When preparing strawberries for the winter, it is necessary to carry out a number of agricultural activities. As a rule, for this, the soil is loosened and mulched with a rather thick layer of organic material. Pretreatment is necessary not only to cover the root system of plants during the period of frost, but also to protect against various diseases and pests that can attack a weakened culture.
Together with this, many gardeners prune strawberry leaves. Some perform this procedure in the spring, others prefer autumn. There are those who are completely against such events. Therefore, we will figure out whether it is necessary to prune strawberry leaves in the fall and how to properly prepare the plant for the winter period.
Winter preparations
Since mid-August, it is necessary to carry out appropriate plant care. However, in this case, you do not need to perform additional procedures, but, on the contrary, try not to prevent the plant from going to sleep.
That is why it is necessary to stop feeding. Fertilizers stimulate the plant's vegetation and new buds begin to develop on it. If strawberries prepare for fruiting and winter comes, this can ruin the crop.
If we talk about whether to cut strawberry leaves in the fall, then there are several opinions on this subject that are fundamentally different from each other. Let's consider in more detail.
Benefits of Leaf Pruning
In the process of this event, it is necessary to trim absolutely all the foliage on the bush. This procedure has several positive aspects:
- The root system is becoming stronger. If you remove the leaves, the plant will put all its strength into the nutrition of the roots, which will receive maximum nutrients and trace elements.
- The plant survives the winter much better. When there are no leaves on it, only the root system, which is very simple to protect, can suffer from frost.
- Pests often live on strawberry foliage. If they are removed, then they will not be able to harm the plant in the autumn, when the culture should not suffer.
However, there are those who, in the question of whether to cut strawberry leaves in the fall, believe that this procedure is not needed.
Negative side trimmed leaves
If you perform a similar procedure, this can lead to some negative consequences:
- If you remove the leaves, you can accidentally damage the generative buds. Because of this, the plant will bear fruit much worse. As a rule, this happens after the autumn processing of bushes.
- New leaves may develop more slowly than necessary. This may entail the later formation of future plant fruits.
- If during the pruning of leaves the parasites sitting on them will fall to the ground, then they can find shelter. As a result, when new leaves begin to be laid on the plant in spring, pests can begin to destroy them.
- Without leaves, the photosynthesis process is disrupted.
Whether it is necessary to prune strawberry leaves in the fall, everyone decides for himself. This procedure has a lot of supporters, but there are those who are categorically against such manipulations. Indeed, this method has its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, when deciding whether to cut strawberry leaves in the fall, you need to consider your own experience. Some novice gardeners are afraid to perform such a procedure.
However, you need to understand that plants of this species are distinguished by good survivability. Therefore, knowing why the leaves of strawberries are cut in the fall, you can not be afraid that you will destroy the culture. If everything is done correctly, then the yield of the plant can significantly increase.
Strawberry leaf pruning
This procedure is performed before the first frost. If we talk about when to cut leaves from strawberries in the fall, then in this matter it all depends on the climatic characteristics of the region. Most often, foliage is removed in late August or early September. The procedure is as follows:
- First remove the stems located in the middle of the bush. Thus, it is necessary to thin out all the plants. On one bush, it is recommended to leave no more than 6-7 stems.
- Sick, damaged and infected leaves are removed along with the stems. It is also recommended to prune foliage that lies on the soil.
- When trimming young crops, you need to act very carefully. Do not hurt the sinuses of the kidneys, which are very important for the future harvest.
- When pruning old bushes, it is necessary to remove foliage butt to the surface of the earth. Then the plants will be rejuvenated.
Under the root, only old or damaged plants need to be trimmed. On young bushes, only leaf blades are removed.
Follow-up care
After the strawberry leaves are trimmed correctly in the fall, it is recommended to disinfect the plants. If mold or fungus remains in the ground, this can lead to damage to the bushes.
In addition, after trimming strawberries, some experienced gardeners apply fertilizer to the ground to nourish it with nutrients and trace elements. Thanks to this, the root system of plants will be more developed and in spring more healthy buds will appear on the plants. It is recommended to use organic or mineral fertilizers as top dressing.
Knowing when to prune strawberry leaves in the fall, don't forget about weeds. They must be removed. For work it is better to use a chopper or garden pitchfork. However, you need to act very carefully so as not to touch the roots of the plant.
A few days after pruning the leaves, you need to water the bushes well. In water, you can add a few drops of potassium permanganate. In this case, watering must be continued until new leaves begin to appear on the plant.
Strawberry Trimming
Throughout the summer season, mustache plants grow very much. In autumn, they do not develop so actively, but in the winter they completely “fall asleep”. Therefore, when preparing the plant for wintering, it is necessary to remove all dried, diseased or damaged antennae. However, it is not recommended to remove them if the gardener wants to increase the strawberry plantation next year. In that case, they need to be left and planted with the onset of summer.
How experienced gardeners look after strawberries before winter
So that spring work does not take much time and effort, it is worthwhile to make a number of mandatory autumn events. First of all, you need to again weed the soil around the bushes. Closer to October, it is worth digging the ground on the bayonet of a shovel. This avoids overmoistening or excessive compaction.
If loam prevails in the area, the water often stagnates. This can lead to decay of the root system of plants. Therefore, you can add a little sand to the soil. To plant strawberries, it is recommended to choose the driest places.
Do I need to organize additional shelters
As a rule, during the winter season, many gardeners cover plants so that they do not die. This applies not only to flowers, but also to strawberries. To give a good harvest, it is necessary to protect the bushes during the frost. However, some experts argue that the use of non-woven material is not a prerequisite. It is difficult to unequivocally answer the question of whether shelters are needed.
From one point of view, such shelters require additional cash investments and labor. In addition, such protection often provokes rotting and rotting of plants. If during the thaw on the site there will be water, then under the polyethylene bushes can die. Also in such conditions, bacteria and fungi develop well.
On the other hand, in regions where cold temperatures prevail, such measures are necessary. If you do not cover the strawberries, then it can simply freeze.
Make shelter
It is best to use natural, natural plant protection materials. As a shelter, it is recommended to use spruce spruce branches or oak leaves. In this case, the protective layer should be about 5-7 cm thick. In this case, the plants will receive the necessary amount of oxygen. However, they will not freeze even in the harshest winter.
Also, thanks to such a shelter, strawberries will not shed. In addition, the lapnik passes the necessary amount of moisture, which will nourish the bushes throughout the winter period. Weeds will not grow either. They simply will not be able to break through such a thick barrier. It is no secret that in the spring slugs and caterpillars often appear on suburban areas. These pests can not move on complex and rough surfaces, because they can not damage young leaves.
Speaking about whether to cut leaves from strawberries in the fall, it is difficult to answer the question unequivocally. It all depends on the preferences of the gardener.