[kari]

We've inherited a strawberry patch on our new allotment which is full of fruit, i'm a brand new gardener so not really sure what I am doing   

I'm sure i've read somewhere that you can use shredded paper instead of straw, does anyone do this? Is it ok?  How do you place the straw or paper, do you literally have to lift all the berries & push it under?   The patch needs alot of TLC, so I can get in there & have a good weed & add the straw or paper at the same time.

[noshed]

I use it and it is fine - you just push it under the fruit. By the time the season is over most of the paper will have rotted away and you just need to tidy the bed up.
However if you have not done this you will sometimes find your strawberries are growing in what resembles a hayfield - still the strawberries are still nice, even though the bed is in a mess.

[kari]

Thank you, thats a great help, will keep me busy tomorrow.