All gardeners agree that the processing of strawberries after harvesting is not only useful, but also necessary. However, few can say exactly what actions need to be performed. What does autumn strawberry processing include? Weeding, loosening, trimming mustache, or maybe all at once?
Analysis of the situation
First of all, you need to assess the condition of the bushes after harvesting: how much they have grown over the season, how many dry and damaged leaves are, are there any signs of the presence of any pests or diseases. It is still necessary to analyze the crop: its quantity will give information about the content of useful substances in the soil, and the quality will again allow us to judge the presence of pests or diseases. Proper processing of strawberries for the winter is simply impossible without this information.
So, first you need to determine whether it is worth leaving the berry in the same place or whether it will be more appropriate to transfer it to a new one. Strawberries grow in one place from 3 to 7 years, so after a three-year period, it is the state of the berry and the yield that determines whether the plants need a transplant.
Tops and fertilizer
If you decide to leave the berry in the same place, then first of all you should take care of cleaning the extra leaves. Some gardeners do not consider this procedure mandatory, and some believe that the foliage protects the roots from freezing. Others ruthlessly remove all leaves, even cut the beds with a lawn mower. However, most gardeners choose the middle option: removing part of the old tops, removing the extra mustache, except for those that are needed for reproduction, and weeding. This procedure must be done immediately after collecting the last berries.
Autumn strawberry processing, if necessary, includes spraying plants and land from pests and diseases. Removing old foliage and diseased and infected plants will not help get rid of larvae and harmful spores, since they will still remain in the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to use special preparations, for example, karbofos from a transparent tick, metaldehyde from slugs and snails, copper chloride from gray rot, etc.
Still autumn processing of strawberries involves loosening and fertilizing. Loosening is the best way to make the soil lighter, which will contribute to good plant growth in spring. Fertilizing strawberries after harvesting is necessary, but it is important not to exceed the dosage. This berry is very sensitive to the concentration of salts in the soil, so it is so important not to exceed the amount of fertilizer.
Shelter for the winter
The last thing to do is cover the strawberries for the winter. Protection will be needed if the winter is cold or with little snow. As a covering layer, a 20-cm-thick mulch layer is used. It can be straw (only without seeds, otherwise voles will start), needles, thyrs or dry corn leaves. You can still cover the beds with agrofibre, although this is quite expensive material. But you can cover the strawberries with a film only if there are no other options - it interferes with the air circulation, so that the leaves rot and rot. An ideal environment is formed for the development of fungi and bacteria, and plants are easily affected by gray and brown rot.
Autumn processing of strawberries takes a lot of time, but it guarantees a high harvest for the next year.