I've a 16-foot banana shrub that has to be close to 80 years old on the side of my house. Last year, it lost almost all of its leaves. They turned yellow and dropped. This year, new growth reemerged, but now the same thing is occurring. Could this be caused by parasitic nematodes? Or has the tree come naturally to the end of its life span? The soil is quite dry. If nematodes, will adding compost and fertilizer,along with more watering help?

Can you add photos?

Hi! If it is an edible banana usually the plant dies after bearing bananas and it has several other new banana plants coming out of the roots.

Banana Shrub is "Magnolia figo" in the horticultural literature, or perhaps Michelia figo. It is definitely not a "banana", and the flowers don't even smell like 'em, contra a few thousand claims to the contrary. Mine is in full flower at the moment, and has just finished shedding all the leaves it had earlier in the spring. In a previous winter, it lost 100% of its leaves. It's in a big pot, and if it has nematodes, I'd like to know where they came from, as I used only "sterile" soil products.