When the time comes for colds and frosts, many gardeners rush to cover fruit trees in the first place, but give less attention to berries and shrubs, which can lead to a decrease in yield and the death of tender stems. In this article we will look at how to prepare strawberries for the winter. This is not at all difficult, the main thing is to follow some rules and do everything on time, and a generous harvest will be grateful for your work.
Preparing strawberries for the winter : important points
You need to know that only strong and healthy leaves will help strawberries to endure even the harshest winter. For this, not only during growth, but also during the fruiting period, it needs to be fertilized, pests removed and diseases treated. No less important point is the hilling and the subsequent mulching. And carefully digging the ground around the bushes is necessary at the end of summer. This procedure should not be postponed until late autumn, as those parts of the root system that have been damaged cannot recover to frost. If during the autumn weeds appear on the beds with strawberries, then it is better not to touch them. It is easy to remove them in the spring, because they will not give mature seeds anymore, and it is undesirable to damage the roots.
How to prepare strawberries for winter: we cover bushes
Not sure why this procedure is needed? If you are thinking about how to prepare strawberries for the winter, so that it can endure frosts steadily and painlessly, you can’t do without warming. The thing is that the roots of the plant are very sensitive to cold, and since they do not go deep into the soil, the risk of freezing is quite high. If gardeners were sure that there would be a lot of snow throughout the winter, then there would be nothing to worry about. After all, this is the best heat insulator that is able to protect the earth from freezing. However, do not rely on the case, it is better to insulate the bushes for sure. For this, leaves, hay, straw, spruce spruce branches are suitable. Do not forget that the leaves can accumulate moisture, cake, and mice that destroy the root system often settle under straw or hay. Therefore, the best choice is spruce spruce branches, and it is advisable to put dry raspberry branches or brushwood under it to provide better breathability. Pine needles are also an excellent material, eliminating the evaporation, providing air. It is recommended to carry out warming after the first frosts. It is better not to rush with this procedure, because hardened plants have much better winter hardiness.
How to cut strawberries for the winter and is it worth it?
Many gardeners are sure that this plant needs pruning. The procedure consists in removing absolutely all the leaves. On the other hand (this was mentioned above), it is the leaves that allow strawberries to winter well. If you are going to cover the bushes with straw or hay, it is better to perform the above procedure in order to avoid decay of the leaves. If warming is carried out with the help of spruce branches, then circumcision can be completely dispensed with. Now you know how to prepare strawberries for the winter. Have a good harvest!