Fertilizing strawberries after fruiting and pruning

In this article, we'll take a detailed look at options for feeding strawberries after fruiting and pruning. With proper care, strawberries planted once will produce fruit for another five years. When purchasing seedlings, make sure they come from reputable nurseries.

Planting takes place in early spring, but pruning can only be done after the strawberries have been harvested. This important stage of plant care ensures normal growth and fruitfulness for the coming year.

About pruning timing

Any bushes, not only strawberries, need to be pruned every year and done in a timely manner. As for strawberries, not all gardeners agree that they should be pruned in the fall after harvest. Some believe that spring pruning is more effective.

It's important to understand that pruning is necessary to remove a large number of runners. Only those runners that will be used for planting should be left. If pruning is done in the fall, damaged and unwanted leaves can be immediately removed. All trimmed parts should be burned and removed from the area. After pruning in the fall, it is recommended to additionally spray the bush with insecticides or Bordeaux mixture—this will be a precaution for the following year.

If you prune strawberries too frequently and incorrectly, you can damage the soil and the bush itself. It's best to prune in the fall; if you miss the opportunity, do it in early spring. Fertilizer is essential, especially during the first year of growth.

Some sources claim that strawberries don't require pruning at all. The argument is that leaves are conduits for metabolic processes, including for the berries, and help the young bush "breathe deeply." It's also emphasized that pruning doesn't help prevent pests and diseases, as they migrate to the soil and overwinter there, emerging the following season to feed on the young plants.

However, these opponents of pruning have too many opponents, who also know how to articulate their point of view. If you look closely at strawberries during growth, you'll see that after just a few months, rust appears on older leaves, which is harmful to the plant.

We'll discuss how to feed strawberries after fruiting and pruning below. In conclusion, it's best to trim runners in the summer, as this will allow them to thrive in any soil and produce young, healthy foliage.

Post-cutting treatment

Once pruning is complete, it's essential to loosen the soil, then water and mist it regularly. Spring is the peak growing season for strawberries, when tendrils emerge vigorously and the bush gains mass. During this period, treatment is essential to ensure rapid growth and excellent fruiting.

Important aspects of pruning raspberry bushes after harvesting.

To prevent diseases and pests, you can treat strawberries with homemade or purchased chemicals. After pruning, be sure to water the bushes with a light solution of potassium permanganate. Then, sprinkle each bush with fine wood ash or, alternatively, crushed charcoal. Repeat this treatment after three days.

After flower buds have formed, strawberries can be fed with a general-purpose fertilizer, diluted at a rate of 10 grams per 10 liters of water. Nitrogen supplementation with ammonium nitrate can also be applied during this period.

Some argue that a basic pruning should be performed, followed by a three-stage fertilization. First, increase the dose of liquid nitrogen fertilizer. At this time, add a large spoonful of dry fertilizer to the soil around the chicken bed, applying it under each bush. Then, loosen the soil to a depth of 10 cm. The second fertilization is an application of organic fertilizer, specifically phosphorus and potassium (done two weeks after the first). The third fertilization is done after the fall pruning, around early September; you can use a mullein solution or compost infusion.

We suggest you read about individual varieties of strawberries for growing on my site.

Now you know all the current arguments and advice regarding how to feed strawberries after fruiting and pruning. Opinions vary on when exactly to prune, but most gardeners agree that it should be done in late summer and early fall. Only after pruning should appropriate winter feeding be applied.