should not expect my banana plants to flower correct?

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05-04-2014, 06:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 252,442 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Simple question Mulch or weed barrier? Hi Balls (do you have a first name or a handle, which resembles one?), What kind of mulch do you have in mind? That term could mean anything from crushed rock (worst) over last year's leaves to grass clippings (best). Anything, other than crushed rock, will be better than ground cloth, if that is what you mean by weed barrier. But do not throw your ground cloth out. It is the best thing you can put on the bottom inside of flower pots in the house. It keeps the soil contained without leakage, while letting the water freely drain into the water catcher, which you hopefully placed under the pot. Garden centres usually try to sell you 6 inch wide rolls of fly screen for that purpose, but that only does half the job. Good luck, Olaf __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

05-20-2014, 08:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
superbouncyballs Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 3,540 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Simple question Mulch or weed barrier? Well Thanks all for the suggestions. I ended up digging a big ring of grass away. about 5ft in diameter. putting the plants in the middle and then a big pile of well composted horse pooh. to fill the rings Last edited by superbouncyballs : 05-20-2014 at 08:34 AM. Reason: more detal added

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