What is important to know about when and how to mulch strawberries? Mulching strawberries as a guarantee of an early harvest Mulching strawberries with sawdust.

" Strawberry

Mulching strawberries is an agricultural technique that makes it easier for the gardener to work and prevent crop diseases. A good knowledge of the technology and timing of laying mulch, the characteristics of materials will help solve many problems in caring for plants and increase productivity. In this article we will talk about how to mulch strawberries, what you can sprinkle on the beds and why this is necessary.

Proper development and fruiting of plants is impossible without regular soil formation. The surface layer of soil plays a decisive role in this. It is he who is most exposed to adverse factors. Rain washes away minerals, wind and temperature changes lead to drying out and freezing.

These conditions are unfavorable for the activity of living soil organisms, which are an important link in the formation of humus. They move into deeper layers and the soil loses its fertility.

Mulching is covering the surface of the soil under plants with organic and inorganic materials. This protects it from all unfavorable factors. Increases the reproduction of living organisms, earthworms and beneficial insects, which together with organic acids form a fertile layer.

Mulch does not leak sunlight, which makes it difficult for weeds to grow. The denser the material and the higher the mulch layer, the more effective protection from weeds. The thermoregulating property of mulch protects plant roots from freezing, overheating and the effects of frost.

A layer of mulch reduces the evaporation of moisture from the soil, which reduces the need for watering. It makes it difficult for viruses and fungal spores to reach strawberry roots, reducing the incidence of root late blight, rhizoctonia, and verticillium. Ripe berries do not come into contact with the soil, and the percentage of rotting is practically eliminated.

During the decomposition process, organic mulch forms all the nutrients necessary for strawberries. They slowly enter the soil throughout the growing season, supporting mineral exchange between the roots and the above-ground part of the strawberry.

Before choosing material for mulch, you need to decide on the purpose of the event. Depending on the material chosen, mulch can be a source of nutrition for strawberries, protection against disease, or simply create a favorable environment in the soil.

Timing for mulching strawberries

The soil under the plants should not all year round be under a high layer of mulch. In spring it needs to warm up. Otherwise, the growing season of the crop will be greatly delayed. Mulch strawberries only after flower ovaries appear.

Mulching can also be done during the summer. Regardless of the period, the soil and plants must be prepared before laying the material:

loosen the soil;
remove weeds, diseased leaves, excess tendrils;
water generously;
add seasonal fertilizing.

Term winter mulching strawberries - the end of September, when the plant is preparing for dormancy. During this period, mulch is used as a thermostat. This is protection against severe freezing of the soil in snowless winters and damage to roots during thaws.

It is not enough to lay mulch; in the summer you need to monitor its condition. Organic materials should be turned up regularly and rotting areas should be replaced. The material should not fit tightly to the stems of the bushes; there must be a gap of 1-2 cm for aeration of the roots.

Selection of materials and mulching rules

This review presents materials that have all necessary qualities for mulching strawberries. Having assessed their advantages and disadvantages, you can choose the optimal mulch for individual conditions and purposes.

Straw

Straw is the recognized leader of all materials suitable for strawberries. For mulching, use only dry material.

Straw contains difficult-to-decompose fiber, which protects it from rapid rotting. For the same reason, it is a poor source of nutrition; in addition, it draws nitrogen from the soil. To compensate for the loss of the mineral and provide the bushes with nutrition, the straw is combined with compost or rotted manure.

Straw attracts rodents as a shelter and is scattered by the autumn wind. Therefore, during autumn work it is collected and disposed of, and winter mulching is carried out with suitable material.

The optimal layer of straw for loose soils is 15-20 cm. After a few days it will settle to 5-7 cm. On heavy clay soils, cut straw is used, laid in a layer of no more than 3-5 cm, renewing the surface every 15 days.

How to mulch strawberries with pine needles?

The advantage of needles is the high content of phytoncides and bactericidal substances. This is a powerful protection against diseases and pests. Substances contained in coniferous materials improve the taste of strawberries.

Tannins from pine needles gradually acidify the soil. Therefore, it is used in slightly acidic soils or applied before laying mulch. slaked lime(50 g/1 m2).

In regions with hot summers, you should take into account: needles do little to protect the soil from overheating. The needles lie on the ground in a loose layer, through which weeds easily grow. It has been proven in practice: to protect against weeds you need to lay a 30 cm layer. This is difficult and impractical.

Weathered and slightly yellowed pine needles are used for mulch. They are laid in a layer of 3-5 cm. In the spring, the old mulch is renewed or embedded in the ground during weeding.

Hay, fresh grass and green manure

Is it possible or not to cover the berries with hay or fresh grass? These plant components contain easily biodegradable fiber and provide strawberries with abundant nutrition. But only for a short time.

Rapid decomposition leads to depletion of the thin layer of mulch and rotting of the lower layers of the high one. When rotting, plant waste becomes the cause of strawberry poisoning by rotting products.

Hay is suitable for temporary. To create a favorable environment in the soil, they will have to be laid out in a layer of 7-10 cm and replaced with fresh mulch every 15 days. It's very labor intensive. Before laying, the mown grass is dried, and plants with abundant ripened seeds are removed. The optimal layer is 3-5 cm.

Tree bark

To mulch strawberries, use pine or larch bark of small or medium fraction. They contain little tannins, so there will be no acidification of the soil. This is the most durable mulch material, suitable for winter mulching. It will last up to 5 years.

The bark protects the soil well from overheating and freezing, gives an aesthetic appearance to the garden bed, but retains moisture relatively poorly. More frequent watering will be required. The required layer of mulch is 5-7 cm.

Mulching with tree bark

Sawdust

Sawdust decomposes slowly, so it should not be considered as a food source. For the same reason, sawdust can last up to 3 years. The rough surface of such mulch complicates the movement of slugs and snails, and there are fewer of them.

Sawdust strongly absorbs moisture, until this happens, there will be no flow of water to the roots of the plant. Therefore, the volume of watering should be increased, but this is rarely necessary.

For mulching, newspaper paper is spread overlapping on the soil surface, sawdust is laid on top in a layer of 5 cm. Sawdust is suitable for use in summer and before winter.

How to use cardboard correctly?

Cardboard can be used to regulate the optimal environment on the soil surface. To do this in the spring, large pieces of cardboard are laid overlapping between the bushes, leaving holes only around the bushes. The edges and joints of the cardboard are secured with heavy objects.

Watering and fertilizing are carried out through the holes. To feed strawberries during the summer, you can spread a 3-5 cm layer of compost under the cardboard.

Spandbond as mulch

This is a geosynthetic material, produced using special technology. It does not allow light to pass through and maintains temperature and moisture in the soil. Spandbond can be used for irrigation and fertilization.

Well-known companies:

Agrin (Ukraine);
Agrotex (Russia);
Lutrasil (Germany);
Aguil (France);
Plant-Protex (Poland).

For mulching strawberries, choose black material with a density of 60 g/m2.

Before planting strawberry seedlings, they spread it on the surface of the bed and make cuts in the places of future holes. The edges of the spandbond are secured with pins or heavy objects. To mulch already planted plants, agrotextiles are spread between the rows, maximally covering the soil surface around the bushes.

Spandbond can be used all year round. It is resistant to putrefactive bacteria, mechanical stress and low temperatures. Service life 3 years.

How to mulch berries with film?

To mulch strawberries, use a black film with a thickness of 30 microns. The service life of the film is up to 3 years. More than one season can be applied thin material. For hot regions, manufacturers offer a film with a white surface and a black backing. She simultaneously reflects Sun rays and retains moisture.

The technology for laying film mulch is similar to spunbond. Only watering in this case is organized by micro-drip irrigation under the film or watered locally through the holes.

Mixture different materials for mulch can be of great benefit to strawberries. To do this, you can combine dry plant residues, bark and sawdust with green parts of herbs, compost or rotted manure. This mulch simultaneously creates a good environment and nourishes the plants.

Mulching with black film on an industrial scale

The benefits and harms of mulching in spring or autumn

Mulching strawberries causes heated debate among gardeners, during which diametrically opposed opinions can be heard. There are claims about unusually high yields after applying mulch and also about its negative impact for strawberries. Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages will help you better understand mulching.

Advantages

Depending on the material used, mulching helps solve many gardener problems.
This:

prevention of soil overheating in summer and hypothermia in winter;
maintaining soil moisture;
reducing the number of weeds;
protection from pathogens entering the soil;
preventing soil erosion;
protection against rotting of ripe berries in rainy summers;
maintaining soil looseness;
formation of a larger number of adventitious roots;
reduction

This impressive list involves a lot of labor and money when doing them individually.

Strawberry grown under mulch

Flaws

Gardeners say one of the disadvantages of mulching is the proliferation of slugs and snails.. It's wet for them inner layer mulch becomes shelter on dry summer days, and decomposing organic matter becomes food. The conditions for pests are truly attractive.

This is not a reason to stop mulching.

In areas with an increased pest population, sawdust or pine needles can be used. Create a natural biocenosis that will contain the number of mollusks to a harmless threshold.

Another disadvantage of mulch is rotting of the lower layers in rainy summers or when laid on heavy clay soil. This problem can be solved simply. You need to focus on the regional climate, do not lay a high layer on clay soils, regularly monitor the mulch throughout the season.

Mulching strawberries with long-term materials can play a bad role in case of return frosts. In this case, all the heat will remain in the soil, increasing negative impact freezing the above-ground parts of strawberries. Keeping an eye on the weather forecast will help you cover your plants on time.

The downside of mulching is also the attraction of rodents, insects and birds. However, this is difficult to consider as a specific disadvantage. garden plot with an abundance of vegetables and fruit crops itself is attractive to their potential pests.

Experts are confident that bad experience is caused by poor knowledge of the characteristics of materials, soil on the site and regional climate. It is important to take into account that mulching does not at all exclude other types of strawberry care, so it cannot be treated as a solution to all problems.

Mulching with sawdust is a long-known technique for experienced gardeners.

Nature itself suggested simple actions to us, because in forests and wild places roots and plants that are not cared for by people somehow survive cold and heat.

The reason is natural coverage fallen leaves, brushwood, needles. This mantle reliably protects the soil from washout and erosion, as well as from insects.

Therefore, in the garden or vegetable garden, for beds, you can also use mulching, and use sawdust, pieces of bark, pine needles, film, gravel, and straw as bedding.

This method is equally good in a greenhouse and for beds.

Mulching using this method is suitable for any soil. It not only protects the soil and plants from the cold, but is also often used as a fertilizer that will enrich even poor soil.

For example, if your flowers in spring, bush plants (raspberries, currants) or vegetables (tomatoes, cabbage) are more late time There are no fruits and ovaries, then mulching can be an excellent solution.

A layer of mulch allows plants to “breathe” and better absorb fertilizer. For growing tomatoes this is the most effective method improve the quality of the crop.

Since sawdust tightly covers the ground, without sunlight, a large number of bacteria develop in the layer.

They recycle most sawdust, so at the end we get fertile soil.

In addition, mulching with sawdust for tomatoes or potatoes, for example, is simply necessary when a dry period occurs.

This is logical, because open ground heats up faster under open sunlight, and these plants (this applies to both tomatoes and potatoes) deteriorate very quickly in such soil.

Sawdust retains moisture and protects the earth from overheating. With this approach, you can water vegetables and bushes less.

If we are talking about fruits that are close to the ground, then mulching helps to avoid rotting.

This is true for cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, as well as strawberries, which most often lie directly on the ground.

To collect good harvest, you not only need to weed the beds and paint the fence at the dacha, but also start fertilizing.

How to use mulching as fertilizer?

Many types of fertilizers are quite expensive. Sawdust is a very profitable option in this regard, and in addition, it is absolutely safe. They act as the basis for a nutritional complex.

The best way to prepare it is to run the sawdust through compost. However, remember that clean, fresh sawdust It is prohibited to apply to the soil (as fertilizer).

It is necessary to apply natural fertilizer based on mulch and compost in the spring, because decomposition requires certain, rather high temperatures.

Fresh sawdust is not a fertilizer; it is extremely low in nitrogen, it is fibrous and contains cellulose.

However, the lignin contained in the mulch helps form the plant trunk and leads to it. nutrients.

After some time, microorganisms begin to use mulch as a medium and saturate wood shavings useful elements.

If you do not place sawdust in compost pit, then the process of soil rotting will take several years. With compost, this period can be significantly reduced.

Compost from sawdust is quite easy to make. As ingredients we take fresh shavings in large quantities, urea, water, ash.

If you have household organic waste, straw, grass, then they can also be added to the compost pit.

Urea is first dissolved in water, and then the materials of the future fertilizer are watered. You can also add manure to enhance the beneficial properties.

Don’t forget to repaint the borders and fences after the work has been completed to summer cottage cozy view.

What plants need to be mulched?

Many gardeners use sawdust mulching everywhere and for any plants. This technique is suitable both at home and at the dacha, where the owners will appear infrequently.

Why? Mulching allows you to suppress and slow down the growth of weeds, and also conserves moisture, which is very useful during hot periods.

This approach is relevant if you have a lot of rose bushes or other whimsical flowers in your greenhouse.

The passages between the beds of tomatoes, currant and raspberry bushes, the paths on the site and near the flower beds are also sprinkled with shavings, because this allows you to give the area a neat appearance without weeds and holes.

Mulching is also used when planting potatoes. So, when hilling potatoes, the resulting “furrows” are covered with substrate, which allows you to grow healthy fruits.

This layer is also useful for potatoes because it retains moisture in the ground and there is no need to water the bushes (and sometimes these are entire plantations for which there is simply not enough water).

Therefore, sawdust - the best way out for potatoes and other root plants - carrots, garlic, onions.

To grow cucumbers, use small sawdust for mulching. Pine sawdust is also suitable, because it additionally warms the soil in winter.

They are placed at the base of the bed and then covered with manure.

After this, another layer is applied, and then you don’t have to worry about the cold weather causing the cucumbers to freeze, but planting should be done in the fall, not in the spring.

Very often mulching is used for raspberries.

So, after a procedure where the soil is covered with a thick layer, raspberry roots retain moisture and nutrients better, and as a result we get tasty fruits, of which more come out of the bush than usual.

Thanks to this method, you can not replant the raspberry bush for up to fifteen years.

Also experienced summer residents You can't do without mulching for tomatoes, strawberries, fancy plants (for example, roses) and much more.

In general, any plants grow better if they are mulched, but only if they are combined with nitrogen fertilizers. So, after the procedure, onion feathers will grow taller and turn out juicier.

Mulching to loosen and cover the soil

Since fertilizer sawdust rots quite slowly, it is often used to loosen the soil.

Most often, mulching for such purposes is carried out in a greenhouse, for tomatoes, exotic varieties of raspberries, and flowers.

In a small greenhouse we need three buckets of shavings, three kilograms of humus and ten liters of water.

All this is mixed in a container (trough, barrel) and left to brew for a couple of hours. After which they are evenly applied to the soil.

If we are not talking about a greenhouse, but loosening is required for open soil, then you can use sawdust while digging.

Just enter small portions substrate into the soil, which will make it loose. Therefore the need for frequent watering disappears by itself.

Sawdust are ideal material for laying soil in cold weather.

More than once, owners of their plots have encountered the problem of freezing, especially in those latitudes where winters are characterized by severe frosts.

The shavings are easy to store in any dry place, they do not deteriorate over time - just pack them in bags and leave them in the pantry.

Covering the soil is considered the most in a safe way wait out the cold.

How to mulch roses, grapes and climbing flowers that cannot be dug out of the ground and that have vines? We bend them down and cover their entire length with substrate.

It is better to process mulch in late autumn so that it does not begin to rot in the sun and mice do not infest it.

And to completely protect rose shoots, you can make an air-dry shelter. To do this, we make a small frame of wood, lay a film on top of it, and a layer of sawdust on it.

Then again film and earth.

This layer will allow you to withstand even the most severe frosts; it can be used not only for roses, but also for short plants (raspberries, tomatoes) until frost (after all, they are more tender and can only wait out the winter in a greenhouse).

However, use rose sawdust wisely.

If in a greenhouse you can keep any plants from snow and rain, then outside constant moisture and temperature changes can turn mulching into an ice crust, without air access and with constant rotting of plants under the layer.

Here, again, the frame will help out. However, unlike roses, a “wet” coating with sawdust is the most successful for garlic.

How to protect strawberries using mulching

Few gardeners do not know that strawberries winter period not dug out of the ground. On the contrary, they try to insulate strawberry sprouts in every possible way so as not to freeze the roots and leaves.

If strawberries freeze, they will not produce berries the next season. This is true for both raspberries and roses (in their case they will not bloom).

It’s good if you are a professional farmer who grows vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers) and fruits and berries (strawberries) in a greenhouse.

But if we are talking about open ground, then you can’t do without other ways to preserve heat.

Strawberries are often mulched with sawdust. This method came to us from Western farmers; it is used even on large farms as the most profitable and safest protection for berries.

This is also true for tomatoes, the trunks of which at the beginning of the season through the ground are affected by bacteria, popularly called “gray rot”.

It is enough to simply mulch the soil to avoid many plant diseases (roses, tomatoes, strawberries, etc.).

It is best to grow strawberries using mulch. The main mulching materials for strawberries are artificial (film, spunbond, agrofabric) and organic (sawdust, pine needles, straw). Each of them has advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for certain soils and environmental conditions. I’ll tell you about which mulch to choose, what the pros and cons of this or that material are, and which one is better.

Why mulch strawberries

1. Mulch retains soil moisture

A layer of mulch reduces the evaporation of moisture from the soil and allows you to reduce the amount of watering. This is convenient for summer residents, and has a positive effect on plants and the harvest.

2. Mulch slows down the growth and development of weeds

A layer of mulch on strawberries significantly inhibits the development of weeds, which allows you to halve the number of required weedings. For achievement maximum effect I recommend using agrofabric or film as mulch.

3. Mulch helps the soil warm up better

Thanks to mulch, the soil warms up better, which means the root system of plants warms up faster. Both organic matter and artificial materials that inhibit soil cooling processes are suitable here. It is most appropriate to contain heat in late spring, when recurrent frosts are possible.

4. Mulch fertilizes the soil

Mulch can serve as an additional fertilizer if used as mulch. organic matter. For example, sawdust, straw, pine needles. Rotting. They enrich with nutritional elements.

5. Mulch protects strawberries from water and dirt.

During periods of watering or rain, the berry becomes quite heavily contaminated with soil particles. Often because of this, the fruits begin to rot. When using mulch, the berries remain healthy and clean because they do not come into contact with the soil.

6. Mulch allows berries to ripen faster

This is especially achieved when using black film or agrofabric in the central and more northern regions countries.

How to mulch strawberries

Typically, strawberry plantations use organic materials for mulching: sawdust, straw, pine needles. A more progressive option is to mulch the berries with film or agro-fabric. They are more efficient.

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How to mulch strawberries with film

You can use plastic film as a mulching material for strawberries.

It is convenient to use film with holes for optimal scheme planting berries.
On the film without holes, you will need to make them after spreading it on the bed. Using a knife as sharp as possible, cut holes at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other. The easiest way is to cut the film crosswise. Optimal distance in row spacing – 45-50 cm.
I advise you to use black film: it absorbs and retains heat as much as possible, and prevents the growth and development of weeds.
You need to spread the black film over the surface of the soil before planting strawberries on the site, when the bed has already been prepared according to all the rules.
Along the edges of the bed, the film must be pressed down with soil, pebbles or bricks so that it does not get torn off by a gust of wind.

How to mulch strawberries with agro-fabric

At its core, this agrofabric is the same polyethylene, but made in a special way. I recommend using it as mulch for garden strawberries. spunbond. Its main advantage compared to film is one-sided moisture conductivity: moisture penetrates through the agrofabric but does not evaporate back.

Mulching with agro-fabric is carried out before planting strawberries on the plot, as well as when covering with film.

Is it possible to mulch strawberries with sawdust?

In order for sawdust to bring benefits and not harm to your site, you need to follow the rules for their use.

Apply sawdust only superficially.
Do not mix sawdust with the soil, otherwise it will help absorb nitrogen from the soil, stimulate the development of bacterial microbiota, cause soil depletion and plant oppression.
Do not use sawdust if the soil is highly acidified or if you apply deoxidizers annually.
Sawdust can be used on soils with a neutral environmental reaction.
It is recommended to apply sawdust on alkaline soils.

How to properly mulch strawberries with sawdust

Place sawdust after the strawberries are planted in the area.
It is advisable to place sawdust not directly on the soil, but on pieces of newsprint previously laid out around the bushes.
This two-component mulch will effectively inhibit the growth of weeds.
The optimal layer of sawdust under garden strawberries should be 4-6 cm.
The shelf life of such mulch is two seasons. Then it is advisable to replace the sawdust.

How to mulch strawberries with pine needles

To mulch garden strawberries, I recommend using pine or spruce needles.

You can use pine needles on any soil, except acidic or prone to acidification.
I recommend spreading rotted leaf litter or humus with a 2 cm layer under the pine needles.
The mulch layer should be 3-4 cm.
You can lay needles even when strawberries are already growing on the site.

How to mulch strawberries with straw

Straw is a simple and affordable mulching material. At the same time, it does not acidify the soil at all. By rotting, straw turns into organic substances accessible to plants.

Straw can be spread under growing plants at any stage of their development.
Use only dry straw for mulching.
Place straw under the bushes in a layer of 4-6 cm.
I recommend starting mulching with straw at the beginning of flowering (preferably not earlier or later).
During wintering, the straw must be removed, otherwise mice may live in it.

It is advisable to enrich the soil with fertilizers and remove all weeds before laying the straw, so as not to rake up the straw for fertilizing.

Strawberries, or rather garden strawberries, which every Russian summer resident grows, are a crop that requires mandatory mulching. No wonder she English name“strawberry” literally means “straw berry”. Cultivation garden strawberries on covered soil protects against crop loss due to rotting, pest damage, etc. In this article we will talk about mulching strawberries and consider the most effective methods.

Advantages of growing garden strawberries on mulch

When growing strawberries on bare ground, a number of problems often arise. When in contact with wet soil, the berry can be affected by all kinds of fruit rots of fungal origin. Slugs and snails become a real disaster for fruit growers, damaging the ripening crop. A strawberry bed quickly becomes overgrown with weeds, and it takes a lot of time and effort to fight them. Mulching allows you to avoid all these and some other problems.

The advantages of growing garden strawberries on mulch are as follows:

Clean, dry berries are less likely to become infected with pathogenic fungi and bacteria.
Some types of mulch repel pests.
The soil retains a loose, moist state, the number of waterings is reduced, and the need for loosening disappears.
The soil and root system do not suffer from temperature changes and do not overheat under the sun.
The fertile humus layer is not washed away by irrigation and rainwater and does not erode.
The activity of beneficial soil flora and earthworms increases, and soil fertility is naturally maintained.
The growth of weeds is suppressed, the need for weeding disappears, and labor costs for growing strawberries are reduced.
According to the observations of many fruit growers, the yield of strawberries on mulched soil is 40-50% higher than on open soil.

3 mistakes when mulching garden strawberries

However, mulching is like any other agrotechnical technique, requires a competent approach. It is important to avoid some mistakes.

Mistake #1. Constantly cover the soil with mulch.

Mulch should not be left on the garden bed continuously. In early spring it prevents the soil from warming up and delays the start of the strawberry growing season. During this period, the mulching material must be raked.

Mistake #2. Over-watering and caking of mulch.

This usually happens when strawberry beds are covered with a thick layer of organic matter. In such mulch, slugs breed and pathogens multiply. Organic mulch needs to be turned regularly and its moisture monitored.

Mistake #3. Incorrect selection of mulching material.

Organic mulch for garden strawberries

Organic mulch has several advantages over inorganic materials. It is both a fertilizer and promotes intensive humus formation. Organic matter aerates the soil better. Thanks to the activity of earthworms, which are activated under such mulch, all physical and chemical indicators of the soil improve.

More or less suitable for garden strawberries the following types organic mulching materials:

Mulch material	Advantages	Flaws
Straw chaff	Ideal mulch for strawberries in the summer. Does not cause waterlogging, minimizes the risk of developing diseases. Repels slugs and snails.	In winter it becomes a haven for rodents. Does not hold well on the ground in windy conditions. It takes a long time to decompose.
Coniferous litter	Suppresses the growth of bacteria and fungi. It aerates the soil well, does not cake, and does not become waterlogged. Repels slugs and snails.	On acidic soils, it requires mixing with deoxidizing components - ash, dolomite flour. When decomposed, it releases few nutrients.
Shredded bark, wood chips and sawdust	Suppresses the growth of bacteria and fungi. Does not caking, protects root system from freezing. Repels slugs and snails.	When decomposed, it acidifies the soil and removes a lot of nitrogen from it. Requires prior composting.
Mowed lawn grass	Rich in nutrients, decomposes quickly. Activates the activity of soil flora. Holds moisture well and stabilizes soil temperature.	It easily becomes damp, becoming a refuge for slugs and snails and a breeding ground for fungi.
Cut nettle	Quickly decomposes, rich in nutrients. Repels slugs and snails, suppresses pathogenic flora.	Not always available in required quantity.
Peat	Retains moisture and insulates the root system. When decomposed, it forms a lot of humus.	In hot weather, the soil overheats; in drought, it forms a crust, impairing air exchange. May acidify the soil.
Compost	Rich in nutrients, activates soil flora and the activity of earthworms. Doesn't cake.	In wet weather, the soil may become waterlogged. Poorly inhibits weed growth.
Rotted manure	Contains a lot of nitrogen, quickly decomposes with the release of carbon dioxide. Activates soil flora and the work of earthworms.	May contain weed seeds. Requires embedding into the ground and does not inhibit weed growth.

Using grass cuttings for mulching

For organic mulch to control weed growth, a layer of at least 8 cm is needed.

The green mass of grass cut in summer is a useful fertilizer and valuable mulching material. There is no need to be afraid to use grass under strawberries, looking at the above disadvantages. Taking these into account, two things need to be done:

Chop the grass clippings. Grass chaff will not cake or become damp; it is better aerated and decomposes faster than whole grass. You can chop the green mass using special choppers or a lawn mower with a mulching function. In such lawn mowers, the grass is chopped into fine crumbs before entering the grass catcher. And since the grass on the site is cut every week, there will be no shortage of mulch in the summer.

Pre-dry the chaff. Slightly dried in the sun, it will no longer become waterlogged and moldy.

Tip #1. To prevent grass cuttings from attracting slugs and snails, you can mix it with dolomite flour.

Inorganic mulch for garden strawberries

The most commonly used inorganic materials on strawberries are:

Mulch material	Advantages	Flaws
Polyethylene film	Retains moisture. Suppresses the growth of weeds. Accelerates soil warming in spring.	Creates Greenhouse effect, overheating the soil in summer. Ants and slugs live under the films.
Agrotextiles (spunbond, agrospan, lutrasil, etc.)	Permeable to water and air. Does not cause overheating of the soil.	Limits the possibility of root feeding.
Cardboard	Suppresses the growth of weeds. Skips rainwater. Decomposes.	In hot weather it draws moisture from the soil like a sponge. Slugs gather under the cardboard and mold forms.
Sackcloth	It allows water and air to pass through and does not overheat the soil. Suppresses the growth of weeds.	Poorly retains soil moisture.

Practice shows that among inorganic types of mulch, black agrotextiles are most suitable for strawberries. It is easy to use, practical, environmentally friendly. It can be safely left in the beds for the winter and does not need to be removed in the spring.

Use for mulching colored films

Due to its black color, mulching agrotextiles will not delay, but rather accelerate, the spring warming of the soil.

In Israel and other countries where Agriculture is an important budget revenue item; farmers use colored strawberry plantations for mulching reflective films. Research shows that the spectrum of reflected light can increase the yield of strawberries and other crops.

Most often, the following types of film are used for strawberries:

Two-color black and white. Suitable for hot regions, can be used in the summer in the middle zone. Placed with the white side up, it reduces the risk of soil overheating and reflects the sun's rays, directing them to the leaves. Activates photosynthesis. Read also the article: → "".
Brown opaque. Suitable for cold climates. Retains heat in the soil in the evening and at night, reduces the risk of damage to growing bushes by return frosts, prevents the growth of weeds, and retains moisture well.
Green is opaque. Suitable for northern regions. Transmits heat, selectively reflects light and retains thermal radiation at the root zone. Retains moisture and prevents weed growth.
Two-tone yellow-brown. Suitable for cold climates. Placed with the yellow side up, retains heat at the root zone, partially reflects the sun's rays towards the leaves, activating photosynthesis.
Two-tone silver-black. Suitable for both hot regions and Middle zone Russia in summer period. Placed with the silver side up, reducing the risk of overheating the roots. Well reflects the sun's rays towards the leaves, activates photosynthesis. Retains moisture and prevents weed growth.

Mulching garden strawberries by season

The influence of the wavelength of reflected light on plant development is used in agriculture.

The seasonal schedule for mulching garden strawberries has its own characteristics.

Spring. After the snow melts, the strawberry bed is freed from winter shelter. To prevent the mulch from delaying the warming of the soil around the bushes and their regrowth, the strawberries are kept on open ground. The first seasonal mulching is performed when the flower stalks extend.
Summer. In the summer season they support normal condition mulching material. If organic matter is used, it is periodically loosened to prevent caking, and the thickness of the layer is monitored.
Autumn. At the end of the season, the film is removed from the beds. Unrotted organic matter is put into compost, and strawberries are covered for the winter with pine needles, fresh peat or sawdust. Straw and hay are not used as winter mulch. This material can harbor mice that damage strawberry bushes in winter. Mulching agrotextiles can be left in the garden bed and a winter shelter can be built on top of it.

Rules for watering garden strawberries using mulch

Since mulch helps preserve soil moisture, the amount of watering of strawberries must be adjusted towards reduction. You need to water a mulched berry garden according to the following rules:

When using organic material, schedule watering in the morning. During the day, the surface of the mulch will have time to dry, which will reduce the risk of fungal infections.
When using films, arrange drip irrigation underneath them. This will prevent water loss due to rolling on the surface of the material. Alternative option– watering strictly at the root into the hole in the film.
Turn up the organic mulch from time to time and water it with solutions of EM preparations (Baikal-EM, Siyanie, etc.). The microorganisms contained in them will prevent organic matter from molding and help it decompose faster.

Tip #2. To determine the need for watering, just rake the mulch to the side. If the soil underneath remains loose and moist, there is no need to water.

The combination of mulching and drip irrigation increases the yield of strawberries.

Fertilizing garden strawberries using mulch

In berry gardens where organic mulch is used, the need additional fertilizing is reduced to a minimum. Decaying organic matter itself ensures a constant supply to the soil nutritional components. In addition, when it decomposes, it releases carbon dioxide, which is a foliar feeding.

If strawberries are healthy appearance and gives stable yields, with organic mulching it is permissible to limit yourself to rare supporting fertilizing:

Name	Feeding period
"Gera" humatized biofertilizer for strawberries and wild strawberries	In early spring after removing the winter shelter, 10 g per bush
"Fasko Strawberry" complex chlorine-free dry fertilizer	In the spring before the first mulching, 8 g per bush
"Fertika" for strawberries and wild strawberries	In summer, at the beginning of fruiting, with irrigation water of 15 g per 10 liters.
"Biomaster Rubin" for strawberries and wild strawberries	In summer, during the fruiting period, for foliar feeding, 6.2 g per 3 liters of water.

Apply dry mineral fertilizers you can directly into a layer of organic mulch. With irrigation and rainwater, dissolved fertilizers will gradually penetrate through the mulch into the soil.

Gardeners' questions about mulching garden strawberries

Question No. 1. How does mulching strawberries differ in different regions?

When choosing mulching material, you need to focus on weather conditions. If the region is arid, with hot summers, it is better to apply grass cuttings and compost in a thick layer. In cold, damp areas - straw, peat, composted sawdust.

Question No. 2. How to prepare sawdust for mulching strawberries?

Most quick way next: on the film, alternate layers of sawdust (3 buckets each) with urea (200 g each) several times. Then wet the pile well with water and cover with film on top. Can be used after 2 weeks.

Question No. 3. Is it necessary to mulch the rows of strawberries?

It is necessary, otherwise the drying soil between the rows will draw moisture from the beds.

Question No. 4. Which waste materials used for mulching strawberries?

Some summer residents use old linoleum, roofing felt or newspapers. For lack of anything better, this is the way out. But such methods cannot be called completely acceptable.

Using mulch came to us from abroad. This method is most common there in large farms. However, summer residents also use it quite often. Owners of suburban areas in our country also appreciated it. In this article we will talk about how to choose mulch for strawberries.

Why is mulching necessary?

Mulching refers to covering the soil around plants, in our case strawberries, with film, fabric or organic materials. It is used mainly for purposes such as:

Reducing the evaporation of water from the soil. The use of mulching material can significantly reduce the number of waterings per season. Moisture will remain in the soil for more long time, which is certainly very beneficial for plants.
Weed control. By using mulch for strawberries, you can save yourself from the need for periodic weeding. This is especially true when film or fabric is used.
Warming the soil and, accordingly, plant roots. Covering material - both organic and artificial - prevents heat from escaping from the ground. This is especially useful in the spring, during cold spells at night.
Enriching the soil with humus when using organic material. By rotting, sawdust, pine needles and straw saturate the soil with the nutrients necessary for plants.
Preventing berry contamination. During rain or watering, dirty drops of water fall on the berries and leaves of plants. As a result, the crop loses its presentation. By using mulch for strawberries, you can rid yourself of this problem once and for all.
Protection from diseases. Berries lying on the ground often become infected with gray rot. The covering material prevents them from coming into contact with the ground.

Which material to choose

As you can see, mulching allows you to increase the yield of strawberries and at the same time reduce the time for caring for them. Most summer residents prefer to use organic matter for this purpose, since this material is accessible and often does not cost a penny. If there is nowhere to get sawdust, pine needles or straw, you should spend a little money and buy a special film or fabric.

Mulching strawberries with film

Film is a material suitable for mulching strawberries. Today, varieties of polyethylene are produced specifically for this purpose. This film already has holes for planting and watering. The best way Mulching strawberries with black film is considered. The fact is that this material retains heat much better at the surface of the ground. In addition, the sun's rays do not penetrate through the opaque film. As a result, weed growth is completely suppressed.

Mulching with film is performed before planting. First, a bed for strawberries is made on the site. Clods and roots of weeds are removed from it. Next, organic fertilizers are added to the soil. After this, the surface of the bed is very carefully leveled with a rake. In the event that there are no already prepared holes in the film, they are made independently. In this case, use a very sharp knife or blade. The film is cut crosswise in the required places. The distance between the holes should be about thirty centimeters in rows and fifty centimeters between rows. The film is carefully spread on the bed. In order not to lose the locations of the holes, they should be marked with chalk. The film must be pressed along the edges with earth, sawdust or bricks. Otherwise, it will simply be carried away by the wind.

Mulching strawberries with covering material can be done not only in open beds, but also in greenhouses. In this case, moisture will evaporate from the soil more slowly. In addition, the use of artificial material is a guarantee that there will be no mice in the greenhouse.

Fabric for mulching strawberries

Very often, a special fabric is used to mulch strawberries and wild strawberries. Of course, it has nothing in common with ordinary textiles. In fact, it is made from the same polyethylene special method. The fabric used for mulching is called spunbond. Compared to black film, this material has one undeniable advantage. The fact is that water passes through it freely when watering. Spunbond does not allow moisture to evaporate from the soil. Mulching strawberries with covering material of this variety makes caring for them even easier. Just as in the case of film, beds for strawberries are pre-prepared by loosening, moistening and fertilizing.

The feasibility of using sawdust

Sawdust is a very suitable material for mulching strawberries. There is an opinion that they take nitrogen from the soil, thereby depleting it. However, in the case of mulching this is not entirely true. If sawdust is mixed with soil, it can develop various kinds bacteria that use nitrogen in the process of their life. As a result, the soil becomes depleted. But when mulching, sawdust is on top. Therefore, in principle, they cannot “pull” nitrogen from the soil. Also, sometimes gardeners refuse to use sawdust because it acidifies the soil. This is true. If the soil on the site is already acidic, it is not recommended to use this material for mulching. In extreme cases, additional liming of the soil can be done. On ordinary soils, you can safely use such mulch for strawberries.

How to mulch the soil with sawdust

The beds must first be weeded and loosened. Next, old newspapers are spread between the strawberry bushes in 2-3 overlapping layers. Then you need to pour sawdust on them in a layer of about five centimeters. They overheat for about two years, after which the procedure will have to be repeated. Of course, chipboard sawdust should not be used for mulching. They contain resins that are harmful to the human body. Sawdust from deciduous wood rots faster than coniferous wood. Therefore, they are considered more preferable for mulching.

Use of needles

If pine or spruce trees grow near your site, you can use pine needles for mulching. It is believed that, just like sawdust, it acidifies the soil. However, some summer residents, having experimented with such mulch on their site, became convinced that this was not the case. But in order to be on the safe side, you should sprinkle a layer of rotted leaves or humus under the needles in the fall. Mulching strawberry needles is not a complicated procedure at all. The source material collected in the nearest fishing line can be placed between the plants either in its pure form or after mixing it with other plant residues.

Mulching strawberries with straw

This option is also quite common in personal plots. Straw or grass are just perfect for mulching strawberries and strawberries. This covering material does not acidify the soil. In addition, when rotting, it serves as an excellent organic fertilizer. Grass or straw should be slightly dried before use. If you place fresh material between plants, it may begin to rot.

Mulching strawberries with straw is done in a layer about five centimeters thick. It is best to cover the soil when strawberries begin to bloom. You should first add mineral fertilizers to the beds and, of course, remove all weeds from them.

As you can see, mulching is not a complicated procedure at all. By spending a little time once a season, you can significantly increase your strawberry yield and make it easier to care for.