How to mulch strawberries in autumn and spring? Mulching strawberries - how do you cover plants under winter? Mulching strawberries with wood chips.

Mulching strawberries in gardens and summer cottages serves the same purposes as natural mulching of natural biocomplexes. Simply put, mulching is the formation of a layer on the soil surface that serves as protection from hypothermia in spring and autumn, overheating and overgrowth by weeds in summer.

This agronomic technique allows you to reduce labor costs for processing plants and increase productivity.

In nature, the soil is always covered protective layer: in the forest these are needles or fallen leaves, in open spaces - meadow grass, without this protective layer erosion begins - washing out and weathering of the fertile layer, as a result - the formation of ravines. It was noticed that this protective layer - natural mulch - retains moisture in the soil, prevents weeds from multiplying, rotting, and fertilizes the soil.

The positive effects of mulch include the following:

1. The amount of water for irrigation is reduced by about a third.
2. Moisture is distributed evenly over the area.
3. Wet soil attracts earthworms, which naturally aerate the soil, loosening the surface layer.
4. The amount of fertilizers and pesticides for treatments is reduced.
5. Productivity increases by 40...50%.
6. Berry bushes are protected from spring and autumn frosts.
7. The berries are protected from contamination.

To negative consequences Mulching involves two points:

1. Possibility of rotting of the root system.
2. Infection with fungal diseases.
3. Wet soil can attract slugs and mole crickets.

This is especially dangerous in rainy years.

Mulching materials

Materials of inorganic and organic origin are used as mulch.

Inorganics

These are materials of artificial origin, such as:

• polyethylene film;
• spunbond;
• lutrasil;
• roofing felt;
• cardboard.

These materials will reliably protect against waterlogging and overheating, and the spread of weeds, but do not improve the quality of the soil. A special microclimate is created under films (except for spunbond), which in conditions of high humidity can lead to fungus and rot, therefore, when using non-vapor-permeable materials, regular inspection of the root system and the condition of the soil under the film is required.

Spunbond has a different structure; it allows excess moisture to escape, and therefore its use is more advisable, especially black spunbond, under which the growth of weeds slows down.

Inorganic materials will help strawberries withstand freezing down to -2°C, and a double layer of material - down to -7°C.

It is also difficult to recycle waste film or nonwovens: they themselves do not decompose; when thrown into the trash, they pollute the environment.

Organic

Organic materials suitable for mulching strawberries include:

• mown grass;
• hay and straw;
• needles;
• bark;
• sawdust and shavings.

All these materials are good for what they are. decomposing, they improve the quality of the soil, are breathable, and therefore will not lead to waterlogging of plantings. Another plus is the low cost, and if there is a nearby forest or wood processing plant, pine needles, sawdust or shavings will not cost anything, just like grass cut on the site.

Another advantage of organic mulch is environmental safety, although it is not recommended to mulch one area for several years with pine needles or sawdust coniferous trees, as this will lead to acidification of the soil.

Mulching rules

Mulching is carried out in the fall, at the end of October, and in the spring, after the ovaries appear.

Autumn mulching protects the berry garden from frost; in the spring, the spent mulch is removed after the frosts have stopped.

Spring mulching is carried out to prevent contact of berries with the soil. The mulch is removed after harvesting.

Before adding mulch, the soil is loosened, weeds are weeded, and fertilizers are applied. The soil is leveled and watered. The basic rule is that mulch should not get on the plant; only sprinkle the soil around the bush.

Watering after mulching is reduced by 1/3 and carried out early in the morning so that the mulch dries out by evening. This protects against gray mold disease.

Mulching methods

Depending on the mulch material, the work performed varies somewhat. Let's look at different working methods.

Film materials (polyethylene, spunbond, lutrasil, roofing felt)

After preparing the area for planting a strawberry plantation, film materials are rolled out over the surface with an overlap of 10 cm and overlapping the edge of the bed by 25 cm. The film is secured to the ground with stones, bricks, other available materials or special pins.

Holes for bushes are cut crosswise on the surface: the distance between the rows is 50 cm, in the row between plants is 30 cm. Berry bushes are planted in the slots.

Special films for strawberries with ready-made slots are available for sale.

A plantation of fruit-bearing strawberries can be mulched with film, having previously cut it into strips 30 and 50 cm wide and laid it crosswise between the rows and between plants, securing it with pins or knots.

Cardboard

Sheets of cardboard are spread over the prepared area with an overlap of 20 cm. A layer of fertile soil 10 cm high is poured on top of the cardboard.

The area is left for a week, then planted planting material: using a scoop or trowel, cut a hole in cardboard with a layer of mulch into which the root system is placed berry bush, sprinkle with fertile soil, compact and water. The cardboard will rot in a season and new mulching will be required.

Grass, hay or straw

Before work, hay, straw or grass should be shaken to get rid of weed seeds, then the mulch is soaked and dried.

On the prepared area, mulch is laid under the bushes in a layer of 15 cm. From the rotted straw, hay bacillus passes into the soil, preventing the development of fungus and gray rot of berries.

This is an ideal mulch that is environmentally friendly and improves soil structure.

Needles, cones and bark

Since needles give an acidic reaction, before mulching, be sure to add ash to the soil or carry out liming, and then add dolomite flour 2 times a year. The needles are covered with a layer of 3-5 cm. Cones or bark can be used in the same way.

Sawdust or shavings

For mulching, it is better to use sawdust from deciduous wood, as it contains less resin and rots faster. Sawdust mulch is used for 2 years, then replaced with fresh mulch. A layer of sawdust at least 5 cm thick is poured onto the prepared soil.

You cannot use chipboard, fiberboard and OSB sawdust - they contain phenols and other harmful substances, which, when rotting, will pass into the soil, and then into the berries.

Conclusion

Mulching - simple procedure, which brings many benefits, ranging from easier care of strawberry plantings to earlier ripening of berries and an increase in yield by half.

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:

1. Clean, dry berries are less likely to become infected with pathogenic fungi and bacteria.
2. Some types of mulch repel pests.
3. The soil retains a loose, moist state, the number of waterings is reduced, and the need for loosening disappears.
4. Soil and root system do not suffer from temperature changes, do not overheat under the sun.
5. The fertile humus layer is not washed away by irrigation and rainwater and does not erode.
6. The activity of beneficial soil flora and earthworms increases, and soil fertility is naturally maintained.
7. The growth of weeds is suppressed, the need for weeding disappears, and labor costs for growing strawberries are reduced.
8. 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, like any other agricultural 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 little nutrients.
Shredded bark, wood chips and sawdust	Suppresses the growth of bacteria and fungi. Does not cake, protects the 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:

1. 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, reduces the risk of soil overheating, reflects Sun rays, directing them towards the leaves. Activates photosynthesis. Read also the article: → "".
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Two-tone silver-black. Suitable for both hot regions and Middle zone Russia in the summer. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

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.

1. It is convenient to use film with holes for optimal scheme planting berries.
2. 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.
3. I advise you to use black film: it absorbs and retains heat as much as possible, and prevents the growth and development of weeds.
4. 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.
5. 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

1. Place sawdust after the strawberries are planted in the area.
2. It is advisable to place sawdust not directly on the soil, but on pieces of newsprint previously laid out around the bushes.
3. This two-component mulch will effectively inhibit the growth of weeds.
4. The optimal layer of sawdust under garden strawberries should be 4-6 cm.
5. 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.

1. Straw can be spread under growing plants at any stage of their development.
2. Use only dry straw for mulching.
3. Place straw under the bushes in a layer of 4-6 cm.
4. I recommend starting mulching with straw at the beginning of flowering (preferably not earlier or later).
5. 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.

A garden without strawberries is not a garden. It is very difficult to refuse to grow this delicious berry. But to get good harvest clean and large berries will take some work. Watering, fertilizing, timely removal of tendrils and rejuvenation of plantings - all this is basic, but not far from full list activities necessary for strawberry cultivation.

There is another procedure that I own experience I think it's very important. Its positive impact on strawberry beds is almost impossible to overestimate. We are talking about mulching - and now I will tell you about all the intricacies of this event, which I was able to identify over many years of growing strawberries.

So called agrotechnical technique, which can not only significantly ease the hard work of gardeners, but also prevent the development of crop diseases. Competence in following the technology and timing of laying the mulch layer will allow you to solve a lot of problems in caring for crops and increase their productivity.

Full development, and especially fruiting, requires the regular formation of fresh soil. Moreover, its surface layer plays the main role, because it is this layer that most often finds itself under the influence of negative external factors. Precipitation washes out the minerals it contains, temperature fluctuations and winds dry out and freeze it.

All this has an extremely negative impact on the life activity of all microorganisms in the soil, without which the formation of humus is simply impossible. Looking for " better life“They move into deeper layers, and as a result the soil becomes infertile.

Mulching involves filling the soil under the crops growing on it with materials of various origins. This procedure allows you to protect it from any negative factors and activates the reproduction of organisms, worms and other beneficial insects involved in the formation of humus.

Now let's look at mulching directly strawberry beds.

Why mulch strawberries

• Firstly, the mulch layer is not able to transmit the sun, so weeds cannot fully grow and develop. Moreover, the denser the mulching material and the thicker its layer, the more effective the protection against weeds.
• Mulch also has thermoregulating properties, which allows it to protect the strawberry root system from overheating, freezing and the effects of frost.
• A layer of material under the plants, regardless of its origin, significantly reduces the amount of watering.
• It also reliably protects plantings from contact with fungal spores and viruses on plant roots, thus reducing the risk of strawberries becoming infected with late blight of the root system, verticillium, rhizoctonia and many other pathologies.
• Mulch protects ripening berries from contact with the soil, that is, their rotting is practically excluded.
• As the organic layer decomposes, it gives the strawberry all the nutrients it needs. Moreover, they enter the soil gradually throughout the entire growing season, due to which the mineral exchange between the leaf apparatus and the roots is maintained.

Before giving preference to one or another material for mulching strawberries, decide on the main purpose of this procedure.

After all, depending on what you want, mulch can play the role of an additional source of nutrients, a means of protection against diseases, or simply improve the quality of the soil and create favorable conditions in it.

When is the best time to start mulching?

First, remember - the ground under the plants should not be under a thick mulch layer all year round. It needs to warm up from the natural spring heat, otherwise it will take a very long time to thaw, which cannot but have a negative impact on the growing season.

Strawberries are covered only after the flower ovaries have formed. It is allowed to cover the soil with mulch throughout the summer.

Whenever you decide to mulch strawberry plantings, the soil needs special preparation:

1. The soil must be well loosened;
2. Pull out weeds, tendrils and affected strawberry foliage;
3. Moisten thoroughly;
4. Fertilize according to the season.

If you want to mulch strawberries for the purpose of thermoregulation, to protect the planting from freezing of the soil in winters with little snow or damage to the roots during the thaw period, then start the procedure at the end of September, when the crop enters the dormant phase.

Mulching strawberries: secrets of the procedure

Simply laying mulch is not enough – throughout summer period she needs to be monitored. If organic matter was used for covering, then it must be periodically loosened, removing rotten parts.

Any mulching material should not be placed too tightly against the bushes so that the root system can breathe normally; there should always be a gap of a couple of centimeters between them.

Which material to choose?

I decided to describe several materials at once that are ideal for mulching strawberries. After carefully studying their pros and cons, you can easily choose the best option for yourself.

Straw mulch

Straw can be called ideal material for mulching strawberries. Only dry straw is used.
It is good because it contains poorly decomposing fiber, which prevents its rapid rotting.

However, straw is not at all suitable as a source of nutrition; moreover, it draws nitrogen from the ground. Therefore, you will have to compensate for the loss of the element and additionally feed the bushes; this is easiest to do by combining straw with rotted manure or compost.

Another bad thing is that straw is often used by rodents as a shelter. Due to its lightness, the material flies away from gusts of wind.

Therefore, in the fall it is raked and destroyed, and more suitable materials are used for winter mulching.
For light soil, a layer of straw 15-20 cm thick is enough; after a few days it will settle almost three times - to 5-7 cm.

Mulch from hay, green manure and fresh grass

All of these plant materials are rapidly decomposing fiber, which can provide strawberry bushes with excellent nutrition. However, this effect is short-lived.

Accelerated decomposition after some time leads to depletion of the mulch layer, as well as rotting of its lower layers. As a result, the strawberries are poisoned by rotting products.

Hay is excellent for short-term mulching and fertilization of strawberry bushes. To recreate a comfortable environment in the soil, you need to lay it out in a layer of 7-10 cm, replacing it with a fresh layer every 15 days, which is quite difficult.

Sawdust mulch

Sawdust is a material that takes a long time to decompose; for this reason, it makes no sense to consider it as food. However, thanks to this same property, they can serve as a covering material for about three years.

Their uneven, rough surface is unpleasant for slugs and snails, as a result the number of pests is significantly reduced - this is also an important fact.

Sawdust has the property of absorbing water well until it is completely saturated and the roots of the plant do not receive moisture. For this reason, the amount of liquid for irrigation should be increased, but the number of waterings can be reduced.

To mulch the soil with sawdust, spread newspaper overlapping it on its surface, and scatter about 5 cm of sawdust on top. This material is well suited for mulching, both in summer and before winter.

Pros and cons of mulching strawberries

Depending on the material used, some problems that arise for summer residents can be solved.

• Protecting the soil from overheating in the summer heat, and in winter frosts– from hypothermia;
• Conservation of water in the soil;
• Reducing the number of weeds;
• Preventing pathogens from reaching the surface of the earth;
• Prevention of soil erosion;
• Saving ripe berries from rotting in rainy summers;
• Maintaining soil looseness;
• Formation of many adventitious roots;
• Reducing the ripening period of berries.

Disadvantages of mulching:

• The main disadvantage of mulched soil is the active reproduction of snails and slugs, because high humidity and coolness in inner layers mulch attracts insects in the summer heat, and rotting organic matter serves as a source of food for them.
• However, you should not refuse mulching because of this. If these pests have already been noticed on your site, just use sawdust or pine needles. These materials will be able to curb the active movement of harmful insects.
• During the rainy summer months or when mulching areas with heavy loam, the lower layers of the cover often rot. Dealing with this problem is not at all difficult. When planning the procedure, focus on the characteristics of your climate, as well as the type of soil. In case of high risks of rotting, add mulch. thin layer, and check its condition regularly.
• The use of long-term materials can cause freezing - during returning cold weather, heat is retained in the soil, increasing the negative effect of frost on the strawberry bush. Timely covering of strawberry beds can save the situation, so keep an eye on the weather forecast.

There is an option for growing strawberries - using sawdust mulching. Why sawdust, why mulching at all? Some are doubtful and skeptical about this care procedure. If you are not one of those summer residents, you can try mulching strawberries with sawdust, especially since there are advantages to this.

The advantages include the fact that sawdust They act as a kind of fertilizer, and in addition, they keep the strawberries off the dirty soil. Mulch also protects against weeds.

What sawdust should I use? From coniferous trees or deciduous trees, which species? The answer is any will do.

How to mulch strawberries with sawdust

Let's go in order.

First, you should stock up on waste paper¸ that is, unnecessary newspapers. Moreover, these newspapers should not contain color pictures, the harm from which will be undesirable for the earth and plants. Lay sheets of newspaper overlapping in a couple of rows so that the sprinkled mulch does not fall on the ground.

Next, we take sawdust and sprinkle it on the space between the bushes, no less - pour a layer about 4 cm thick. There’s no point in trying too hard to crawl under the bushes with sawdust - as practice shows, over time the sawdust will get there on its own.

The main rule for mulching strawberries with sawdust is not to mix them with the ground. You can sprinkle it on top. Trample and mix even with top layer land - impossible.

Why? Because sawdust, when multiplied in the ground, contributes to the growth of the number of bacteria that like to take nitrogen from the soil. This cannot be allowed, but if it does happen, you will have to feed the strawberries in this place with nitrogen fertilizers for several years.

Sawdust as fertilizer for strawberries

Sawdust, after serving as mulch, can be used in compost. Observe: when a dark coating forms on the mulch, you can remove it and place it in compost pit. Do you see how much benefit there is from “strawberry” sawdust?

Sawdust and strawberries at different times of the year

Spring

In the spring, the old mulch is removed and a new layer is created anew. The substrate made of newspapers or branches should be checked for suitability, and if necessary, also replaced.

Summer

In the summer, you can do nothing with sawdust mulch, but simply monitor its condition. If desired, you can remove the contaminated sawdust and add fresh sawdust so that the strawberry berries are on a clean layer.

Autumn

In the fall, you will have to renew the mulch layer. You can also apply a layer of sawdust directly under the bushes for the winter, this will protect the plant from the cold. But is it worth sprinkling the bush itself with sawdust? The answer here is ambiguous. If winters in your region are “neither fish nor fowl” - that is, there are almost thaws, then frost again - then before using sawdust, you should make something like a frame of branches over the bushes, cover it with film, and only then sprinkle it with sawdust.