How To Overwinter Strawberries
Strawberries are a favorite among home gardeners for their sweet, juicy fruit and relatively low maintenance. However, if you live in a region with cold winters, knowing how to overwinter strawberries is key to ensuring a healthy crop come spring. Without proper care, strawberry plants can suffer from frost damage, root rot, or even die over the winter months. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you protect and preserve your strawberry plants through the cold season.
Understand Your Strawberry Type
There are three main types of strawberries: June-bearing, everbearing, and day-neutral. While all benefit from overwintering care, June-bearing varieties are most susceptible to cold damage because they produce fruit only once per season. Knowing your variety helps tailor your approach to winter care.
Step 1: Stop Fertilizing in Late Summer
As fall approaches, stop fertilizing your strawberries. This signals the plants to slow down growth and prepare for dormancy. Fertilizing too late in the season can cause new, tender growth that won’t survive the cold.
Step 2: Clean Up Your Beds
Remove any weeds, dead leaves, or decaying fruit around the strawberry plants. This prevents pests and diseases from overwintering alongside your plants. Trim back excess foliage, especially if it’s diseased or overly dense, to promote airflow and reduce fungal risks.
Step 3: Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
Mulching is the most crucial step in overwintering strawberries. Once the plants have experienced a few hard frosts (usually when nighttime temps dip into the low 20s°F), they will enter dormancy. That’s the perfect time to apply mulch.
Use 4–6 inches of clean straw, pine needles, or shredded leaves to cover the plants. Avoid using hay, which can contain weed seeds. The mulch insulates the crowns of the plants, protecting them from extreme temperature fluctuations.
Step 4: Protect from Wind and Ice
In very cold or windy climates, additional protection might be necessary. Row covers or garden fabric can help shield the plants from ice storms and drying winter winds. Secure the fabric with landscape staples or rocks to keep it in place all season.
Step 5: Container Plants Need Extra Care
If your strawberries are grown in pots or hanging baskets, they’re more vulnerable to freezing because the roots aren’t insulated by the ground. Move containers into an unheated garage, shed, or cold frame. You can also bury the pots in the ground and mulch heavily over them.
Step 6: Remove Mulch in Early Spring
As temperatures begin to warm in early spring, gradually remove the mulch when new growth appears. Be careful not to uncover the plants too early, as a late frost can still cause damage. Keep some mulch nearby to reapply temporarily if a cold snap hits.
Final Thoughts
Overwintering strawberries doesn’t require a lot of effort, but it does take some timing and attention to detail. With a little preparation in the fall, you can protect your plants from the harshness of winter and set them up for a strong, productive season next year. Come spring, your strawberries will thank you—with a bounty of fresh, homegrown fruit.
