Leave or remove Strawberry straw mulch

[maverick451]

Hi Guys

Should I remove the straw from my strawberry bed or leave it over winter?

Thanks

[Jungle Jane]

I left mine there last year & all was fine,in the spring I tidied & renewed some. This year I've had sawfly larvae (holes in the leaves caused by them) squished a lot of them but I need to cultivate the soil a bit & let the birds in to feed on any cocoons in the soil,so I've removed the straw this year.

[clod]

I guess this is largely a matter of choice and preference. I remove mine so as to reduce pest habitats (tho it also reduces habitats for "friends"), remove unwanted runners, get rid of old decaying leaves, and so I get get something onto the soil - such as leafmould. One year I burnt it off (in summer) to kill diseases and feed the ash back to the soil. This was very effective, and the plants re-grew fine, but it was a little bit too exciting (a brief wall of flame!) and I haven't tried it since.

[KevinM67]

Personally, I would remove it and put it on the compost heap.