How do I Protect Strawberry Plants From Freezing?

Water the strawberry plants until the first frost in the fall. Then reduce the amount of water by half until November, at which time you can stop watering for the rest of the season until after the last frost in the spring.

Cover the plants with a 4- to 6-inch layer of straw mulch in December or sooner if the temperatures begin to drop below 15 degrees Fahrenheit at night.

Lay an old blanket or sheet over the strawberry plants on top of the straw mulch. Use rocks around the edges to hold the blanket or sheet down securely. A layer of soil can also be shoveled over the blanket or sheet for further insulation in extremely cold conditions.

Remove the soil, blanket and straw insulation in late spring after the last anticipated frost and once growth starts. The nighttime temperatures should be consistently above freezing before removing all of the insulation from the plants. The insulation can gradually be removed, one layer at a time, until all danger of frost has passed. Keep the mulch in the rows between the plants.