Strawberry

Question

We tried to plant strawberries again last year, but they never came to life after the winter, so last fall we covered the new plants we planted in the spring with leaves. Is this a good idea? And if so, when is the best time to remove leaves to prevent sufficating plants?

Answer 1

Covering plants with leaves is a great way to mulch them for the winter and keep them safe from fluctuating temps that can kill them. You can take the leaves off after the weather starts to get relatively warm, 40 degrees F or higher (more often than not). After you remove the leaves, don't worry about occasional cold snaps or snow that may happen. A few of these will not harm the plants.