How to Winterize Strawberries

Winterizing strawberries is an essential management practice that gives these plants the protection they need to stay alive through cold weather. Strawberries develop new flower buds in the fall; if you fail to insulate these freshly formed buds from cold weather with a thick layer of mulch, the resulting damage could cause you to lose your next season of fruit. Aim to winterize your strawberries shortly before the temperature reaches 20 F. This ensures that the plants are fully dormant and minimizes your chances of causing crown rot by applying the mulch too soon, according to B. Rosie Lerner, a Purdue University Extension horticulturist.

Things You'll Need

Straw or shredded corn stalks
Manure fork

Tape measure

Instructions

- 1
  Gather straw or chopped corn stalks in a heap next to your strawberry bed. If you're using a bale of straw, remove and discard any baling twine or wire securing the chunks or flakes of straw together. Loosen tightly packed chunks of straw by picking each one up and pulling the straw apart with your hands.
- 2
  Scoop up the straw or corn stalk material with your hands or a manure fork and pile the mulch loosely over and around the strawberry plants in a 3- to 5-inch layer. Cover the ground in the strawberry bed completely with the mulch, paying careful attention to pack the mulch around the bases of the strawberry plants to minimize potential root damage and ground heaving. Inspect each plant to ensure no parts are exposed to the cold air.
- 3
  Press down slightly on the mulching material to help pack it gently into place, and then leave the mulch-covered strawberries alone for two to three days to allow the mulch to settle completely. Measure the height of the settled mulch to ensure it's at least 2 to 4 inches tall; if necessary, add additional mulching material to insulate the strawberry plants adequately.

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