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Mulching strawberries in raised beds #921784
Asked November 11, 2025, 8:43 AM EST
Isanti County Minnesota
Expert Response
This page will be helpful:
https://extension.umn.edu/strawberry-farming/adding-and-removing-straw-mulch-strawberries
Pine needles are a good mulch for strawberries. From the U of New Hampshire:
Apply mulch over strawberries in mid-November to protect plants from extreme winter cold and from damage to the roots caused by rapid freezing and thawing of the soil. Straw is most commonly used, but pine needles or wood shavings or other loose organic materials which will provide cover without matting will also work. Do not use hay because it contains weed seeds that will start to grow among the strawberries the next spring. Spread the mulch in a fluffy layer 3 to 6 inches deep over the plants.
Hope this helps.
