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Whether you’re growing strawberries in the garden, raised beds, containers, or hanging baskets, how you prepare them this fall can make all the difference. A little extra effort now could mean a bumper crop next year instead of plants that just limp along, barely producing.
Winter is right around the corner, bringing frosty nights and freezing temperatures that could harm your strawberry plants if left unprotected. Taking a few simple steps now can help ensure they make it through the cold season in good shape, ready to thrive come spring.
The good news? Protecting strawberry plants for winter isn’t difficult or time-consuming. Success really comes down to two key factors: how and where you grow your strawberries, and the type of plants you have.
Are your strawberries June-bearing or everbearing? Are they planted in the ground, raised beds, or containers? As we’ll cover below, your answers to these questions will guide you in giving your plants exactly the care they need now to thrive when spring rolls around!
With that in mind, here is a in-depth look at how to properly protect your strawberry plants – no matter how, where, or what variety you grow!
How To Protect Strawberry Plants For Winter
Protecting June Bearing Strawberries
June-bearing strawberries get their name because of their heavy fruiting period, which usually happens around June, depending on your region. These varieties are typically grown in garden plots or permanent raised beds and are rarely used as container plants.
Since June-bearing strawberries produce their entire crop in one big wave, they require a different approach to care compared to everbearing varieties. This difference applies to both summer maintenance and winter protection.
June-bearing strawberries are known for their intense burst of fruit, typically producing their entire crop in early summer. Once they’ve finished flowering and fruiting, they take a break for the season.
Once June-bearing strawberries finish fruiting, it’s time to cut them back—typically in July, though the timing depends on when they produce in your area. Trimming them right after they finish fruiting encourages fresh growth for next year’s crop. Plus, mid-summer pruning gives them enough time to grow some protective foliage before winter.
One common mistake is cutting back June-bearing plants in the fall. This can leave them vulnerable to freezing and even cause significant winter damage, as they won’t have time to regrow enough protection. If you missed trimming them in summer, don’t worry—just leave their current foliage to help them through winter!
Fall Care For June Bearing Strawberry Plants – How To Protect Strawberry Plants For Winter
Strawberry plants thrive with a layer of mulch throughout the year. In spring, it helps suppress weeds; in summer, it safeguards the fruit; and in winter, it protects the plants from freezing temperatures.
Even with their late-season foliage, June-bearing strawberry plants need a layer of mulch before winter’s chill sets in. Mulching not only keeps the plants from freezing but also keeps weeds at bay—those pesky weeds that can rob nutrients and reduce next year’s berry production.
Good mulching options include straw, shredded leaves, or pine needles. Spread a few inches around and over the plants, but be careful not to pack it on too thick. Avoid whole leaves, as they can compact and block oxygen from reaching the plants.
Mulch in late fall, when plants go dormant and begin shedding leaves. And resist the urge to fertilize strawberries in fall; it may seem helpful, but it actually does more harm than good at this time of year.
The new growth that could result actually puts the plants in more danger of freezing out over winter. It is simply too tender and cannot handle the harsh conditions winter brings.
How To Protect Everbearing Strawberries – How To Protect Strawberry Plants For Winter
Everbearing strawberries differ from June-bearing varieties by producing fruit all season long, making them adaptable to traditional garden beds, raised beds, and even containers.
How you care for everbearing plants over winter depends on where they’re planted.
Everbearing Strawberries Growing In Beds
Since they continue producing until frost, everbearing plants are not cut back. However, they still need some winter protection to ensure they thrive through the cold months, despite keeping their foliage intact until the first frost.
Everbearing strawberries are incredibly versatile and can be grown in various settings, including raised beds, traditional gardens, containers, and even hanging baskets.
Like June-bearing varieties, everbearing strawberries planted in garden beds or raised beds benefit from a few inches of mulch in late fall. Once the plants enter dormancy and their foliage starts to fade, it’s time to add that protective layer!
Use straw, pine needles, or shredded leaves to create a mulch layer just a few inches thick. This extra layer acts as insulation, shielding the plants from the harsh cycle of freezing and thawing, helping them stay healthy and ready to produce next spring.
