How to Grow & Prune Strawberries

Grow strawberries in well-draining soil exposed to full sunlight, preferably in March or April. The shallow-rooted plants thrive in loamy soils with a pH between 6.0 and 6.7. Plant strawberries 24 inches apart in a row, and space multiple rows 36 to 48 inches apart. Remove the blossoms that appear on newly transplanted strawberries to encourage the plants to develop better runners.

Irrigate the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Let the top 2 inches of soil dry out before watering again. To avoid overhead watering that increases the chances of fungal diseases on the plants, use a soaker hose or drip irrigation system.

Apply 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch such as sawdust or wood chips over the rows by late fall to protect the plants from frost damage, the cycle of soil freezing and thawing and to prevent weeds. Remove the mulch in early spring and spread it over the aisles between adjacent rows.

Feed the plants 1 to 1.5 cups of ammonium nitrate per 100 feet of row. Spread the fertilizer over dry foliage and brush off or wash with water immediately to prevent burn.

Spread netting over plants to prevent bird damage. Place stones over the edges of the netting or anchor it into stakes inserted every 2 feet around the planting to prevent the birds from walking under.

Renovate the rows after you harvest the strawberries in late July so the patch produces fruit for three to four years. Mow the plants down to 1.5 to 2 inches above the crowns. Spread 20 lbs. of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100-square-foot area. Narrow each row down to a width of 6 to 12 inches. Thin plants in narrowed rows to space them 4 to 6 inches apart. Provide 1-inch of water every week so the plants make new runners.