Strawberries are quite easy to grow but often rot thanks to muddy water (Image: Getty)
May is when the weather starts to really warm up in the UK which means it is the perfect time to start planting strawberries, and it is really easy to ensure they thrive properly. Strawberries are quite a popular crop for British gardeners as they are a forgiving plant that tends to grow as long as they get enough sunlight and are watered regularly.
However, the biggest reason you might not get any fruit is due to the rain, which might sound strange, but stagnant water is one of the biggest killers of strawberry patches at this time of year. When too much rain pools around strawberry plants, the muddy water can cause the foliage to rot, attract lots of slugs, and make the area a breeding ground for pathogens, which can encourage fungal diseases in your garden. Erik Hoffner, an expert gardener and founder of Strawberry Plants, has shared there is a simple way to protect strawberries and keep them clean as you just need to cover the soil in straw.
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Stagnant water can attract slugs and bacteria that will cause strawberry plants not to grow properly (Image: Getty)
He said: “Mulching with straw during the summer keeps your strawberries clean! Instead of resting upon muddy dirt, your berries stay much cleaner and have a barrier between themselves and soil-borne contaminants.”
Mulching is a gardening technique of covering the area around a plant with material to protect it, and straw is best used for strawberries because it dries quickly.
Straw is made up of hollow stems, which means rain can pass through it easily, which stops too much water sitting around the plant and helps keep the strawberries clean.
It acts as a protective barrier, keeping mud, bacteria, and slugs away from strawberries so they have the best possible chance to grow properly.
Strawberries grow low onto the ground so heavier materials tend to smother the plant, but straw is light enough to sit around the fruit without crushing it.
What is fantastic about straw is that it will also act as insulation, which help keep the plant roots cool in summer and also keeps weeds away so you can grow the best berries possible.
Straw is one of the best mulches to protect strawberry plants (Image: Getty)How to mulch strawberry plants with straw
Straw should be available at most gardening centres in May, as it is best to mulch the plant now when it begins flowering. However, you can also buy straw at pet shops; just make sure not to confuse it with hay.
All you need to do is prepare the area around the strawberries, such as picking up old leaves, weeding so the soil is as clean as possible. Then lightly water the strawberries, as this helps settle the mulch and prevent it from blowing away in the wind.
Take the straw and shake it out to loosen it and increase airflow. Spread it around the strawberries, and gently lift any leaves so they sit on top of the straw.
Make sure none of the straw is touching the crown, the main stem of the plant, and create a small gap around it so water can reach the roots.
Your strawberries will stay safe throughout the rest of spring so you are guaranteed to get big and ruby red fruits once summer arrives.
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