skip to main content

Vegetable Gardening

Strawberry mulch? berry rotting problem

15 years ago

Hi all,

This is my first year harvesting strawberries and I'm trying to use grass clippings from the lawn as a mulch around them, but it seems like a lot of berries are rotting on the bottom side that contacts the grass clippings. Is there a better choice of mulch? I've seen black plastic used at you-pick farms but I would think that you would need to have some kind of drip irrigation system in place under the plastic to do that. What about landscape fabric? Would that work well with strawberries and let water through too? Only thing is that my beds around currently mounded raise beds so I fear that the fabric might repel the rain down the sloped sides of the beds and not have time to seep in. Maybe I could put some wood sides on the bed and then have flat fabric...

Thanks for any suggestions,

Steve

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

crabjoe
15 years ago
I have cedar mulch or straw under my strawberry plants. I haven't had any issues with berry rotting.
vgkg Z-7 Va
15 years ago
Pine needles work very good with my strawberries as they smother weeds, conserve moisture, and dry quickly after a rain (very "airy"). If you're lucky like me and have a neighbor with a dozen pine trees that helps a lot.
Related Discussions
Strawberry Leather Rot, in a Pot
Q
Comments (1)
Could it be from lack of bees and pollination? My quinalt kind of look how you describe but the fruit is too small too tell. The stalks and fruit are small and hidden under the leaves though. The plants look fine and green but the tips of the leaves are turning brown as if I fed them too much or they are just old. It doesnt look like a disease though. Who knows...
...See More
RaspBerry, BlueBerries, Grapes, and Rose Bush problem
Q
Comments (1)
Fricanod: Since you are new to gardening, the problems may lie in your basic soil preparation or watering. What kind of soil do you have, and did you add any amendments when planting? Blueberries require an acidic soil rich in organic material, but well drained. Are you mulching your plants, and how much and how often do you water? Excessive watering is a common mistake of new gardeners. Mulching helps to conserve moisture and hold down weeds. So tell us about these things. There is no reason to believe that eggplant would affect your other perennial plants. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
...See More
Keeping strawberries from rotting on the ground
Q
Comments (4)
We have suffered in the past with gritty fruit from touching the ground. Fixed it this year, using cheap plastic forks. Push the handle end into the soil and drape the fruit stem over the fork tines, keeping it high enough not to touch the ground. Works a treat.
...See More
Bark mulch for strawberries/vegetables?
Q
Comments (4)
I use wood mulch around my strawberries. Haven't had any problems so far. Wood mulch improves soil texture and fertility when it's broken down. When used as a top dressing (not mixed with the soil before it breaks down) it will not tie up nitrogen at root level. Someone in another forum asked about the benefits of mulch and I wrote a list of those. Most would apply here, so I will post them: Mulch would be very beneficial. It -improves soil fertility and texture when it's broken down, -prevents germination of many weed seeds, -reduces competition for food and water from grass and weeds, -reduces erosion, -helps to maintain soil moisture during dry periods, -often aids drainage by preventing surface crusting and sealing, -can keep roots cooler during hot summer weather, -can help to moderate soil temperature fluctuations, -reduces frost-heaving, -reduces certain soil-borne diseases by preventing soil and fungi from splashing onto foliage, -prevents damage from mowers and trimmers, -and improves the look of the landscape.
...See More
happyday
15 years ago
Thanks for bringing this up. I just last night spread fermenting grass clippings under my new strawberry plants. Now I know to put woodchips on top of that.
djscrapbooks
15 years ago
I used oak leaves and pine needles this year because that's what I have a ton of. So far so good, now to keep the animals away once they start ripening :)
I've also read many times people use straw. I use what is cheapest :)

{{gwi:65575}}
alfie_md6
15 years ago
Leaves and no pine needles work too. (On the other hand, I didn't thin the strawberries last year, so this year I have a strawberry jungle, and the issue of mulch is pretty much moot.)
steve22802
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the ideas. I think I can get a hold of some pine needles. Hopefully they will make a drier bed for the strawberries to rest on than the grass. Now I'm starting to see why some people like to grow strawberries in barrels. That way the berries hang in the air and don't need to touch the ground at all. Maybe I'll try that next year.

- Steve
bigfoot839
15 years ago
don't leave out the sawdust i use that and haven't lost a single strawberry to rot but the squirrls and birds love me this year lol still getting more than i lose so i guess i am happy they can steal a few here and there we all need to eat
oldroser
15 years ago
They are called straw berries because straw is the classic mulch. Easy to come by and cheap.
susan33
15 years ago
I used pine needles with my newly-planted strawberries this year and the weeds are growing up through them like crazy. I thought I put it down pretty thickly...

I would like to re-do it with the fabric, but the question is, will the plants' runners be able to reach the dirt and take root through the fabric? Anyone know? Thanks :)
oldroser
15 years ago
No,the strawberry runners will not be able to root through the fabric.

Related Stories

SPRING GARDENING Summer Crops: How to Grow Strawberries

By Marianne Lipanovich

Pluck your own sweet strawberries right from the garden vine for smoothies, salads or eating then and there

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Sweet Summer Crops

By Marianne Lipanovich

This guide will help any gardener get started on growing the freshest warm-season veggies and berries for summer

GROUND COVERS Ground Force: 10 Top Ground Covers for Your Garden

By Carol Bucknell Garden Design

Protect your soil from weeds and drought this summer with a living mulch of ground covers

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Home Farmers, Show Us Your Edible Gardens

By Stacy Briscoe

We want to see where your tomatoes, summer squashes and beautiful berries are growing this summer

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Healthy Home Habitats for Northern Flickers

By Habitat Network

These colorful woodpeckers found across the U.S. and Canada love berries, seeds and ants and often nest in deep burrows in trees

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 6 Great Ways With Garden Ground Covers

By Matt Kilburn

Use them as problem solvers, weed killers, color and texture providers ... ground cover plants have both practical and visual appeal

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Grow Blueberries for Their Fruit and More

By Ellen Sousa/Turkey Hill Brook Farm

Eastern gardeners should consider growing blueberry plants for their delicious fruits, bee-friendly spring blooms and brilliant fall foliage

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crop: How to Grow Blueberries

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant blueberries in spring or fall for garden beauty through three seasons — and a sweet superfood in summer

GARDENING GUIDES Vegetables and Flowers Mix in Beautiful Edible Gardens

By Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Ornamentals, meet your edible garden mates. We know you'll get along just beautifully

FARM YOUR YARD How to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants

By Annie Thornton

Whether you’re farming your parking strip or beautifying your backyard, a planting box you make yourself can come in mighty handy

Sponsored

Davidson Builders

1 Review

Franklin County's Full-Scale General Contractor

More Discussions

Does sevin work on bare dirt?

14

Confused about overwintered potato plants

3

3

Overnight low of 43 - peppers ok?

15

Slugs war won, kinda

25