Question
Nick, what is the best way to trim the lower dead leaves off of a banana plant?  Do I cut it close to the trunk or can I pull it down all the way to the soil level so that not much of it is left at all to show?
Our newly planted ones are looking a bit better, thank heavens.  Beautiful, new, burgandy leaves coming up in the center!

Answer
..don't pull them down to soil level! this will damage the psuedostem, cut them off right at the petiole but just before the psuedostem (trunk). Bananas are survivors and they will regenerate, as I said, so don't be concerned about them, copious amounts of water and fertilizer is the ticket here to success, but wait for them to establish themselves, like after about 3-5 more leaves, in the mean time moderate moisture only; it usually takes about 14 months of frost free conditions to get a bunch to form. Nick