Mulching the Strawberry Patch
This spring we put in two 4×10 foot raised beds filled with 3 different kinds of strawberries. We planted early, mid, and late bearing plants, that way we have strawberries for a longer period of time. Since this was our first summer with plants, we didn’t get any strawberries. I faithfully picked off the blooms when I saw them, hoping for a great crop this year.
Strawberries like acidic soil, so when we built the raised beds we added extra peat moss to the soil mix. I tested the ph and it was perfect for strawberries. I’ve read several placed that strawberries should be mulched in the winter to protect the crowns (especially here in Ohio where we have fairly cold winters). I was planning on using straw, but then I decided the pine needles would work better.
They have less of a tendency to attract slugs and they are acidic so they will help maintain a proper ph in the strawberry bed. Since we don’t have any pine trees on our property, we loaded a few tubs into the car and headed down to the walking path in our neighborhood. It’s under canopy of huge white pine trees, so there were plenty of pine needles for us to rake up, and the best part is that they’re FREE!
We spent a 15 minutes raking up a few bins full of mulch and then headed home. We had to make 2 trips but we were able to get enough mulch for our 2 strawberry beds and our 6 blueberry bushes (which also like acidic soil).
The mulch not only helps protect the plants and improves the soil, but it makes the beds look much nicer as well. In the spring we’ll scrape off most of the mulch and it will go in the compost pile to finish decomposing.
Do any of you have any other great ideas for free mulch?
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I love your photos. I don’t have any ideas for mulch (we’re covered in 3 feet of snow right now…so my garden is a distant memory). LOL
Before winter we did fertilize our garden soil. Living on a farm, we have lots of access to “natural fertilizer.” ;)
to Squawkfox's comment
Some cities will offer it for free and people will sometimes offer that, compost, and manure free on Craigslist. This Spring I want to make a trellis out of fallen branches. I’m going to go to the nearest state park to get all the fallen wood I could ever need.
to N.'s comment
I would love to build a fence from saplings, but I’m afraid it would be too much work. I think I’m just going to borrow my parents electric fence this year. Perhaps I can try building a panel to see how much work it is.
to Susy's comment
Oh how I wish I could help :0)
to Frugal Trenches's comment