Preparing strawberries for winter or how to do it right?

A favorite of children and adults alike, strawberries are a long-lived plant. With proper care, they will bear fruit for decades, producing berries that are not only large but also very sweet and juicy. But how do you properly prepare strawberries for winter? Mulching, weeding, and fertilizing throughout the season are all crucial, and given our frosty winters, it's important to pay special attention to preserving the plants during this period.

Plant health is the key to normal wintering

Only a healthy bush can survive the winter. That's why pruning old leaves and tendrils is a crucial step in preparing strawberries for winter. This should be done correctly and in early autumn, while the weather is still warm. After removing all excess leaves, the strawberries should be thoroughly watered, but this is not recommended in cool weather. It's best to remove leaves and tendrils with scissors or pruning shears; this will minimize damage to the plant and reduce the risk of cutting off young shoots that will produce next year's harvest.

Read - When and how to sow strawberry seeds for seedlings.

Pruning is inevitable

Some believe that pruning strawberries is a bad idea, as it weakens the plant by depriving it of vital vegetative organs. Supposedly, the larger the leaves, and the more of them a strawberry plant has, the better it "breathes." However, those who adhere to this belief should be aware that all microbes and viruses thrive on older leaves, so this breeding ground for disease must be ruthlessly removed.

Mulching

Strawberries love loosening the soil. This should be done thoroughly to ensure sufficient air and nutrients penetrate the soil, but very carefully to avoid accidentally damaging the roots. This work should also be done during warm weather to avoid further damage to the plant. It's a good idea to water the beds thoroughly before and after mulching.

Fertilizer

After pruning, mulching, and generous watering, comes the next step: fertilizing. Strawberries need it much more in the fall than in the spring and summer. They've already sucked all the nutrients from the soil, and a long winter lies ahead. fertilizers Natural humus or mullein is ideal. Apply it directly to the soil or to the leaves as a spray solution. Fertilize during warm weather, preferably without rain. After fertilizing, leave the plant alone for several days to allow all the nutrients to be absorbed naturally.

Hilling

Once these steps are completed, don't forget one more crucial final step: hilling. Pruned plants are weak, and their root system will also develop adventitious roots that can be damaged by frost. Hilling is a simple procedure, but care must be taken to avoid covering the strawberry plants' primary growth points with soil. When using peat, be careful not to let it get on the plants. This can damage the plant.

How to cover strawberries for the winter?

Snow can reliably protect strawberries from frost, but nature is unpredictable. What if there's no snow or frost hits early? It's best to be on the safe side. Raspberry branches or pine needles are the best covering material for strawberries. Straw is also often used. It's warm and breathable, yet retains moisture. It's worth remembering that mice and other rodents love straw, so if you have a lot of these creatures in your garden, it's best to avoid this type of cover. If you decide to use fallen leaves, proceed with caution. Leaves absorb moisture well, and too thick a layer will lead to excessive waterlogging of the strawberries. One modern option is to use agrofibre. For those who have long wanted to try this inorganic material, you can cover the beds with a solid layer for the winter, then in the spring, simply cut slits in it for the strawberries to grow. It won't be cheap, of course, but the result is excellent!

Plants prepared for winter are immune to wind and frost. Take care of your strawberries in the fall, and they'll surely reward you with a bountiful harvest in the summer.

It will also be useful to know what it is caring for strawberries after harvesting.