How to winterize strawberries 🍓#garden #homestead #gardentips, by Hutton Girls Homestead on YouTube. 1 min 30 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 30 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Wait until the plants go dormant. In most cold climates that means a few hard frosts have hit and the leaves have turned brown or flat.
Trim the old leaves back to about 1 inch above the crown. Rake up the clippings and bin them so pests and disease do not overwinter in the bed.
Clear weeds and fallen leaves from around the plants. Pull them gently by hand so you do not lift the shallow roots.
Water the bed well if the soil is dry. Damp soil holds warmth better and keeps the mulch from blowing away.
Spread 3 to 4 inches of clean straw over the whole bed. Loosen the flakes so air can move and the mulch does not mat down.
Leave a small gap around each crown if your winters are mild. In very cold areas, cover the crowns completely.
Weigh the edges down with a few stones or branches on windy sites. Check the bed after storms and top up any thin patches.
Pull the mulch back to the sides in early spring once new growth appears. Leave a thin layer to keep the soil cool and moist.
Tips and common mistakes
Use straw or salt hay rather than leaves, which can pack down and smother the plants.
Do not mulch too early in autumn, or warm soil can rot the crowns.
Keep mulch away from the plant centers in wet, mild climates to prevent mold.
Questions
Can I use shredded leaves instead of straw?
Yes, but chop them finely and spread them thin so they do not mat into a soggy layer. Straw is the safer choice for strawberry beds.
When should I remove the winter mulch?
Pull it back in early spring when you see new green leaves pushing through. Keep a light layer to hold moisture through summer.
Do I need to cut the plants back?
Trim only the dead and damaged leaves. Cutting into healthy crowns or roots can kill the plant.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
