do i need to put straw around my strawberries?

[miffy]

Just been given lots of strawberry plants and have popped them into a bed.
Do i need to put straw around them? They are in a raised bed but protected by the sides as the soil doesn't come up to the top of the wood so don't get battered by the wind.

[Two_Sheds]

straw is to keep the fruits out of the mud.
If mud isn't a problem, you don't need straw.

[jackie j]

I tend to put a bit of straw around mine to protect them a bit as I leave them in the ground all year, will be taking the straw up soon and adding to my compost bin then put down some fresh to keep the fruit off the ground.

[Two_Sheds]

Jackie, do you find a lot of slugs under your straw mulch?

[diana]

good question look forward to the answer

[Alison Adams]

I was thinking about some straw mulch, also for a new raised strawberry bed, but was more put off by thoughts of woodlice than slugs - dont they just luurve straw almost as much as they love strawberries ?

[Mchanen]

I have just planted some strawberry plants in a strawberry basket- some around the side and few on the top, i think i will need to put something on top to keep the leaves off the soil- i've heard small stones are a good idea.