How to Cut Back Strawberries

Remove the new blossoms only during the first year of strawberry plant growth. The strawberry plants will not produce any fruit during the first year, and pinching the plants helps to encourage new growth for the following growing season.

Trim back the small shoots that grow from the main part of the plant. Trim the shoots down to the main plant because they often drain the nutrients that the plant needs to produce strawberries. Cutting them down to the main mound will help encourage the production of larger fruits.

Cut the strawberry plants down to 1 inch above the soil level when the growing season ends. The strawberries will continue to grow in the spring and they will remain productive.

Trim old, dead and diseased leaves from the strawberry plant. Cut off the areas to the closest point of green and healthy tissue. Discard the leaves because they can mold and decay, which can cause the plants to become diseased.