The winter is knocking at the door, and so is the freezing cold. Well, you are still safe inside your home with your warm cozy heater. But what is going to happen to your lovely strawberry plants?

They are not able to bear those freezing colds with fluctuating temperatures. And the roots will get rotten when the spring adds the burden with dripping rains. For that, it’s essential to mulch strawberry plants before the winter strikes.

Most gardeners choose to use a straw to protect baby strawberry plants from cold. But in case you don’t have enough supply of straw near you, you may wonder, what can I use instead of straw for strawberries.

In fact, there are numerous alternatives to straws to mulch strawberries such as pine needles, grass clippings, plastic sheets, fabric, paper, bark mulch, and so on. So, here, you’re going to get an in-depth idea of the best mulch for strawberries.

Everything about What Can I Use Instead of Straw for Strawberries

Straw is known as the classic mulch for strawberry plants. At least 1 to 2 inches of neat straw will be best to keep the plants warm and cozy. Plus, the weed will also stay away from your strawberries, whereas the juicy berries will also stay up from the soil for a more flavorful outcome.

Though straws should be readily available, as a byproduct of grains like wheat, oats, or barley are used as a straw. But in case you do not have enough supply or want to use anything else for mulching, then you can use the alternatives to straw mulching for strawberries.

Best Mulch for Strawberries Except Straw

So, what is the best mulch for strawberries except for straw? Well, here we’ve compiled several best options like pine needles, grass clippings, shredded leaves, wood chips, plastic sheeting, gravel, peat moss, landscape fabric, peat moss, strawberry mats, newspaper, etc.

Well, you can use all the mentioned alternatives as your strawberry mulch. But there are many differences between the usage of each mulch. So, let’s talk in detail.

1. Pine Needle Mulch

Pine needles, also known as pine straws, can be used as an alternative to straw mulch. Mulching strawberries with pine needles is a popular method. Just like straws, these pine needles should be layered over plant soil in a 3 to 4-inch thick layer so that the berry patch can grow swiftly.

You can easily buy these pine wood needles from stores. But for more cost-effective mulching you can collect the pine straws from nearby pine harvest. Even, it is a more sustainable way to mulch your berry patches.

As the pine wood lies flat on the soil, it won’t blow away in the wind and dries fast after heavy morning dew or rains. Plus, the darker color of those pine straws will easily match your rest garden before the spring months foliage occurs.  

Pros:

• Lightweight and easy to use
• Doesn’t wet thus free from anaerobic and bacterial growth

Cons:

• Require 3 to 4 inches of pine straws

2. Grass Clippings

In case you want more readily accessible mulch, go for grass clipping. Roam around your lawn, freshly cut down some grass by hand, and use it as your strawberry mulch. You can also dry them up for better mulching.

This will be the most nutrition-rich mulch you can apply on your strawberry beds and should be reapplied every one or two weeks. But in a very thin layer of one inch or a half-centimeter. Just like the straws, the grass clipping should be allowed to dry and set over the ground in the sun.

However, it will take a little long time from cutting grasses to dry them out in proper mulch. So for time-saving, you can use the fresh clippings as the strawberry mulch. But it should be applied in a thinner layer.

Pros:

• 1-inch thick layer is good enough
• Stimulate foliage growing

Cons:

• Little bit time consuming

3. Shredded Leaves

Feeling hurt to clip the greeneries from your lawn grasses? What about using the shredded leaves that are already laying in your back garden? These shredded leaves are best to use in the growing seasons of strawberries.

Just as the grass clippings, shredded leaves should be used in dry forms. These shredded leaves should be applied in thin layers rather than piling together under strawberry plants.

Pros:

• They provide nitrogen
• Light and lower pH level
• Easy to make

Cons:

• Require extra effort
• Air may blow them away

4. Wood Chip Mulch

Mulching strawberries with wood chips or bark is now becoming less used but still a reliable option for strawberry mulching. Though it is an expensive way to protect your strawberry plants, it does an excellent job of keeping strawberries straight in the soil.

Plus, it will be easy to look over the berries standing on top of the wood chips. But keep in mind, wood chip mulch shouldn’t be applied too thickly, otherwise, it will trap moisture into the roots and rotten them.

Pros:

• Available everywhere
• Inexpensive option
• Last longer

Cons:

• Prone to rotten

5. Rye Grass

Ryegrass is the only living mulch you can use for your strawberries. These rye grasses will not only compete with the soil moisture, but they will also provide the plants with lots of nutrients like nitrogen.

This living grass can be cut, tilled, or returned to the soil and even create great biomass for your garden.

Pros:

• Provide nutrients to the soil
• Create perfect biomass

Cons:

•  Balanced use is a little tricky

6. Black Plastic Sheeting

Just like the organic mulching straws, there is also some man-made way or you can say synthetic way of mulching strawberry plants. Black plastic sheets are one of them. It is a thin plastic sheet that is mostly used for commercial farming. In commercial circumstances, it’s referred to as plasticulture or AG plastic.

Though this plasticulture doesn’t add any extra benefit for the plants, it will be a great protection layer for your soils to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and also grow the strawberries more cleanly. The black plastic should be applied over the soil before planting the berries.

First, secure the plastic sheets, and make small holes in the plastic to plant your strawberries.

This plastic mulch for strawberries process will allow the strawberries to grow in a small exposed hole where the maximum area of the soil will be protected with plastic sheeting.

Pros:

• Effective for heating the soil
• Ideal for commercial use

Cons:

• Not environmental friendly

7. Red Plastic Sheeting

Yes, you guessed it right, this is another version of plastic sheeting mulch that got its approval from University studies, USA. According to that report, red plastic sheets have a great effect on ripening strawberries that are sweeter and even 20% larger. Though it will be tough to find those red sheets, don’t you think it deserves a try?

Pros:

• Enhances fruit taste
• Make plants larger

Cons:

• Not biodegradable

8. Gravel, Stone, or Rocks

If you are concerned about landscaping, then go for decorative stones, gravel, or rocks. They are also good for securing sloped land. If you live in a windy area, these would be a great option for strawberry mulching.

Pros:

• Good for landscaping
• Don’t fly with winds

Cons:

• Heavy ones may compact the soil

9. Peat Moss or Compost

This is another wonderful alternative to straw for strawberries. It decomposes very slowly thus, you will get long-term service from it. Peat or compost contains good nutrients that help grow plants healthily.

Pros:

• Absorbs water well
• Good for weed protection

Cons:

• Very hygroscopic so water them well

10. Fabric Sheet Mulch

In case you want an alternative to synthetic mulch, go for some fabrics. Fabric sheeting can be used in the same way as black sheet mulch. For having the same effects as black sheets, it is recommended to use black landscape fabric on mulching.

Once the fabric is securely stapled on the soil, cut small slits at an equal distance and plant the strawberries there. It will equally retain the weeds from suppressing and holding the moisture outside the soil.

Pros:

• Effective for weed protection
• Require little maintenance

Cons:

• Don’t contribute to soil quality

11. Strawberry Mats

For giving special treatment to each of your strawberry plants, strawberry mats are the best way to mulch them. It is a specialized fabric collar that surrounds the strawberry plants and protects them from rotting in freezing temperatures. Some mats may even contain some copper to stop slugs or snails from attacking your juicy plants.

Though you can easily buy these collar mats from stores, you can DIY them too. Use carpet, thick fabric, or heavier grade recycled plastic.

Pros:

• Protect plants from rotting
• Prevent slugs and snails
• Can be made at home

Cons:

• Choosing the right one is a lit tricky

12. Newspaper or Cardboard 

Every home has paper waste, right? So, without buying mulch for strawberries, you can use paper for strawberry mulch. But, if you want to get maximum cardboard support, you can use several newspapers together or cardboard.

This will provide a good protection layer between strawberry plants and soil or compost. But you might repeat the task several times a season, as they will damage after a certain time period.

Pros:

• Available at home
• Easy to replace
• Biodegradable

Cons:

• Don’t use paper with colored ink to avoid toxicity

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do before mulching the strawberries?

It’s always a great idea to remove weeds, loosen the soil to some extent, water the soil, and fertilize there for better results.

Which are the best winter mulches for strawberries?

Although we’ve mentioned lots of strawberry mulches, still straw or pine needles are the two best options for strawberries, especially in the cold season.

Wrap Up on Alternatives to Straw for Strawberries

Now that you know, mulching strawberry plants are not limited to just wheat or barley straws, stop worrying about your plants’ root rot or freezing in colds. So, what can I use instead of straw for strawberries? There are both organic and artificial ways of strawberry mulching available on the list.

Want some organic ways for mulching, go for the pine needles, grass clipping, or leaf shredders. Where the easier way to mulch your plants in man-made ways is to buy some black or red plastic sheets, use fabric mulch, or DIY some mat collars. So, put the best mulch under strawberries and protect them from harsh weather!

A video on mulching and protecting strawberries: