Mulching allows you to harvest strawberries earlier and in larger quantities, protect the crop from parasites and diseases, and also simplify the work of the gardener. Different materials are used for this purpose, and each has both advantages and disadvantages. Knowing how to use this or that type of shelter, you can choose the best way to mulch strawberries.
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The most common mulching materials
Experienced summer residents recommend mulching strawberries 2 times a year. The first is when the ovaries appear, and the second is at the end of October. In either case, the soil and plants must be properly prepared: remove the mustache and dried leaves, remove weeds, dig up the soil and water it, apply fertilizer.
The covering material is chosen based on what is the area of the strawberry beds, the type of soil and the variety of culture. Organic matter nourishes the soil with trace elements, stimulates its fertility, but such mulch needs to be constantly updated. Artificial materials will last longer, but they can overheat the earth and do not saturate it with nutrients.
Straw
Dry ears as a mulching material occupy a leading position among all other organic types of shelters. The straw is good moisture permeability and protects the roots from drying out in the sun, does not allow the berries and leaves of the plant to come into contact with the ground.
For such a shelter, only dry raw materials should be chosen. It is laid out around the plants so that the mulch is about 15 cm thick. Straw can acidify the soil and draw out nitrogen, this must be taken into account.
In addition, it is undesirable to leave such mulch for the winter: rodents can settle in it.
Hay, lightly dried grass, or weeds can be used instead of straw.
Black polyethylene
The most commonly used inorganic mulch material is black. Its thickness must be at least 30 microns. Polyethylene traps weeds and keeps the soil moist. Thanks to him, the mustache cannot take root, and the temperature of the soil rises slightly, which leads to an earlier ripening of the berries.
It is better to use the film only in spring, because it is unlikely to protect the plant from frost. But it is guaranteed that the roots will dry out and damage the plantings due to accumulated condensation.
Do not forget that natural moisture does not enter the roots through polyethylene, so it is important to equip a drip irrigation system.
Spunbond application
Despite the fact that spunbond is much more expensive than film, many gardeners prefer to use it for mulching strawberries. The fact is that through it the culture can be easily watered and fertilized, it maintains the required temperature and moisture. At the same time, there is no way for sunlight to penetrate to the roots.
Possible disadvantages include overheating of the soil, especially in the south of the country, and fungal infection of the bushes due to moisture accumulated under the fiber. To prevent the development of such problems, it is recommended to periodically ventilate the garden. This can be done by lifting the spunbond around the edges.
You need to lay this material in the same way as a film analog.
Wood sawdust and shavings
It is worth noting that sawdust and shavings mulch looks presentable on the garden bed. The material retains moisture and does not transmit light, prevents the movement of snails and slugs, and prevents weeds from germinating.
But such a shelter will not protect from parasites, many insects live in the sawdust. In addition, during decomposition, wood waste draws nitrogen from the soil. Therefore, before adding sawdust, the soil should be saturated with this element or rotted raw materials should be used.
Another important point to consider is that sawdust and shavings left over after processing conifers acidify the soil. In order not to disturb the acid balance, it is better to sprinkle strawberry beds with ash or dolomite flour before using such mulch.
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