To straw or not to straw, that is the question?

[Ridgerunner]

I have the same problem with straw sprouting. Something I found that helps is if you can spread it out for a couple of weeks and dampen it, many of the seeds will sprout. You kill them when you move it. A lot of the seeds are left behind when you rake it. This does not stop all the problems but it reduces them. It is nice if you have a concrete pad or such to spread it on to make raking it easier. I don't and have to rake it through the newly grown grass. This double handling is a pita but I think it is better than the seeds in the garden.

 

[vfem]

Yep yep, I mulch mine to keep them off the ground and it helps keep the slugs away too now!!! Also keeps away weeds and its much easy to attack runners this way.

 

[blurose]

Commercial strawberry growers use black plastic. They lay down the plastic, cut slits in it and plant the plants in these holes.

 

[mener6896]

I was curious about the plastic too. I used it for the rest of my garden but did NOT for my strawberries. I used straw. I planted about 75 plants in raised beds. I live across the road from a strawberry U-pick farm and the use straw also. I've never seen them use plastic. Although, they somehow keep their strawberries in nice even rows about 2' wide. I'm not sure how they do this since mine send runners out all over the place, hence why I used raised beds, to somewhat contain.