Alternatives to straw: what to put under strawberries?

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Alternatives to Straw What is titled Strawberries

Spreading straw around strawberry plants is a good practice. But if it is not available or for other reasons, the floor does not have to remain bare. There are several alternatives to straw that you can place under strawberries.

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In a nutshell

  • Lawn clippings, leaves and needles: free and natural
  • must be healthy and dry and renewed regularly
  • Cardboard and black fleece: free of charge or cheap; easy to lay; suppresses weeds
  • Bark mulch and sawdust: cheap, comparatively durable; more watering required
  • Expanded clay and wood shavings: ideal for potted strawberries; cheap and partly reusable

Table of contents

  • expanded clay and wood shavings
  • Cardboard
  • foliage and pine needles
  • lawn clippings
  • bark mulch
  • sawdust/sawdust
  • Black mulch fleece
  • frequently asked Questions

expanded clay and wood shavings

Expanded clay lends itself to Plant strawberry plants growing in a large pot or window box. It is long-lasting and reusable. Wood wool is also a good alternative for the pot. Expanded clay costs around 40 cents per liter. The price for wood wool varies between 2 and 10 euros per kilogram, depending on the type and quantity. Both materials have a decorative value.

wood wool

Cardboard

No gardener has to pay money for unprinted cardboard. It occurs incidentally in everyday life. A short-term need can certainly be covered with empty packaging boxes from the supermarket. Large pieces of cardboard become overlapping between strawberry plants laid out and filled with stones or similar. Ä. fixed. Leave small indentations around root ball so you can see theirs Water and fertilize plants can.

foliage and pine needles

Leaves and pine needles can also serve as a free alternative to straw. For your strawberry bed, use whatever comes up in the garden – mixed if you like. Just be careful not to scatter leaves from diseased trees.

lawn clippings

At the lawn clippings the spirits separate. Although it occurs regularly, plentifully and free of charge in every garden, it is associated with a number of problems.

Grass clippings in a black plastic bag
  • fresh grass can become mouldy
  • it is better to let it dry first, then distribute it
  • decomposes very quickly
  • Nutrients are released, but must be renewed more often
  • Lawn clippings must not contain weed seeds

bark mulch

Another alternative to straw for covering strawberry beds is small or medium grain Larch bark mulch or pine bark. A 5 cm thick layer lasts up to 5 years. Meanwhile, it protects the soil from overheating in summer and from freezing through in winter. And of course the fruit before moldy. Also lends bark mulch the bed an aesthetically pleasing appearance. A disadvantage: Strawberries have to be watered more intensively because bark mulch absorbs moisture. The price is around 20 cents per liter. About 20 liters are needed per square meter.

Hands holding bark mulch

sawdust/sawdust

A good portion of sawdust can accumulate over the years in a large garden. The untreated material is ideal for mulching strawberries:

  • lasts up to three years
  • about as long as a strawberry bed
  • the rough material is avoided by snails
  • not suitable as a fertilizer (too slow decomposition)
  • removes nutrients from the soil
  • possibly. previously enriched with horn shavings
  • absorbs a lot of moisture
  • therefore more extensive watering necessary
sawdust

Tip: First, spread out several layers of newspaper and spread the sawdust over them. A layer thickness of 5 cm is ideal.

Black mulch fleece

Mulch fleece is also an alternative to straw and is suitable for underlaying strawberries. It is best to lay the black fleece during the new planting. That's the least work.

  • costs about 1 euro per square meter
  • can be laid quickly and easily
  • it is water permeable and retains heat
  • suppresses weeds
  • has a lifespan of 1-2 years
  • Leftovers can be used for other beds
  • no nutrients are released
  • may have to be mulched underneath
Lay black weed fleece

Tip: Black fleece can also be laid under strawberries afterwards. Just spread it out over the strawberry bed. You can recognize the strawberry plants below by the slight elevations. Cut a cross into the fleece at each of these points and carefully pull out the strawberry plant.

frequently asked Questions

Which of the mulch materials is the best alternative for straw?

It is not enough to weigh all the pros and cons on paper. Hobby gardeners who have tried these alternatives or who use them regularly report different, sometimes very contrary, experiences. This is probably due to the fact that location, soil, care and weather also play a role. Just try out the material that is easiest for you to implement. You can incorporate the experience you have gained into the decision for the following year.

Do I need to prepare the floor before covering?

It makes sense to pull out weeds beforehand. You should also remove old, damaged or yellowed strawberry leaves. When covering with cardboard and fleece, it can also be practical to put a layer of mulch underneath, which provides the plants with nutrients over the long term.

When is the best time to mulch strawberries?

The right time depends on the material. Lawn clippings are continuously applied from spring to autumn. Black fleece already with the planting, at the latest immediately after the flowering period. Bark mulch and sawdust can be spread in spring or fall. Materials that decompose quickly are carefully worked into the soil in spring or autumn and replaced with new material.

The lawn clippings are mouldy, what should I do?

Remove it as soon as possible and as completely as possible from the strawberry bed to prevent the spread of diseases. Let the floor dry. After that, only use well dried grass or another alternative.

Can't I do without a ground cover entirely?

In principle, you can do without a ground cover. However, doing so would also mean giving up some of the benefits that come with it. For example, that the earth is kept warm and moist for longer. In addition, on wet days you have to expect that ripening fruit will rot.