when to cover strawberries from birds

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How to Protect Strawberries

We decided to try growing a mini “test” strawberry patch this year, just to see if we could get this thing figured out and I love what we came up with! A few weekends ago, I started insisting that we needed to find some kind of solution for putting a mesh screening over our strawberries ASAP. They were about to start ripening at any moment and I didn’t want to be too late to the game and lose all of our precious strawberries!

Typically, Chris and I have to collaborate on small gardening tasks like this, which means that one of us plays tractor games with Jack in the sandbox while the other has free time to work. I told Chris that this was his top priority that weekend while I played with my tractor because I really just wanted him to build a very basic frame and cover it with some plastic mesh that we already had in the garage, so it shouldn’t have been too big of a deal. Since he creates exquisite covers for strawberries, it goes without saying that he did just that!

He took up some small 1X1 decking pieces and, as I mentioned earlier, used up the mesh we already had. The 1X1 wood is actually pressure treated, but for some reason it looks suspiciously like cedar, and it’s really pretty. Yay for one less item in the garage! .

There are two noteworthy aspects of this image. Among them is the way he constructed a distinct frame for the strawberry cover box’s exterior and interior, then inserted mesh between them to make it extremely secure. If you would rather, a single frame will do; simply staple the mesh to the frame.

Tired of birds and other pests devouring your strawberries before you get to pick them? Here’s the best way to protect strawberries and enjoy a bountiful harvest.

This is only the second time we have ever attempted to grow strawberries, but we are already approximately 10,000% more successful as a result of this trick we used to protect the fruit. When we first planted our little strawberry patch a few years ago, I don’t think we even harvested a single strawberry, and it was all because of those annoying birds that took them as soon as they turned red!

Actually, I think it’s great that there are so many birds on our property. I enjoy listening to them sing in the early morning hours and watching them hop around in the grass. In the spring, I also enjoy seeing tiny bird nests everywhere I look! The only thing about them that bothers me is when they steal my strawberries!

FAQ

How do I protect my strawberries from birds?

Undoubtedly the most effective way to protect strawberries from birds is to drape the strawberry patch with bird netting, an inexpensive plastic mesh with ¼-inch holes.

At what temperature should I cover my strawberry plants?

Strawberry buds will perish below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, which can mean no fruit for June-bearing cultivars. After winter, the flower buds are sensitive to temperatures below 32 F or lower. The best time to remove any cover from the strawberries is after the threat of frost is over.

When should strawberries be uncovered?

Straw mulch must be removed from strawberries when they first begin growing in the spring. Delaying mulch removal too much leads to delayed harvest and decreased yield. However, removal timing must also be balanced with the weather, to minimize risk of late spring frost damage.

What is the best way to cover strawberries in the garden?

Before snow covers the ground, cover your strawberry patch with 2 to 3 inches of mulch. Both straw and leaf mulch work for this task. Also, insulate any container-grown strawberries or bring them to a protected area. Apply the mulch once the strawberry plants have gone dormant.