Why mulch strawberries
Mulching is the protection of the surface layer of the soil from the effects of adverse factors. Thanks to this method, the process of evaporation of moisture from the soil is slowed down, and moisture retention is beneficial for the plant and the future harvest.
A layer of mulch will restrain the growth of weeds, which makes it easier to care for garden strawberries, and avoids frequent weeding. Mulch retains heat in the ground, which is beneficial for the plant's root system - it will be protected from possible night frosts.
The use of organic materials will saturate the soil under the strawberries with the necessary nutrients. The strawberries will be protected from contact with the ground, this will keep them free from contamination after watering or rain. During the ripening period, the berries do not get sick with powdery mildew, and when they are harvested, they are clean.
When to mulch - timing
Mulching is recommended twice a season, the first procedure is carried out in the spring before the formation of the ovary. The soil must first be loosened and cleaned of weeds. Before laying the selected material, it is imperative to carry out abundant watering and feeding the plants. After harvesting, the mulch is removed from the strawberry plantation.
The procedure is repeated in late autumn to protect green bushes from cold weather. In the spring, when the strawberries begin to grow, the remaining layer of mulch is carefully removed, taking care not to damage the young plants.
Recommended timing of work
It is better if the strawberries are constantly under the mulch. But in the spring, the soil needs to warm up well, otherwise the natural growing cycle may be delayed. Plants are mulched in spring before flowering, after the appearance of buds, but the procedure can be carried out in summer.
Regardless of the method used, the soil must be properly prepared:
- loosen to restore air exchange;
- remove damaged leaves from the bushes, cut off the mustache;
- weed the beds, completely remove weeds;
- watering;
- apply the necessary fertilizer.
Mulch before winter is arranged after the garden strawberries are fully prepared for the dormant period. Do not ignore this need, because the device will act as a thermostat and will help prevent the roots from freezing in the event of a cold and snowless winter.
Arranging mulch is not enough, you need to monitor its condition, especially if an organic shelter is used. It must be agitated, looked at for rot and make sure that it does not touch the stem of the plant.
If this moment is ignored, you can miss the spread of disease and lose plantings. The gap between the mulch and the stem should be at least 1 cm, this is necessary for normal air access to the root system.
Methods and materials for mulching strawberries
There are several ways to mulch a berry crop. For this procedure, both organic and inorganic materials are used. Before choosing materials, you should take into account the features of the site. For sandy and stony soils, organic material is suitable, which, during decomposition, will improve the structure of the soil and enrich it with nutrients.
To retain heat and moisture, to protect against weeds, an inorganic material is suitable - agrotechnical. It can be purchased from specialized stores and used for several years. But in the presence of high humidity, this method can lead to the formation of rot and fungus, which is detrimental to the strawberry plant.
What mistakes do gardeners make when mulching berries?
If you do not know how to mulch strawberries correctly, you may not only fail to grow, but also harm the crop. Experts identify such errors when applying mulch:
- Permanent ground cover It is not recommended to cover the ground continuously: it needs to warm up. Otherwise, the ripening process will be slowed down, so it is important to remove the fertilizer layer in time.
- Excessive moistening of the mulch. If you do not monitor the concentration of moisture, then slugs and other pests will actively multiply - it is important to remove excess liquid on time.
- Use of substandard or unsuitable raw materials. The properties of the material must be suitable for the specific soil type.
Thus, mulching is beneficial for growing berries, as well as lawn grass, vegetables and fruits. The best way to mulch strawberries - agrofibre, sawdust or other materials - depends on the characteristics of the soil. If you do not have enough knowledge about the procedure, you should consult with experienced gardeners.
Organic Strawberry Mulching Materials
As an organic mulching material, you can use:
- peat;
- compost;
- newspapers and cardboard;
- shavings and bark of trees;
- grass and leaves;
- hay and straw;
- needles.
The selected material is carefully laid out under each bush, lifting all the branches and berries.
Hay and straw
Gardeners do not recommend using hay, as it quickly decays. Straw will insulate the soil and retain moisture in it, but it should be used in conjunction with compost or rotted manure, since it draws nitrogen out of the soil. It is useful in this case to plant onions and garlic between the bushes of garden strawberries.
Mulching with straw.
Straw is placed under each bush of layers no higher than 15 cm. From time to time it must be turned over and examined, since in such a shelter they like to build mouse nests.
Grass
The green part of the weed can serve as a covering material, but without seeds. It is preliminarily crushed and dried, periodically turning it over. The grass is laid under the bushes in a layer of up to 5 cm.
Needle and pine cones mulch
It is useful to mulch strawberries with needles, which contain bactericidal substances and phytoncides, protecting plants from various pests and diseases. Spruce or pine needles protect the soil from the sun and wind, prevent weeds from germinating.
In addition to needles, cones are also used, which are placed between the rows, but this method is laborious, you will need to collect several bags of cones. More often, mulch from needles and cones is used for the winter, and in the spring it is removed from the site.
Sawdust
Before flowering plants, you can mulch the soil with sawdust, with which the beds are covered with a layer of up to 5 cm. Fresh shavings are pre-soaked for several days in water, and then dried in the sun. Gradually rotting, the shavings will enrich the soil with potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen.
If, after heavy rains, the mulch is dirty, then a new layer can be poured on top. Used shavings are added to the compost to make it looser.
Using sawdust for mulch.
Before autumn mulching, thin branches of grapes, cherries are scattered over the site, they are covered with plastic wrap on top and covered with sawdust. This method is a good frost protection for strawberries.
With humus and compost
You can protect the earth from weathering and drying out with the help of compost or humus, but this method requires regular renewal of the mulch layer, because.soil organisms quickly process it.
What does mulch give?
- The soil remains moist and warm.
The roots feel great in such a substrate. - When using organic mulch the soil is enriched with nutrients
essential strawberries. - Mulch prevents mustache from developing
, they do not take root, and the bed remains clean, its productivity is kept at a high level for a long time. It is convenient to water the bushes through this mulch. - For the period of mowing and regrowth, the mulch is removed. They allow the soil to breathe, saturate with oxygen, at this time, mineral and organic fertilizers are applied in the form of composts. And before covering for the winter, the bushes are again covered with mulch. A layer of covering material is added on top, the same kind as the main mulch.
- A double layer of cover creates favorable conditions for overwintering plants.
In early spring, the plants are freed from all materials, the soil is loosened, the bushes are slightly raised so that the growth centers look out above the ground. - The organic mulch is put back in place before flowering. it promotes better berry setting.
A short delay in picking is not a problem - the berries on the mulch will remain intact. Grow strawberries with mulch!
Inorganic Strawberry Mulching Materials
For inorganic materials, gardeners use plastic wrap, agrofibre or paper.
Black film
Using black plastic wrap for strawberries keeps the berries clean and of high quality. The site is pre-loosened, fertilized and watered. The mulch film is placed on the prepared soil and fixed. In the film, cuts are made into which strawberry bushes are planted.
It is recommended to use a two-color film to protect the ground from overheating. The white side should be on the bottom and the black or dark gray on the top.
The film has some disadvantages:
- plants have to be watered only through the cut holes;
- with an excess of moisture, condensation forms under the film, provoking the appearance of rot and attracting slugs;
- due to lack of air, the soil under the film is quickly depleted;
- under the influence of sunlight, the material quickly deteriorates.
Film for mulching strawberries.
Spunbond agrofiber
Spunbond agrofibre will be more durable and of high quality. It is more expensive than film, but it permeates water well and retains it. The material is a fabric obtained by weaving polypropylene yarns. The fabric is two-layer, it can be of different colors, it does not fade under the sun, does not crack, is not afraid of cold weather. Agrofibre is commercially available with ready-made round holes, which were made using perforation. This will save time when planting your plants.
Mulching with cardboard
An economical and environmentally friendly way is mulching with cardboard. Sheets of cardboard are laid overlapping on the prepared area, they are covered with earth with a layer of 7-10 cm on top. When planting strawberries, cuts are made in cardboard, bushes are planted and watered well.
Features of pruning bushes in the fall pros and cons
After the end of fruiting, the strawberry care period begins. One of the important aspects is pruning the bushes. Removing all leaves from strawberries in the fall is performed in order to redirect all the forces of the bush to the development of the root system. This has both pros and cons.
Positive sides
- Pruning leaves helps to improve root development. When the entire ground part of the bush is removed, all nutrients circulate only in the roots and saturate them with a large amount of vitamins and minerals necessary for the plant in winter. At the same time, the root thickens significantly;
- Gardeners believe that removing the foliage increases the frost resistance of the plant;
- Pruning helps to renew the bush and remove all pathogenic microbes and pests that linger on damaged leaves.
Cons of cropping
- Removing the ground part of the bush, the buds from which the fruits are formed are also removed. This will significantly reduce the amount of harvest;
- Longer development of the bush. After pruning in the spring, the ground part is formed longer and you can not hope for early fruiting;
- Pests usually hibernate in the soil. Therefore, pruning the leaves will not provide cardinal protection.
Cropping: step by step instructions
- remove the leaves at a height of 10 cm from the ground, while leaving the stems and not affecting the growing point. After a short period of time, the leaves will begin to grow again;
- cut off all antennae and rosettes, if breeding of bushes is not planned. Thus, the yield of berries will increase;
- remove all weeds from the garden, as they pull nutrients from the soil;
- trimmed leaves and weeds are raked and burned to prevent the spread of fungal spores.
Pruning should be done in July or August. If during this period it was not possible to complete this type of work, you can cut the bushes no later than the beginning of September. This time limitation is explained by the fact that young foliage must have time to grow on the bushes before the onset of the first frosts.
Features of watering strawberries with mulch
When watering a garden strawberry plantation, which is covered with mulch, you must follow some rules. To avoid waterlogging of the soil and the occurrence of a fungal infection, watering is best done in the morning, so that the mulch dries up during the day.
When covered with a film, watering is carried out at the root. To save water, you can organize drip irrigation under the material. Before watering, you need to check the soil: if it is moist and loose, then it is better to postpone watering.
Watering strawberries.
When using cardboard, it is recommended to water it under each bush so that the shelter does not get wet and is preserved for the whole summer.
