Every gardener who wants to get a good harvest of strawberries must put a lot of effort into its growth and development. For the harmonious development of strawberries, such a thing as mulching is necessary. What is the best way to mulch strawberries?

Straw

The best organic mulch is straw. Among its advantages: availability, water retention, sun protection, protection of berries from contact with the soil.

The straw must be very dry, for this you can pre-hold it in the sun. It is laid out around the bushes in a layer of 15 centimeters, no less, such a thick layer should not raise doubts, because the straw will settle down over time and the layer will become smaller.

Straw can acidify the soil, so it can be mixed with rotted manure or compost.

The nutritional value of straw is minimal, so it will not work as a top dressing, you must use additional means.

Hay

Hay, unlike straw, has nutritional value for strawberries. Of the minuses, one can note its faster rotting in comparison with the same straw, so mulching with hay is a temporary topic. According to the rules, it must be changed every 2 weeks.

There should be no weed seeds in the hay; for this, it must be shaken well before laying. If the weeds decide to sprout, then such mulching will do one harm.

Weeds and Grass

Seedless weeds and grass cuttings can be used as mulch and are good at this. A layer of such components protects the soil from moisture loss.

It is necessary to thoroughly dry and ventilate all the components so that they do not rot from excess moisture in the garden. A week after laying such mulch, the beds are not watered.

The interlayer is replaced every 2 weeks.

Black film

Black film is very popular among inorganic materials. It raises the temperature in the soil, retains moisture, and prevents weeds from growing. With this material, you can expect an earlier harvest. It is important to prevent the strawberry roots from overheating.

The use of this method is allowed only in spring, in winter it is of no use.

In hot summer it is better to take a two-color film, the top layer of white will protect the plants from overheating.

Spunbond

Spunbond, also known as agrofibre, is a more popular material among experienced gardeners. It is, of course, more expensive than film, but due to its qualities it is worth its money.

The advantage is that such material allows moisture and oxygen to pass through well, does not allow strawberry roots to rot. It also creates a unique favorable microclimate, saving summer residents from unnecessary headaches. Differs in strength and wear resistance.