Much has been written about the advantages of using black agrotextile as mulch. As an old professional, I have no doubts about the purposefulness of its use. But it’s not the only material that can be used for mulching strawberries. Straw, or more precisely, wheat or rye chaff, is equally good as a material that is inexpensive and readily available (unfortunately, not in big cities) and excellently fulfills its role.😀
Straw mulches have been successfully used in strawberry cultivation for generations in many countries. The English name for strawberry 🍓 (strawberry– “straw berry”) best testifies to this, as the moist climate of England usually caused many problems for strawberry producers who did not use mulch (ripening fruits lying on moist soil often rotted, while on straw – never). Straw, like black agrotextile, prevents the soil from drying out quickly, significantly reduces the weed infestation of strawberries, and also prevents the fruits from getting dirty with soil. The straw (chaff) should be evenly spread across the field or garden at the beginning of the strawberry flowering period and mulched so that the emerging flower stalks are on the straw.
The effect will be excellent. I assure you. 👌