Gardening Naturally Strawberry Mats Copper Impregnated Keep Slugs & Snails away from plants 11" (27cm) Diameter (20)

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You then need to dig out the plants before they become riddled by viruses and are therefore weak and stunted. Cut a 30sq cm square of cardboard, cut a slit from one edge to a hole in the middle and place them round individual plants. Container-grown strawberries also need to be replaced after four years, but only because here viruses are transmitted by aphids, not soil-borne organisms. They'll also help the soil retain moisture, deter slugs from your crops and keep the fruit free from muddy rain splashes.

Not only do these mats provide a barrier against slugs and other crawling pests, but they also help to keep your strawberries clean and free from dirt and debris. Unlike most fruit, strawberries provide a small crop during their first year but at least you won't have to wait until the second year before cropping, as was once advised. If it's a plastic mulch, then you'd need room around the crown to let the rain in, plus some slug pellets underneath as a precaution. We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse. Burford Strawberry Mats come in packets of six and are constructed of a strong, UV resistant material that will last more than one season.When slugs and snails attempt to move onto the fabric they feel discomfort and either move off or stay still. For strawberries planted in the open, once they are in the ground it’s essential to keep the area free from weeds and to make sure the soil doesn’t dry out, especially when the fruits are starting to swell.

Strawberries need space and feed wherever they're grown, so restrict yourself to no more than three plants in a 30-litre pot. I'm trying this: From a roll of secondhand lino I cut a piece about a foot square, a wiggly cut to the centre and a hole. Quote from: Goosegirl on November 05, 2015, 12:57 James Wong says that studies have shown that strawbs planted through a red plastic mulch tricks them into thinking they have nearby competitors so they produce bigger and sweeter fruit. Alpine strawberries such as Mignonette also punch above their weight and give a long season of smaller but often tastier and more fragrant fruits.When using the mats, make sure to remove any slugs or snails from the plants and surrounding area before laying down the fabric. Help the soil retain both moisture and warmth by placing these organic fyba mats around the base of strawberry plants, the mats will also protect the crop from soil and rain splashes, keep lower leaves clean and dry and help deter slugs - Also suitable for lettuces and newly planted shrubs and roses. The excellent cultivated forms of strawberry we enjoy today are relative newcomers; for centuries our three native European species were gathered from the wild.

We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. I had a similar idea in mind but was trying to find a "material" with a rough surface, something like coarse sandpaper but obviously that would be too expensive.These Strawberry Mats have copper impregnated in them and safely stop the pests from reaching your crops, while they also help keep weeds at bay and retain important moisture. Leave 8-10cm lengths of frame protruding from the other side to act as pegs, securing them with nails.

Suitable for a range of plants, including hostas and lettuce, this 6 pack of mats are reusable and will last for years. The plants should be given a dose of fertiliser in the spring and again after they have been rejuvenated, as well as being watered regularly (aim to keep the soil damp, but not saturated). Viruses are usually spread by aphids, but soil pathogens - fungi, nematodes and eelworms - can also be responsible. Despite the luscious fruits they produce from early summer onwards, strawberries are remarkably easy to grow and manage, and are also totally hardy in the UK. I use the under side which isn't as smooth as the surface side so I'm hoping the slugs won't like to go over it.

Although slugs and snails can be relied on to ruin the fruit, using Slug-X beer traps reduces their population. A+ grade plants are grown through the summer months and covered with fleece in the beginning for added protection – only plants with a 15mm+ diameter size fall into this grade.