How to mulch strawberries in autumn and spring? How to mulch garden strawberries: film, agrofabric, sawdust, needles, straw

Gardeners with experience are sure that mulching strawberries is a must. Thanks to this agricultural practice, a layer of mulch retains moisture in the soil, and it is quite difficult for weeds to break into the light, the soil becomes nutritious and loose. Mulching strawberries is a very important part of care, comparable to correct fit and watering. In this article we will tell you all the features of strawberry mulching.

What is mulch for when growing strawberries?

Mulching is covering the soil around strawberries with organic material, as well as with film or cardboard. Thanks to mulching, the evaporation of water from the soil is reduced, and the number of irrigations per season is also reduced. Moisture in the soil will remain much longer, which, of course, is useful for strawberries. Strawberry mulch is also needed to keep weeds in check, and as a result, you will save yourself from the need for frequent weeding. Under a layer of mulch, the root system and soil warm up. Covering material does not allow heat to leave the ground.

AT spring time this is especially true when the soil freezes at night. If you use sawdust, needles or straw as mulch, the soil is saturated nutrients that are essential for the plant. You can also get rid of contamination of strawberries. Without mulch, during irrigation or rain, dirty drops of water fall on the leaves and berries, after which the presentation is lost. Since the layer of mulch prevents the berries from touching the ground, they will not lie on the ground and will not get gray rot.

When to Mulch Strawberries

To understand how to properly mulch strawberries, you need to know when to do it. This procedure should be carried out twice a year. The first time this is done in the spring, when fruit ovaries begin to appear on strawberry bushes. They do this so that the flower stalks do not come into contact with the ground. You can remove the mulch after the crop is harvested, or at the end of summer. The second time to mulch strawberries is necessary in late autumn. This is necessary so that the plants do not freeze when the first cold weather comes. You can remove the mulch in the spring, as soon as the bushes begin to grow.

Options for mulching strawberries in a summer cottage than mulching strawberries

Mulching strawberries in a summer cottage is quite simple, but very effective procedure for the plant. Beginning gardeners do not always know how to mulch strawberries, although many materials are suitable for this. Straw, sawdust, grass, needles, film and even cardboard can be used as mulch. Mulch should be laid on the surface near the plant. Next, we will describe in more detail what you can sprinkle with strawberries.

Mulching with straw, grass, sawdust, needles and cardboard

Mulch the soil with straw- a fairly common option in summer cottages, because straw for mulching is ideal: the soil does not acidify, moreover, having rotted, the straw will serve as a good organic fertilizer.

Important! Make sure straw is dry before use. If it is fresh, it may begin to rot.

A layer of straw mulch should be 5 cm thick. It is recommended to cover the ground during the period when the strawberries began to bloom. Before mulching, weeds must be removed from all beds and mineral fertilizers applied.

Mulching strawberries with cut grass produced in the same way as when using straw. The mulch layer should be 5 cm and the grass must be dry.

If you use sawdust as mulch, then the beds must first be loosened and weeded. After that, between the strawberry bushes, spread the old newspapers in two overlapping layers. Next, pour sawdust, the layer should be 5 cm. Mulching strawberries with sawdust is done for two years, after the expiration of the period they overheat and repeat the procedure.

Important! Chipboard sawdust cannot be used, because they contain harmful resins that are dangerous to the human body.

It is best to use hardwood sawdust rather than softwood sawdust, as they overheat faster in autumn.

You can mulch strawberries not only pine needles, but also cones, bark and branches. Unlike other mulch materials used, needles quickly rot, resulting in loose soil and nutrient saturation. Those who doubt whether it is possible to mulch strawberries with needles are also somewhat right. This is due to the fact that pine needle mulch acidifies the soil, but this is easy to deal with. To do this, it is necessary to regularly add ash, as well as twice a year - dolomite flour.

We figured out the best way to mulch strawberries, but there are other, non-traditional ways. Use cardboard as mulch- the least popular method, but it also has the right to exist. It is best to use thick carton boxes, but do not take ordinary newspapers, as they contain a lot of lead from printing ink, and it is harmful to plants. Lay the cardboard on the prepared area with an overlap of 20 cm at the edges. After that, fill in a layer of fertile soil of 10 cm and leave the area for a week. After that, you can plant strawberries. With a garden shovel, pierce the layer of mulch along with the cardboard and plant a seedling in the hole, watering it immediately. In order not to spoil the mulch, it is not necessary to water between the strawberry bushes. After the seedlings have grown, cover the beds with mowed grass.

Using foil to mulch strawberries

Quite often used for strawberries mulching film or spunbond. Spunbond is a fabric that is used for mulching strawberries. To figure out what is better to use (film or spunbond), you need to know what is their difference. If you use a film as a mulch, it can serve you for two seasons, but spunbond for strawberries has been used for several years. There are special varieties of polyethylene that are designed for mulching. The film already has holes for planting and watering plants.

Did you know? It is best to use black film, as it retains heat better.

Also, they do not penetrate through the dark film. Sun rays and the growth of weeds is restrained. However, covering the strawberries with spunbond allows the soil to breathe. The film passes air worse, and the earth can forbid, and this will cause rotting of the strawberry root system. You need to mulch with a film immediately before planting strawberries. On the eve of the site, you need to make a bed for strawberries, if there are weed roots, remove them. After that, apply organic fertilizers to the soil and carefully level it with a rake.

Did you know? If you have a film without holes, make them yourself using sharp knife. The distance between the holes should be at least 30 cm, and between the rows - 50 cm.

After spreading the film, it must be pressed along the edges, for example with bricks.

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

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

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

The positive effect of mulch is in the following points:

The amount of water for irrigation is reduced by about a third.
Moisture is evenly distributed over the area.
Wet soil attracts earthworms, which naturally aerate the soil, loosening surface layer.
The amount of fertilizers and pesticides for treatments is reduced.
The yield increases by 40…50%.
Berry bushes are protected from spring and autumn frosts.
Berries are protected from pollution.

to negative consequences Mulching includes two points:

Possibility of rotting of the root system.
The defeat of fungal diseases.
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;
ruberoid;
cardboard.

These materials will reliably protect against waterlogging and overheating, the spread of weeds, but do not improve soil quality. A special microclimate is created under the films (except for spunbond), which, under conditions 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 you to go outside excess moisture, and therefore its use is more appropriate, especially black spunbond, under which the growth of weeds slows down.

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

The complexity is also the disposal of waste film or nonwovens: they themselves do not decompose, thrown into the garbage pollute nature.

organic

Organic materials suitable for mulching strawberries include:

cut grass;
hay and straw;
needles;
bark;
sawdust and shavings.

All of 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 a timber processing enterprise, needles, sawdust or shavings will not cost anything, like grass cut on the site.

Another plus of organic mulch is environmental friendliness, although it is not recommended to mulch one area for several years with 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 appearance of the ovaries.

Autumn mulching protects the berry plant from frost; in the spring, the spent mulch is removed after the end of the frost.

Spring mulching is performed in order to avoid contact of the berries with the ground. Mulch is removed after harvest.

Before filling the mulch, the soil is loosened, weeds are weeded, and fertilizers are applied. The soil is leveled and watered. The main rule is that the mulch should not get on the plant, only the soil around the bush is sprinkled.

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 material of the mulch, the performance of the work varies somewhat. Let's take a look at different ways of working.

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

After preparing the site for planting a strawberry plantation, the film materials are rolled out on the surface with an overlap of 10 cm and over the edge of the bed 25 cm. The film is fixed on the ground with stones, bricks, other improvised material or special studs.

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

On sale there are special films for strawberries with ready-made slots.

A plantation of fruit-bearing strawberries can be mulched with a film, after cutting it into strips 30 and 50 cm wide and laying it in the aisle and between plants crosswise, fixing it with hairpins or knots.

Cardboard

Over the prepared area, sheets of cardboard are spread with an overlap of 20 cm. A layer of fertile soil 10 cm high is poured over the cardboard.

The site is left for a week, then planted planting material: with a scoop or trowel, cut a hole in cardboard with a layer of mulch into which the root system is placed berry bush, sprinkled with fertile soil, compacted and watered. The cardboard will overheat in a season, 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.

Mulch is laid out on the prepared site under the bushes with a layer of 15 cm. A hay stick passes from the rotted straw into the soil, preventing the development of fungus and gray rot of berries.

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

Needles, cones and bark

Since the needles give an acidic reaction, ash must be added to the soil before mulching or liming is carried out, and then dolomite flour is added 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 hardwood, as it contains less resin and rots faster. Sawdust mulch is used for 2 years, then replaced with fresh. A layer of sawdust with a thickness of at least 5 cm is poured onto the prepared soil.

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

Conclusion

Mulching is a simple procedure that brings many benefits, from easier strawberry planting to earlier ripening of berries and halving the yield.

Experienced gardeners know that mulching strawberries is a necessary process. The practice of mulching came to us from abroad. It is successfully used in large farms. The advantage of this method of growing strawberries was also appreciated by our summer residents. It is important to choose the right material for mulching, and carry out the procedure on time.

Mulching strawberries promotes the growth of strawberry bushes and a bountiful harvest.

The need for mulching strawberries

The yield of your favorite berry depends on many factors: soil moisture, the presence of sufficient nutrients, the absence of weeds, protection from diseases and pests. So, mulching allows you to:

Maintain soil moisture for a long time. A layer of mulch reduces evaporation. The number of irrigations is reduced.
Restrain the growth of weeds. The need for frequent weeding disappears. This is especially true in cases where a film or fabric is used as a mulching layer.
Keep warm. Covering material does not allow heat to escape from the soil. This is important during the period of winter and spring cold weather.
Enrich the soil with humus. Straw, sawdust or mowed grass, rotting, provides plants with the necessary substances.
Prevent contamination and decay. Mulch prevents the berries from contacting wet soil. Presentation of strawberries and their taste qualities are saved.
Protect berries from diseases. First of all, from gray rot, which occurs from contact with the ground.

Mulching strawberries keeps moisture in the ground from evaporating.

When to Mulch

The procedure should be carried out twice a year: in spring and autumn. During these periods of time, strawberry mulch cannot be the same, as it is used for different purposes.

The first procedure is necessary when berries begin to tie on the bushes. As a mulch, you can choose any material: film, fabric, roofing material, needles, straw, hay, etc. The goal is to retain moisture and prevent contact of ripening berries with the ground. Mulch that has not had time to rot is removed either after harvest or at the end of summer.

The second mulching is carried out at the end of October and is intended to protect the plants from freezing. Sawdust, fallen leaves, straw or hay can serve as covering material during this period. In the spring, when the strawberry bushes begin to grow, the layer of mulch must be removed.

Covering strawberries with mulch helps keep the bushes warm.

Ways

The choice of mulching method depends on several factors: time of year and purpose, climatic conditions, type of soil and the availability of improvised means.

Film mulching

Advantages of this inexpensive way appreciated by many gardeners. With the help of a film, the soil temperature rises by a couple of degrees, the moisture does not evaporate for a long time, and the berries remain clean. It should be borne in mind that the mulching film for strawberries should be black.

Typically, such mulching is carried out during the planting of strawberry bushes. To do this, form a bed, fertilize and moisten the soil, cover it with a black film. Round cuts with a diameter of 8-10 centimeters or cross-shaped cuts are made in the film. Prepared seedlings are planted in these holes.

It should be borne in mind that the film, with careful use, can last several years. Disposal should be considered in advance.

Mulching with fabric, spandbond, roofing material

The technique for planting finished seedlings is the same as for film mulching. The fabric or spandbond (agrofibre) must be black. All these materials are considered environmentally friendly and safe for human health. A flower bed mulched in this way requires almost no maintenance. Timely removal of the antennae is all that will have to be done regularly.

Among the advantages of this method of mulching, one can single out earlier ripening of the crop, the purity of the berries and the ease of caring for the garden.

Mulching with paper or cardboard

For this purpose, newspapers, pieces from cardboard boxes or large sheets of paper are suitable. The prepared bed is covered with overlapping sheets so that there are no gaps left. A layer of compost or humus is poured on top of the paper or cardboard layer. In this form, the bed should stand for about a week, after which seedlings can be planted. To do this, the layer of mulch must be pierced with a garden shovel. After planting, seedlings are well watered.

This method of mulching is good because it perfectly retains moisture and enriches the soil with nutrients. Usually this single watering is enough for the whole season. But if the summer turned out to be dry, strawberries can be watered again, but only under each root separately.

Needles as mulch

Mulching with needles allows you to enrich the soil with nutrients and keep it loose, saturated with oxygen. This material can be used to mulch already planted bushes, pouring a layer of needles into the root zone. The procedure is carried out at the very beginning of strawberry flowering, after loosening the soil.

Needles prevent the appearance of gray rot on fruits. She rots quickly. But this material for mulching is not recommended to be used constantly, as it acidifies the soil. It can be alternated with sawdust, straw or grass cuttings.

Mulching with sawdust

Sawdust perfectly retains moisture and improves the composition of the soil, enriching it with nutrients. Mulch from this material is placed under strawberry bushes with a layer of at least five centimeters.

For mulching, you can use chips and sawdust.

It should be remembered that sawdust is a favorable habitat for insect pests. Therefore, this material must be alternated with any other. Mulching with sawdust is also not suitable for acidic soils. Rotting, they acidify the soil even more. From this, the berries become small.

Mulching with hay or straw

In order to start mulching, hay or straw needs to be shaken, moistened and dried well. As a result of this procedure, weed seeds will quickly germinate and die, leaving only material suitable for mulching. It must be crushed and laid in a layer of at least 7 centimeters on the bed. Mulching with straw or hay can be done both in spring and autumn. After harvesting strawberries, the mulch layer must be removed. It can be burned or composted.

Grass cut mulch

Mulching with cut grass is carried out in the same way as with straw or hay. The grass must be well dried. Mulch layer - about 5 centimeters. After harvesting, it is harvested.

Straw mulching is one of the easiest options.

When choosing cheap covering materials such as grass clippings, straw and hay, remember that they attract pests and rodents, and also contain weed seeds. Isn't it better to spend money on film or fabric?

Tireless gardeners use other, less common methods, weighing the pros and cons. All methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, you need to focus on the method that is suitable for the size of your site, will increase productivity and be the least expensive.

Mulching strawberries is necessary so that the berries lying on the ground do not rot and become moldy. For this, different materials are used: straw, needles, scraps of newspapers, special fabric. Along with other options, sawdust is also suitable. They have a number of undeniable advantages.

sawdust for strawberries

Many doubt whether it is possible to mulch strawberries with sawdust. Even necessary. Due to sawdust, the soil becomes lighter, looser, breathable. Even in extreme heat, there will be no hard crust on the surface of the bed, therefore, frequent loosening of the soil is not required.

Sawdust is not only protection of berries from spoilage, but also food for the soil. Since sawdust lies on the surface, it gradually rots, enriching the soil with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. But they should not be buried in the ground: this is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, which also need nitrogen. It turns out that they will take it away from the berries.

What to prefer? If you want an effective natural fertilizer, use sawdust that comes from sawing hardwood trees. They will rot faster. On the other hand, sawdust of coniferous trees - best protection for berries, they can be poured less often.

It is optimal to use already partially rotted sawdust for strawberries. They can be distinguished from fresh ones by their color: they are slightly darker. If you just leave them in the open air, the process of overheating will drag on for 10 years or more. To speed it up, add them to your compost heap or greenhouse and greenhouse beds.

The only limitation when using sawdust as mulch for strawberries is moderately acidic and acidic soil.

They will acidify the earth even more, and strawberries prefer neutral or slightly alkaline soil. To neutralize a little excess acidity, adding dolomite flour, wood ash or ground eggshells to the soil before mulching will help.

How to mulch strawberries with sawdust?

If you only have fresh sawdust at your disposal, and you need mulch right now, use the following method to prepare it.

Spread plastic sheeting on a flat piece of land, pressing down on the edges. Pour three buckets of sawdust from above (level to a thickness of about 10 cm) and a glass of urea.
Pour all this (8-10 liters of water).
Repeat in the same order.
cover up plastic wrap so that there are as few holes as possible for air access, and wait 12-14 days.

The resulting mulch is not inferior in quality to the rotted mulch in the compost heap.

The beds must first be prepared:

If you clean up old sawdust, do not rush to throw it away. This is great addition into the compost pit. They will significantly speed up the process of compost maturation due to the fact that a higher temperature is formed in the pit. In addition, the product will turn out to be of better quality, loose and great for any type of soil.

The fact that the sawdust began to rot is evidenced by a dark brown color and a characteristic coating.

Spring mulching

Why you need to mulch in the spring:

Optimal time for mulching - mid-April or early May (depending on the climate of a particular region). Wait until a stable positive temperature is established at night. But it’s also not worth delaying too much, because the procedure is carried out only before the strawberries begin to bloom.

Procedure:

The first thing to do in the spring is to remove last year's mulch from under the strawberry bushes. It not only looks unpresentable, but is also a suitable place for overwintering pathogenic bacteria, fungal spores and larvae of garden pests.

Procedure:

The second time mulching in the spring is carried out during the period when the strawberries fade, and the berries begin to set en masse. The technology is the same.

Summer mulching

Many people think that sawdust should not be touched in the summer, but this is not entirely true. For example, if it rains heavily at the beginning of summer, the mulch layer will inevitably get dirty. It will no longer be an effective protection against rot and mold. Therefore, in order to preserve the harvest, it is advisable to add fresh sawdust in a timely manner.

If this is not done, there will be practically nothing left of the mulch by mid-July or early August. Due to the regular loosening of the beds and the presence of earthworms in the soil, sawdust will mix with the soil.

Too much falling asleep strawberries with sawdust in August, when the main fruiting phase is already behind, on the contrary, is not recommended. thick layer mulch will prevent excess moisture from evaporating from the soil in a timely manner. In winter, this moisture will turn into ice, which may well lead to freezing of the roots and death of the plant. Also, such a violation of the microclimate adversely affects the formation and development of new shoots (the so-called whiskers).

If you noticeably went too far with the mulch in the spring and by August it had not mixed with the soil, be sure to intensively loosen the beds. Flat-cutting will also help.

Those sawdust that will remain on the surface by winter will freeze and in the spring will not allow the soil to thaw in time. It is especially important to follow this in southern regions where the climate allows for earlier landings.

Autumn mulching

This procedure is designed to protect strawberries from frost. The thickness of the newly created layer should not be less than 4–5 cm. But the goal will be achieved only if the sawdust does not freeze. Otherwise, you will get an effect that is exactly the opposite of what you expect due to wet sawdust.

If the snow cover in your area is not established immediately, but repeatedly melts over late autumn and early winter, in addition to mulching, strawberry bushes require additional protection:

First, build some kind of frame from twigs or thin plastic slats. The resulting design should resemble a hut.
Then cover the bushes with polyethylene or other waterproof material, taking care of the tightness of the shelter.
Only after that you can pour sawdust.

If you are sure that the cold has set in immediately and the snow that has fallen once will not melt, pour sawdust directly onto the ground.

What can act as fertilizer, mulch and covering material? Sawdust, for strawberries they will be very useful. In addition to the already mentioned, you can add that the berries do not lie on the ground. So they don't rot.

Many people think it's harmful. Others doubt for a long time whether it is possible to mulch strawberries with sawdust? And the third take and do. Because sawdust is like mulch for strawberries - perfect option.

They do not bring harm, because they lie on the surface of the earth. Where they gradually get richer beneficial substances and rot. They are conditionally not useful directly in the ground. Then bacteria are attracted to them, which during reproduction use a lot of nitrogen from the soil. That is, they take it from the strawberries. But then, when the process ends, this nitrogen returns to the soil. If fresh sawdust is already mixed with the ground, then you will have to apply additional nitrogen-containing fertilizers for a couple of years.

As long as the surface of the earth is sprinkled with them and they simply lie on it, then they cannot pull nitrogen out of the soil. So, you can safely use them and sprinkle the beds with strawberries, that is, mulch the beds.

If we talk about the sawdust themselves, then the best option are those that come from sawing deciduous trees. They overheat faster. But conifers, too, should not be discounted. They just serve to protect the beds from weeds a little longer.

How to mulch strawberries with sawdust?

Mulching strawberries with sawdust

On well-weeded and loosened beds of strawberries, you need to lay newspapers without colored inscriptions and drawings. It is desirable that they overlap each other, that is, that the mulching material does not wake up on the soil. There may be several such layers. Most often 2 or 3.

Then sprinkle sawdust in the space between the strawberry bushes. Their layer should not be more than 5 cm. The optimal thickness is 3-4 cm. You can not add sawdust under the strawberries. But it is noticed that over time they still slide to the bushes. Therefore, it is not scary if sawdust gets under strawberries. Learn more in the article: → Errors and various ways mulching strawberries in the area.

They will overheat for several years. It all depends on their size and the type of wood from which they were obtained. Usually it is from one and a half to two years. Perhaps a little longer. Then this layer of mulch can already be used as fertilizer by adding them to the compost heap. And in the strawberry garden again carry out fresh mulching.

Sawdust as fertilizer for strawberries

Once they have fulfilled their role as mulch, they can be recycled into fertilizer. Will tell you when you are ready to move to the compost heap dark patina on them. It is a signal that humus has begun to form. AT compost pit sawdust is overheated and enriched. In addition, sawdust accelerates the compost ripening process. This is due to the fact that they are able to maintain a constant high temperature.

This fertilizer is better than just compost. Because it is looser, which means it better passes moisture and air.

Sawdust with compost will well fertilize beds with strawberries or other crops. And it can be used on any type of soil. Everywhere from clay and sand to black earth, such a mixture will only benefit.

Sawdust and strawberries at different times of the year

Autumn. An additional layer of mulch left over from the summer needs to be applied. And here the question is “Is it possible to pour sawdust under strawberries?” not worth it. Yes. Can. Mulching is carried out with a layer of about 5 cm. This will protect the strawberries from winter frosts.

Another question is whether it is possible to sprinkle strawberries with sawdust. If the region experiences snowy winters, then yes. When the snow either falls or melts, their wetting is observed. Which will only freeze the soil even more. In such situations, it is better to put something for the frame on the strawberry bushes, for example, raspberry branches, and cover it with polyethylene on top and sprinkle sawdust on top.

In general, if frosts are established immediately, then the sawdust will not get wet. So, if you doubt whether it is possible to fill strawberries with sawdust, you can close your eyes and safely sprinkle them on the plants.

Spring. At this time of the year, you need to deal with the layer that formed the mulching all last year. It is recommended to remove it. Especially if appearance casts doubt on its usefulness.

Then the soil needs to be loosened and fertilized, it is better if there is nitrogen in the complex composition. And mulch strawberries with sawdust in the spring. Repeating everything that was described above. You can remove the newspaper if it does not inspire confidence, as a layer for the border of mulch and earth. You can lay brushwood from raspberry sprigs. And already sprinkle fresh sawdust on it.

Summer. It would seem that now nothing needs to be done with sawdust. It turns out that it is possible. If the mulch layer is dirty. The berries that fall on it will also get dirty and rot. Therefore, it would be good to add clean sawdust around the strawberries to renew the layer and prevent the crop from spoiling.

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Mulching strawberries with sawdust

Everyone knows about the rules of growing and caring, but here's how to properly mulch strawberries with sawdust and why this is done - the secret experienced gardeners which we will try to reveal. Strawberries are the undisputed leader among berry crops in our gardens and orchards. None of the smallest plot is complete without it.

Why mulch strawberries

Mulch is a layer of natural or artificial material that protects the surface of the beds. Sawdust as mulch for strawberries is one of the most common and convenient options. Mulch can be artificial (various films, covering materials, fabrics) and organic (sawdust, pine needles, bark, humus, hay, mowed grass). In both cases, mulching performs the following functions:

Eliminates the need to constantly weed weeds, as under dense layer mulch, they almost do not grow. Particularly good with weeds artificial materials;
Protects upper layer beds of excessive evaporation of moisture. A mulched bed has to be watered much less often;
In the early stages of plant development, mulch protects the surface root system and the aboveground part of the plant from return frosts and protects against overheating in summer;
Helps to protect the crop from contamination when in contact with the ground, which is especially important for strawberries;
In wet weather, it prevents the development of gray mold and other diseases on berries;
Organic mulch serves as an excellent fertilizer, is able to gradually saturate the soil with useful substances and loosen it, making it breathable.

To choose material for mulch, decide what tasks are paramount for you. If weed protection is in the foreground, buy agrofilm or fabric. They will allow air to pass through, giving the plants the opportunity to breathe, and the weeds will die, deprived of sunlight.

If you need a long-term effect, in the form of top dressing, improving the structure and enriching the soil, choose organic mulching.

Sawdust as fertilizer for strawberries

Is it possible to pour sawdust under strawberries? This is one of the most best options for the mulching procedure, they will create a light, breathable, clean layer on the surface of the earth, in contact with which the berries will not get dirty and rot. In addition, the use of sawdust for strawberries is that they will gradually rot under the influence of moisture from irrigation, rain and saturate the soil. organic matter as well as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. And you do not have to constantly loosen the ground around the bushes, breaking the crust of dried earth.

Here are a few points to consider if you want sawdust to do good and not harm:

It is not recommended to use too fresh sawdust, for this they need to be soaked in water for several days, and then dried. Those that have already begun to overheat are best suited - they look noticeably darker than fresh ones;
Not suitable sawdust for strawberries from composite materials, like chipboard, they contain epoxy adhesives that are not at all useful for plants;
Soil with an acidic reaction should not be mulched with sawdust, they can increase the acidity of the soil. However, if you add to the soil before the procedure wood ash, dolomite flour or limestone, acidification can be neutralized;
You should not make them directly into the soil, otherwise they will become the basis for the active reproduction of bacteria that utilize nitrogen from the soil. Thus, it may turn out that instead of feeding, you cause nitrogen starvation in plants.

At the same time, you need to know that sawdust of coniferous species protects plants from diseases, due to the natural content of resins and phytoncides, and from deciduous trees they will quickly rot and fertilize the soil.

How to process fresh sawdust

Such material is easy to bring to the desired condition and use as mulch, if there are no others:

To do this, take a large trough or other container.
Pour a layer of sawdust, approximately 10 centimeters thick.
Spread evenly over a layer of 200 grams of urea.
Fill with a bucket of water.
If necessary, the layer of sawdust is repeated.
Cover the top layer to minimize water evaporation.
After 2 weeks, the sawdust is dried and they are ready for use.

How to mulch strawberries with sawdust

Spring mulching is carried out from mid-April to mid-May, it all depends on weather conditions. The main thing is to have time until the strawberries bloom.

Stages of mulching beds with strawberries:

The old mulch will have to be removed, it can be a source of numerous pest larvae, slugs or bacterial rot. The soil needs to be weeded and loosened;
Strawberries are watered with a liquid solution of nitrogen fertilizer at the rate of 1 matchbox per 10 liters of water. Can be applied dry nitrogen fertilizer, after that, the bed is well moistened;
The bed is evenly covered with a layer up to 5 centimeters thick, forming a “nest” for the bush;
The material must be inspected for the presence of pest larvae and mold. It is advisable not to use such sawdust as mulch;
As the layer subsides, the soil may be exposed in some places. Close the gaps by adding sawdust.

Additional measures

As necessary, during the entire fruiting season, the layer is filled up.

In August, before the rains begin, the sawdust layer must be reduced by clearing the bushes as much as possible, otherwise stagnant water in the soil can provoke root rot.

Some gardeners practice the use of strawberry sawdust as a covering material that helps plants to overwinter without freezing. Such mulching is done in the fall:

Autumn mulching protects the soil from freezing, protecting the root system of plants;
Sawdust of coniferous wood will protect strawberries from the development of bacterial rot, thanks to their own phytoncides;
Sawdust is an excellent insulating material, if you spread them on the bed with a layer of up to 10 cm, creating a small “nest” around the bush;
Autumn mulching is carried out in October, before the start of frost, covering the beds with strawberries with a dry and clean layer of sawdust.

By mulching strawberries throughout the season, you can achieve efficient vegetation of the plant, protect the crop from bacterial diseases and pests, as well as improve soil structure and fertilize it.

dachnikinfo.ru

8 Ways to Properly Mulch Strawberries

Strawberry mulching is a method of agricultural technology that makes it easier for the gardener to work and prevent crop diseases. A good knowledge of the technology and timing of laying mulch, the characteristics of materials will help solve many problems in caring for plants and increase yields. In this article we will talk about how to mulch strawberries, how to sprinkle the beds and why this is necessary.

Proper development and fruiting of plants is impossible without regular soil formation. The surface layer of the soil plays a decisive role in this. It is he who is most exposed to adverse factors. Rains wash out minerals, wind and temperature changes lead to drying and freezing.

These conditions are unfavorable for the activity of living soil organisms, which are an important link in the formation of humus. They move to deeper layers, and the soil loses its fertility.

Mulching is the covering of the soil surface under plants with organic and inorganic materials. This protects her from all adverse factors. Increases the reproduction of living organisms, earthworms and beneficial insects, which together with organic acids form a fertile layer.

Mulching strawberries

Mulch does not skip sunlight which makes it difficult for weeds to grow. How denser material and the higher the mulch layer, the more effective protection from weeds. The thermoregulatory property of mulch protects plant roots from freezing, overheating and the effects of frost.

A layer of mulch reduces the evaporation of moisture from the soil, which reduces the need for watering. It complicates the entry of viruses and fungal spores to strawberry roots, reducing the incidence of root late blight, rhizoctoniosis, and verticillium. Ripe berries do not come into contact with the soil, the percentage of decay is practically eliminated.

As the organic mulch decomposes, all the nutrients needed for strawberries are formed. They slowly enter the soil throughout the growing season, supporting the mineral exchange between the roots and the aerial part of the strawberry.

Before choosing a material for mulch, you need to decide on the purpose of the event. Depending on the material chosen, mulch can be a source of nutrition for strawberries, protection from diseases, or simply create a favorable environment in the soil.

The soil under the plants should not all year round be under a high layer of mulch. In the spring, she needs to warm up. Otherwise, the vegetation of the crop will be greatly delayed. Mulch strawberries only after the appearance of flower ovaries.

Mulching can also be done during the summer. Regardless of the period, the soil and plants must be prepared before laying the material:

loosen the soil;
remove weeds, diseased leaves, extra whiskers;
water abundantly;
apply seasonal fertilizer.

The term for the winter mulching of strawberries is the end of September, when the plant is preparing for rest. During this period, mulch is used as a thermostat. This is protection against severe freezing of the soil in a snowless winter, damage to the roots during thaws.

Mulched garden with strawberries

Mulch is not enough to lay, in the summer you need to monitor its condition. Organic materials need to be turned up regularly and rotting areas changed. The material should not fit snugly against the stems of the bushes, there must be a gap of 1-2 cm for aeration of the roots.

This review presents materials that have all the necessary qualities for mulching strawberries. After evaluating their advantages and disadvantages, you can choose the best mulch for individual conditions and goals.

Straw

Straw is the recognized leader of all materials suitable for strawberries. For mulching use only dry material.

Straw contains cellulose that is difficult to decompose, which protects it from rapid decay. For the same reason, it is a poor source of nutrition, in addition, it draws nitrogen from the soil. To compensate for the loss of the mineral and provide the bushes with nutrition, straw is combined with compost or rotted manure.

Straw attracts rodents as a refuge and is blown away by the autumn wind. Therefore, during autumn work it is collected and disposed of, and winter mulching is carried out suitable material.

The optimal layer of straw for loose soils is 15-20 cm. In a few days, it will settle to 5-7 cm. On heavy clay soils, chopped straw is used, laid in a layer of no more than 3-5 cm, updating the surface every 15 days.

Straw mulching

How to mulch strawberries with pine needles?

The advantage of needles is the high content of phytoncides and bactericidal substances. This is powerful protection from diseases and pests. Substances contained in coniferous materials, improve the taste of strawberries.

The tannins of the needles gradually acidify the soil. Therefore, it is used in slightly acidic soils or is applied before laying mulch. slaked lime(50 g/1 m2).

In regions with hot summers, it should be noted: needles poorly protect the soil from overheating. Needles lie on the ground in a loose layer through which weeds easily germinate. In practice, it has been proven: to protect against weeds, you need to lay a 30 cm layer. This is difficult and impractical.

For mulch, weathered and slightly yellowed pine needles are used. They are laid in a layer of 3-5 cm. In the spring, the old mulch is renewed or buried in the ground during weeding.

Mulching with pine needles

Hay, fresh grass and green manure

Is it possible or not to fill the berry with hay or fresh grass? These botanicals contain easily decomposed fiber and provide strawberries with abundant nutrition. But only on a short time.

Rapid decomposition leads to the depletion of a thin layer of mulch and rotting of the lower layers of a high one. When rotting, plant waste causes strawberries to be poisoned by rotting products.

Hay is suitable for temporary top dressing of strawberries. For creating favorable environment in the soil they will have to be laid out in a layer of 7-10 cm and replaced with fresh mulch every 15 days. This is very labor intensive. Before laying, the cut grass is dried, plants with abundant ripened seeds are removed. The optimal layer is 3-5 cm.

Mulching with hay

tree bark

For mulching strawberries, pine or larch bark of small or medium fraction is used. They contain few tannins, so there will be no acidification of the soil. This is the most durable material for mulch, also suitable for winter mulching. It will last up to 5 years.

The bark protects the soil well from overheating and freezing, gives an aesthetic appearance to the garden bed, but retains moisture relatively worse. Will need more frequent watering. The required layer of mulch is 5-7 cm.

Mulching with tree bark

Sawdust

Sawdust decomposes slowly, so it is not worth considering them as a source of nutrition. For the same reason, sawdust can last up to 3 years. The rough surface of such mulch complicates the movement of slugs and snails, they become smaller.

Sawdust strongly absorbs moisture, until this happens, there will be no water flow to the roots of the plant. Therefore, the volume of watering should be increased, but the need for this rarely arises.

For mulching on the surface of the soil spread newsprint overlap, sawdust is laid out on top with a layer of 5 cm. The sawdust is suitable for use in summer and before winter.

Mulching with sawdust

How to use cardboard correctly?

To regulate the optimal environment on the soil surface, cardboard can be used. For this spring big chunks cardboard is laid between the bushes overlapping, leaving holes only around the bushes. The edges and joints of the cardboard are fixed with heavy objects.

Watering and top dressing is carried out through the holes. To feed strawberries during the summer, a 3-5 cm layer of compost can be laid out under the cardboard.

Mulching with cardboard

Spandbond as mulch

This is geosynthetic material produced by special technology. It does not transmit light, maintains temperature and moisture in the soil. Spandbond can be used for irrigation and fertilization.

Well-known firms:

Agrin (Ukraine);
Agrotex (Russia);
Lutrasil (Germany);
Aguile (France);
Plant-Protex (Poland).

For mulching strawberries, a black material with a density of 60 g / m2 is chosen.

Before planting strawberry seedlings, it is spread on the surface of the beds and cuts are made in the places of future holes. The edges of the spandbond are fixed with hairpins or heavy objects. For mulching already planted plants, agrotextiles are spread between rows, covering the soil surface around the bushes as much as possible.

Spandbond can be used all year round. It is resistant to putrefactive bacteria, mechanical influences and low temperatures. Service life 3 years.

Mulching with spunbond

How to mulch a berry with a film?

For mulching strawberries, a black film with a thickness of 30 microns is used. Service life of a film till 3 years. For one season, you can apply more thin material. For hot regions, manufacturers offer a film with a white surface and a black backing. It simultaneously reflects the sun's rays and retains moisture.

The technology of laying film mulch is similar to spunbond. Only watering in this case is organized micro-drop under the film or watered locally through the holes.

Mixture different materials for mulch can be of great benefit to strawberries. To do this, you can combine dry plant residues, bark and sawdust with green parts of grasses, compost or rotted manure. Such mulch simultaneously creates a good environment and nourishes the plants.

Mulching with black foil industrial scale

Mulching strawberries causes heated debate among gardeners, during which diametrically opposed opinions can be heard. There are allegations of extraordinary high yield after applying the mulch and also about it negative impact for strawberries. Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages will help you better understand mulching.

Advantages

Depending on the material used, mulching can help solve many gardening problems. This is:

prevention of soil overheating in summer and hypothermia in winter;
retaining moisture in the soil;
reduction in the number of weeds;
protection against pathogens entering the soil;
soil erosion prevention;
protection against rotting of ripe berries in rainy summer;
preservation of looseness of the soil;
the formation of more adventitious roots;
reduction in maturation time.

This impressive list includes high costs labor and money when performed separately.

Strawberry grown under mulching

disadvantages

One of the disadvantages of mulching gardeners call the reproduction of slugs and snails. For them, the moist inner layer of mulch becomes a refuge on dry summer days, and decaying organic matter becomes food. Conditions for pests are really attractive.

This is not a reason not to mulch.

In areas with an increased pest population, sawdust or pine needles can be used. To create a natural biocenosis that will restrain the number of mollusks to a harmless threshold.

Another minus of mulch is the rotting of the lower layers in a rainy summer or when laying on heavy clay soil. This task is easily solved. It is necessary to focus on the regional climate, not to lay a high layer on clay soils, regularly monitor the mulch throughout the season.

Mulching strawberries with long-term materials can play a bad role in returning frosts. In this case, all the heat will remain in the soil, increasing the negative impact of freezing on the aerial part of the strawberry. Keeping track of the weather forecast will help cover the plants in time.

The disadvantage of mulching is also called the attraction of rodents, insects and birds. However, it is difficult to consider this as a specific disadvantage. garden plot with an abundance of vegetable and fruit crops is itself attractive to their potential pests.

Experts are sure that poor knowledge of the characteristics of the materials, the soil on the site and the regional climate lead to a bad experience. It is important to consider that mulching does not at all exclude other types of strawberry care, so it is impossible to treat it as a solution to all problems.

profermu.com

Features of mulching strawberries with sawdust

The natural cover formed by needles, bark, leaves, with which the trees parted for the winter, does not allow the earth to freeze, wash off with water, erode, and protects against many types of insects. Mulching strawberries with sawdust is carried out not only on open field, this option is acceptable for greenhouses. This material can be used regardless of the type of soil. For poor land, it also serves as a fertilizer.

Purpose of mulching strawberries with sawdust

It is difficult to overestimate the functions that such a shelter can perform:

In early spring the roots and the ground part of the bush are protected from frost.
In summer, the plant is protected from the heat.
Strawberries are not subject to diseases that are caused by the presence of dampness.
Less moisture evaporates.

When choosing material for mulching, they proceed from the purpose for which it will serve. Polyethylene film or special fiber prevents weeds from growing. Air passes through this shelter without obstruction. The culture develops well because it is easy to breathe.

In order to improve the structure of the soil, the earth has become richer, they prefer organic mulch and natural material. In addition, this shelter is a good fertilizer and an inexpensive remedy.

Use as a fertilizer

Often, novice gardeners are interested in whether sawdust will harm strawberries. Maybe they will litter the soil? You shouldn't be afraid of this. Since such material is able to create a layer that allows the leaves to breathe, the air will easily get to the roots. Berries lying on natural mulch will not get dirty, but will be completely clean. Rain falls on sawdust, water during irrigation. Gradually, they will saturate the earth with nutrients, because under the influence of moisture they rot, into the soil as a result natural process phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium.

With improper use of sawdust, culture is easy to harm. This does not happen to those land owners who follow certain rules. Before mulching, sawdust is placed in water, where they must lie for several days. Then dry well. A darker shade of material is better for shelter, which is already rotting.

Do not use sawdust obtained during processing particle boards. present in them epoxy resins and glue will harm strawberries.

Watch the video on preparing for mulching strawberries with sawdust.

Acidic soils before mulching are sprinkled with ash, lime or dolomite flour, which will neutralize the content. The material is not applied directly to the ground, but placed on the surface, otherwise the multiplied bacteria will destroy nitrogen, which is highly undesirable for the culture.

Mulching strawberries with sawdust, which is obtained in the process of processing coniferous trees, serves as an obstacle to the development of diseases. Resin and phytoncides cope with microorganisms. Material from deciduous trees is more suitable for fertilizing the soil.

Read about organic fertilizers for the garden. And also about fertilizers for strawberries and currants.

Processing fresh sawdust

If the time has come for mulching, and the rotted material is not available, it is easy to prepare it yourself. In a large container, which is not less than 10 liters of liquid, fresh sawdust is placed with a layer of 20 centimeters. A glass of urea is evenly poured on top of it.

Water is poured into the resulting composition in the amount of one bucket. In order not to evaporate, the dishes are covered with something. After 14 days finished material taken out, dried in the sun and used as a mulch, which is great for strawberries.

Period for mulching with strawberry sawdust in spring

They start mulching strawberries with sawdust in the spring, starting somewhere in mid-April. Before May 15, it is desirable to complete the work, because after this time the plant may bloom.

The process should include:

cleaning the old layer of material;
soil fertilization with nitrogen;
checking for the presence of pests and diseases.

The sawdust that lay before can attract insect larvae, become a refuge for slugs, a breeding ground for putrefactive microorganisms. After the material is raked, resort to weeding and loosening. Additional soil is poured onto an uneven area.

To nourish the plant is preparing liquid solution. To do this, put in a 10-liter container of water matchbox fertilizer containing nitrogen. The product can be applied dry to the ground, then watered well.

After such preparatory work, the top layer of the beds is covered with sawdust to a thickness of about 5 centimeters, leaving space near the bush itself. The material in which the larvae will be found, mold is found, should not be used for mulching.

Mulching in autumn

Sawdust can also be added during the period when the berries ripen. By the end of summer, some of them should be removed. A thick layer of mulch begins to rot due to the arrival of prolonged rains, which often accompany August. This phenomenon has a detrimental effect on the condition of the roots.

Quite often, the owners of vegetable gardens and cottages use sawdust to cover the beds for growing strawberries for the winter. Mulching the crop in the fall, they are struggling with soil freezing. Natural natural material hides the roots of bushes from the cold.

Sawdust from coniferous trees also contains phytoncides, which prevent the development of rot, which is caused by bacteria.

Dense mulch, and you need to put it in a layer of 10 centimeters, will serve excellent materials for warming. Being engaged in such a process throughout the entire period:

protect plants;
speed up their growth
enrich the earth;
change the structure of the soil.

If the snow in the region falls late, it melts more than once during the winter, before mulching, it is worth making a frame. For this, plastic slats or thin branches will fit. Strawberry bushes are covered with polyethylene film, and dry sawdust is already placed on it. The built hut will perfectly cope with the whims prepared by nature.

Strawberries are not whimsical crops. But if you do not take care of it, it is reborn. Berries become small, lose quality. Mulching for a plant is as necessary as watering, weeding, fertilizing or loosening.

Share your experience of mulching strawberries with sawdust in the comments. And also watch a video about mulching strawberries with sawdust in the garden.

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