[ianl]

Hi, yesterday I built a strawberry bed by first lining the bottom with weed control fabric and then putting 4 '' boards around to make a rectangle. I then filled it to the top with rotted manure. Is this deep enough or shall I remove the weed control fabric to make it deeper?How shallow rooted are strawberries ?I put the weed control fabric down to stop the runners going everwhere. Was I right doing this?  Also, can I plant the strawberries through the fabric to protect the fruit?   

[mumofstig]

I'd take it up and use it on top, to plant through.

Strawberry runners are on the top, rather than from the roots, so they're easy to keep under control, specially on  the fabric 

[Ivor Backache]

I agree with Mum. Strawberry roots go a lot deeper than 4". Add extra soil to make a small mound. Place the fabric over the soil and plant through. Fabric keeps fruit off the soil and inhibits slug access.

[ianl]

Of course the runners are on the top I dont know what I was thinking off. Thank you for your replies 

[Dullnote]

Hi first post,  as this is the first time I have read something that I have tried. I am starting out in the grow your own game after building my house I am setting up the garden, start of last year put strawberries in a raised bed, started with these as I love strawberries, put fabric on top and planted through, thinking this
  would control the weeds.

Weeds were controlled but slugs, had more berries than me, don't  think fabric will help reduce the slugs.

Throughout the rest of year set up the rest of  the  garden did not plant much but ready for this year as soon as the snow lifts

Dull note

[Totty]

You don't mention the size of bed you have but I think I would remove the fabric from under the manure and dig the area underneath to a spades depth, incorporating the manure. This will naturally raise the soil a little higher. As mentioned before, create mounds where you wish to plant, then cover with fabric. Could try sprinkling lots of crushed eggshell under the fabric, and using some organic slug pellets around plants when fruiting too.

Totty