Strawberry beds being cleaned

How to Clean Up Your Strawberry Beds for Spring Planting

When the weather warms up and spring approaches, it is the time to start thinking about preparing your strawberry beds for planting.

Depending on how well you maintained your strawberry plants during the previous growing season, you may need to do a little bit of cleanup before you’re ready to plant again.

Red and green strawberries growing in wooden framed raised bed.
Strawberries in raised bed

Luckily, we’ve put together a guide on the best way to clean up your strawberry beds so you can get a jump start on the growing season.

  1. Remove all dead or dying leaves, stems, and flowers from the strawberry plants. This will help prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in the bed.
  2. Use a sharp hoe or spade to loosen the soil around the strawberry plants. This will help improve drainage and aeration.
  3. Apply a layer of compost or well-rotted manure around the strawberry plants. This will help improve the nutrient content of the soil.
  4. Water the soil thoroughly until it is moist but not soggy. This will help promote root growth.
  5. Cover the strawberry bed with straw, straw mulch, or landscape fabric to protect the plants from cold weather damage.

Conclusion

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to having a healthy and productive strawberry bed this spring. With a little bit of effort upfront, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious homegrown strawberries in no time.