Proper Mulch for Strawberries

Materials

• A variety of materials can be used for mulching strawberries through the harsh winter months. Organic materials such as hay, wheat, or oats can be used, but the seeds should be removed before the material is applied. If there are seeds attached to the plants, it is possible that they will take root and begin to grow in the spring, taking nutrients away from the strawberries.

  Another environmentally friendly option for mulch is newspapers. Old newspapers put through a paper shredder then applied around the plants are more efficient than papers that have been cut into smaller pieces.

Time Frame

• Mulch should be applied in the fall, before the temperatures drop too far. A general guideline is to keep track not only of the air temperature but of the soil temperature as well; when there are several days in a row where the soil temperature is near 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the air temperatures are approaching the freezing mark, it's time to apply the mulch.

  At this time, much of the above-ground foliage will have already died back, making it easy to apply the mulch. Strawberry plants can weather through several frosts before the ground gets cold enough to do permanent damage, but mulch should always be applied before the ground freezes solid.

Application

• Regardless of the material being used, mulch should be applied in a layer 3 and 5 inches deep. Once the mulch becomes wet or snow-covered, it will compress to between 2 and 4 inches, depending on the material.

  In areas where there are high winds, it may be necessary to account for shifting of some of the lighter-weight mulches. An inch or so of extra mulch can be applied, or putting snow fencing up along the rows of strawberry plants can help protect them further. Once the dampness settles in, the mulch will generally remain where it falls.

Removing Mulch

• After the weather breaks and the ground has begun to thaw, mulch should be removed for the growing season. Removal can be done as soon as there are signs of life in the plants beneath the mulch.

  Carefully rake or pull the layer of mulch off the plants, and leave it between the rows. The advantage to using biodegradable materials such as cover crops and newspapers is that the mulch will already be partially decayed by the springtime; the mulch can be left between the rows to decay further, or it can be worked into the soil where it will work as a natural fertilizer.