skip to main content

Square Foot Gardening

Do you mulch your strawberries?

14 years ago

I read to use black plastic, then in another article it said don't use BP because the soil s/b cool for strawberries.

Then I read use newspaper (which would be easier, anyway, since I didn't mulch prior to planting, which would be a total b%$& if I were using BP).

I see that the Wisconsin something-or-other shows a pic of shredded NP as winter mulch, and it's applied 4-5 inches thick.

Help me out on the how-to of this. I guess I def need weed control here, and shredded seems 'handy' as a mulch, but what keeps it from blowing away? Should I just use 4-5 SHEETS thick to keep weeds under control and toss some rocks on to hold it in place?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

mmqchdygg
Original Author
14 years ago
Forgot to add:

Do you reserve a second bed so that you've got one bed that is always in its 2nd year? If production dwindles by year 3, I would think it would make sense to start Bed #2 next year, then redo Bed #1 the following year so that essentially, no bed ever GETS to year 3.

Logical, or no?
heather38
14 years ago
Q1 Funnily enough I was about to post the same question so cann't help you much but just to back you up, I read about the same method of using paper, hense the same question, I guess you got your Strawberry roots today as well?
Q2 very logical to me? unless we are both bonkers? haha, I was always told this is the case with strawberries and it's what my grandad did, but then I get confused, do the runners count as the same year as the plant or as the next years planting?
Related Discussions
What ground cover do you put around your strawberry plants?
Q
Comments (6)
It was recommended to me to mulch with pine needles over the plants in winter. They protected well, allowing moisture through but not rotting the crowns. I have just pushed them aside and it seems they will be good there also. 'Course I've only seen maybe 5 slugs here in Colorado, so maybe I don't have a good handle on the problem.
...See More
Do you water the mulch in your garden paths?
Q
Comments (3)
If you supply enough moisture to the mulch on those paths then you will see plants germinating there, something you probably do not want. There is no need to water the paths.
...See More
where do you buy your mulch in Orange county?
Q
Comments (5)
Thanks, I called them and they said they don't have pine bark fines but game me a lead where to get them. Still searching. :) I've called a few places it's like looking for a needle in a hay stack. Plenty down south, not around here. I might switch to triple shredded pine bark. I need the fines to grow out container plants. LOTS of container plants. I started my own nursery a few years ago and now it's time to pot things up. wanna help? lol :) Laura
...See More
Do you Mulch your Bulb Beds
Q
Comments (4)
In late fall I put both compost and shredded pine bark mulch on all beds, including the areas with bulbs. In spring I usually remove mulch from the bulb areas though I might not do it any more because all bulbs, including early tiny ones (winter aconite, snowdrops, iris reticulata, and such), seem to do fine growing through the mulch. I noticed it whenever I would be running late removing it. The mulch I use does decompose so the thickness is not the same as when put in the fall. I think the bulbs appreciate it in winter and it helps improve the soil, so I think it's a win-win situation with organic mulching.
...See More
homertherat
14 years ago
Well, if you let the berries just go how they will, they will reproduce via runners so you won't need to re-plant, but it depends on the variety.

I'm not sure about the newspaper, so I can't help you.
mmqchdygg
Original Author
14 years ago
hi heather-
I got them over the weekend, and planted them "about" 3-4 per square foot. I think I left about 6-8" in between each plant.

Anyway, I think I'll go with the (unshredded)newspaper for weed control, and cover it with hay or pine needles to keep the fruits off the wet newspaper, and to keep the newspaper from blowing away on me.

I found someone's blog online about planting runners, and it seemed that it took quite some time for the runner to develop into a good-sized plant (the pic I saw was of a 9-month old plant...hold on, lemme see if I can find it again...Found it...linked below...), so I'm thinking that this new runner plant would be NEXT year's plant (but at that point would probably be considered 2 years old, so like you said, this year's runners are one year old if you take them early & root them? I guess timing of rooting the runner would make a world of difference here.

It's all very confusing, and to add to the fact that this person linked below is gardening in Ireland...somewhere in Zone 9. And that info is hardly applicable to a Zone 5er's 120-day growing season. Sigh.

Here is a link that might be useful: Make a Rainbow Planting Strawberry Runners
venusruiz
14 years ago
Hi,

I have the same question re the mulch. I got my strawberries almost a month ago, and I didnt mulch because I was wondering about the runners having easy access to the soil to send out roots, but I would like to mulch. I use newspaper, thickness of 3-4 pages and then cover with bark mulch. It's great for preventing weeds, even to kill grass. But I wonder if it will be too difficult for the runners to set.

On Q2, I dont have space for a second bed to go empty for a year, so I just have to do with overplanting on the same space. Is this too bad for the plants?

Thanks,

Maria

Here is a link that might be useful: The Lagunites gardening experience
mikewrt
14 years ago
I don't do strawberries here in texas, but I might
suggest you go to Mel's site and ask
mike

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

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

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Garden Musts for March

Some toil in the soil this month will help ensure a blooming garden come summer, so dig out your shovel and bring on the mulch

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

GARDENING GUIDES California Gardener: What to Do in July

By Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Active green thumb or not, top priorities for peak fruit and veggie season: watering, feeding, keeping up with growth

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

SAVING WATER Houzz Call: Are You Letting Go of Your Lawn?

By Annie Thornton

Many facing a drought are swapping turf for less thirsty plantings. If you’re one of them, we’d like to hear about it

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Get Along With Less Lawn — Ideas to Save Water and Effort

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Ditch the mower and lower your water bill while creating a feast for the eyes with diverse plantings and gathering places

PETS 6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together

By Marianne Lipanovich

Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian

GARDENING GUIDES How to Switch to an Organic Landscape Plan

By Falon Mihalic

Ditch the chemicals for a naturally beautiful lawn and garden, using living fertilizers and other nontoxic treatments

EARTH DAY Grow a Beautiful Garden With Ecofriendly Greywater

By Greywater Corps

Reducing home water waste means lower bills and a healthier planet. Here's how to set up a greywater home irrigation system that can help

Sponsored

Custom Home Works

10 Reviews

Franklin County's Award-Winning Design, Build and Remodeling Expert