From: pdrahn@jodeco.com   
      
   On 3/24/2019 6:43 AM, songbird wrote:   
   > Paul Drahn wrote:   
   >> On 3/19/2019 8:34 PM, Terry Coombs wrote:   
   >>>     So I decided the easiest way to get mulch around the strawberries is   
   >>> to use shredded paper - but I'm unsure about what paper is safe . Useta   
   >>> be that glossy paper was not , but newsprint was . I *think* most modern   
   >>> inks are soy based and safe , but I'm not sure . It'd sure be nice to   
   >>> use all those spam mails for something productive instead of burning them .   
   >>>   
   >> We cover the strawberries with Ponderosa pine needles for the winter.   
   >> Then remove most of them in the Spring(about now). And leave some   
   >> needles to use as mulch when the new leaves begin to grow. Keeps   
   >> irrigation water off the berries, too.   
   >>   
   >> Paul in Central Oregon   
   >   
   >    hi Paul,   
   >   
   >    i don't recall you posting here before so welcome.  :)   
   >   
   >    if the plants are established i don't always bother   
   > mulching them for the winter at all.  this past winter   
   > was as bad as they can get for plants with too many   
   > times of bare ground and very cold chills down past   
   > -20F.  frost heave can pop late season transplanted   
   > crowns right out of the ground by spring.   
   >   
   >    this past fall i managed to get the strawberry patch   
   > done earlier in the fall/late summer and it looks like   
   > i have survivors enough.  just have to see how they   
   > green up and hope the spring isn't too crazy with the   
   > frosts when they are flowering.   
   >   
   >    some times i do put some pine needles on them but not   
   > every year - it comes down to how busy i am with other   
   > things and if i get to it.   
   >   
   >    i'm not sure what the irrigation water on the berries   
   > would do as far as i can tell the berries are in good   
   > shape here even with our normal rain falls.  as long as   
   > i get them picked when they are ripe.   
   >   
   >    to prevent mold and bug issues i pick everything that   
   > is ready even the berries that are partially eaten by   
   > chipmunks or birds.  there are some berries that the   
   > worms or wood lice will get after and i pick those too   
   > if i notice them.  any scraps that i can't eat will get   
   > fed to the worm bins (along with the tops/leaves).   
   >   
   >   
   >    songbird   
   >   
   I've lurked here for years, but seldom see anything to comment on.   
      
   We live in the Central ORegon desert and have quite sandy soil, Actually   
   all volcanic ash! Water drops bounce up the sand and gets on the berries   
   and gives them a gritty texture, even after trying to wash them. So, the   
   pine needles break up the water drops, but still lets the water get to   
   the soil.   
      
   The needles also help to keep the jeans clean when I have to kneel down   
   to pick the berries.   
      
   Paul   
      
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