[Andrede]

I have read that a layer of pine needles or crushed pine cones underneath my strawberries will help flavour and deter pests. I have recently cut down a leylandii, will this do the same job if I chop the branches up a bit?

[merky587]

Im not sure about flavour but it will help with pests for certain.

[Trillium]

Leylandii are like most pines and have fairly acidic needles on them. This mulch might work if you already have an alkaline soil and want it to become more neutral, which strawberries prefer. But if you've already got neutral soil, then it will make your soil more acidic and better suited to blueberries and rhododendrons and less than ideal for strawberries.

[parttimer]

Why would you want pine flavoured Strawberries?   I always use good old fashioned straw, but not the pet shop stuff its cut into short lengths and will blow away in the first decent breeze.

[gavinjconway]

I was told by my F-I-L to use barley straw as it is less prone to going mouldy.. he has grown strawbs in soggy Scotland for over 30 years.. 

[Paul Plots]

I'm still waiting for the straw I asked my son for last year so my 60 strawberry plants are coping with weed free soil around their knees.

I'm not sure I'd want Leylandii anywhere near something I was going to eat.  :blink:

No problems so far with my strawless set-up but... depends how much rain we get in the near future. Presently cropping successfully though. 

[Trillium]

Paul if you can get hold of any leaves, shred them on the ground with your lawnmower and then mulch your strawbs. Lay it as thick as you can and it will do the job nicely.

[Paul Plots]

Paul if you can get hold of any leaves, shred them on the ground with your lawnmower and then mulch your strawbs. Lay it as thick as you can and it will do the job nicely.

Thanks for this tip Gloria - once it stops raining  I'll nip to the plot and see how things are.

I always cut allotment paths with a push mower but was considering pushing the petrol one to the plot as the grass has grown so quickly.