Strawberry mulching.

**Aberdeenplotter** · 09-09-2018, 07:26 PM

what makes you think the straw was contaminated? This has been the hottest summer since 1976 and it is distinctly possible your strawbs wilted simply because they were too dry. A straw mulch would have helped prevent evaporation of moisture and without it your strawbs may have been in real trouble

**veggiechicken** · 09-09-2018, 07:47 PM

Bobbin's earlier thread with some background at https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...mas_97061.html

Shall I merge them for you, Bobbin? It always helps us to see what's happened previously.

Another Strawberry thread at https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ent_96917.html

**Gman** · 12-05-2019, 08:20 AM

Wood chips to mulch strawberries?

Hi, sorry to recycle old post but seemed relevant.

I made a couple of raised beds, filled with a mixture of manure, leaf mould and soil and planted strawberry runners in them this year.

The plants seem ok, growing slowly and are starting to flower with a few wee fruitlets on some plants.

I know I need to mulch them at some stage, but read that if I do it too early I can lower the temperature of the soil. I also read that you can use strawberry mats or straw. I have neither, but do have a whole pile of wood chips from where we had some trees taken down in January.

My questions therefore are:

1. When should I mulch them?

2. Is it ok to use wood chips? (Alternatives i already have in garden are lots of cedar needles, or partially rotted down leaf mould if these would be viable alternatives) or should I acquire strawberry mats or actual straw?

Cheers

**greenishfing** · 12-05-2019, 08:36 AM

I like using straw as it keeps the strawberries nice and clean and lifts them up. I buy a large bale (just fits in the car boot) every summer from a local farmer for about �3.

**nickdub** · 12-05-2019, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by Gman View Post

Hi, sorry to recycle old post but seemed relevant.

I made a couple of raised beds, filled with a mixture of manure, leaf mould and soil and planted strawberry runners in them this year.

The plants seem ok, growing slowly and are starting to flower with a few wee fruitlets on some plants.

I know I need to mulch them at some stage, but read that if I do it too early I can lower the temperature of the soil. I also read that you can use strawberry mats or straw. I have neither, but do have a whole pile of wood chips from where we had some trees taken down in January.

My questions therefore are:

1. When should I mulch them?

2. Is it ok to use wood chips? (Alternatives i already have in garden are lots of cedar needles, or partially rotted down leaf mould if these would be viable alternatives) or should I acquire strawberry mats or actual straw?

Cheers

The cedar needles and partially rotted down leaf mould would be my choice for now - strawberries are adapted for woodland growth and quite like acid conditions. I wouldn't use the wood-chips this year, as when they rot down they take nitrogen from the soil, but if you stored them in a bag or a pile they'd be good to use next year.

**Greenleaves** · 12-05-2019, 05:34 PM

I have never bothered....still get good resuts

**chrisdb** · 12-05-2019, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by Greenleaves View Post

I have never bothered....still get good resuts

I use strawberries as a groundcover under shrubs and trees, leave them to reproduce and look after themselves, and still get quite a few after the birds and slugs are done. It has the advantage of being zero effort and going some way to suppressing weeds.

**Gman** · 12-05-2019, 10:19 PM

Thanks folks

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Strawberry mulching.

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