Waht do you use to mulch your banana mats with?
 

For years my family and I mulched our bananas with grass clippings. I know this is not ideal because the grass decaying may rob nitrogen. The bananas always responded well and did not have nematodes. I currently use old potting mix from dud nursery plants. I know there may be alot of pathogens in this old soil but the bananas love it and have not had any disease problems. It keeps moisture in, helps with the EC for holding nutrients and usually has left over fert in it.

I recently started using BlackKow.
I also add peels from eaten bananas.

Since I have my bananas in planting beds, they are surrounded by cypress mulch...any thoughts on good/bad?

I added a layer of cow manure after reading about it on another thread. I've only had my bananas for about 7-8 months and so far their growth has been nothing shirt of amazing! From 2 foot stalks to a couple now over 5 feet tall.

I have been using the composted steer manure from WalMart and Home Depot, they are cheap, less than $1 per cubic ft, and bananas love them.

Hum, afraid I haven't mulched the ones outside in the ground except over the winter and then I used rabbit manure and leaves. Most of mine are in pots on the porch though, so far.

Mulch
 

I use compost from the local landfill by the truckload.

I chop up old leaves, too (cut them with scissors).
Everything goes back into the ground.