Should I cut my strawberry plants back for winter?

As winter approaches, strawberry gardeners often wonder if they should cut back their strawberry plants for the cold season. There are a few key questions to consider:

Should you cut back strawberry plants in the fall or winter? Generally, it’s best to cut back strawberry plants in late fall or early winter once they have gone dormant after several hard frosts. This is usually sometime between late November and early December for most climates.

Why cut them back? Cutting back strawberry plants in winter helps promote new growth and higher yields for the next growing season. It removes old leaves, stems, and runners so plants can focus energy on new, productive growth in spring.

How much should you cut back? Cut each plant back by about 1/3 to 1/2 of its overall size. Cut off old leaves, stems, runners, and any diseased or insect-damaged parts.

When to Cut Back Strawberry Plants

The ideal time to cut back strawberry plants is in late fall after they have gone dormant for winter. This is typically after the plants have experienced a few hard frosts and when leaves start to brown and die back.

In most regions with cold winters, the best time is usually late November to early December. However, timing can vary depending on your local climate and first frost dates.

Cutting back plants earlier in fall before a hard frost can sometimes encourage new growth that is more susceptible to damage when colder weather arrives. Waiting until after dormancy helps avoid this problem.

On the other hand, don’t wait too long in winter before cutting back. Pruning in late December or January means you may remove some of the protective mulch around plants. It also gives less time for new growth to establish before spring.

Aim for that late fall sweet spot once plants start going dormant but before winter gets too far underway.

Signs Strawberry Plants Are Ready for Cut Back

  • Leaves turning brown or red
  • Runners and fruits no longer developing
  • Plant growth has slowed or stopped
  • Experience multiple frosts

What to Avoid When Cutting Back

  • Cutting back too early in fall before dormancy
  • Pruning in mid to late winter
  • Cutting during growth flush in spring
  • Removing more than 1/3 to 1/2 of total plant size

How to Cut Back Strawberry Plants

When cutting back strawberry plants, the basic process is to remove old leaves, runners, and stems back to the crown of the plant. Here are some more detailed steps:

  1. Remove any weeds around plants to access the strawberry crowns easier.
  2. Use clean, sharp pruners or scissors to cut back leaves and stems to about 1 inch above the crown.
  3. Cut off old runners that have rooted new daughter plants.
  4. Remove any leaves or stems that are damaged, diseased, or insect-infested.
  5. Cut back plants, removing about 1/3 to 1/2 of the overall mass and leaving the healthiest crowns and leaves.
  6. Rake up and dispose of debris from around plants.
  7. Consider applying a balanced fertilizer or compost.
  8. Mulch freshly pruned plants with clean straw or pine needles to protect for winter.

When in doubt, don’t cut back too severely. Leave healthy crowns intact with some leaves. It’s better to leave a bit more foliage than to accidentally damage the crown and compromise the plant.

What to Cut

  • Old leaves and leaf stems back to about 1 inch.
  • Old runners that have rooted new plants.
  • Old flower stems back to the crown.
  • Any damaged, diseased or insect-infested parts.

What Not to Cut

  • The crown or heart of the plant.
  • Healthy new leaves near the center.
  • More than 1/3 to 1/2 of total plant mass.
  • Runners you wish to propagate new plants from.

Why Cut Back Strawberry Plants in Winter?

Cutting back strawberry plants in late fall or early winter provides the following key benefits:

  • Promotes new growth: Removing old leaves and stems allows the plant to focus energy on new, productive growth in spring.
  • Increases yields: New growth equals more flowers, fruits, and runners for higher yields the following growing season.
  • Improves plant health: Removing old foliage, stems, and runners eliminates shelter for pests and disease.
  • Improves air circulation: Thinning plants allows for better air movement to minimize fungal and bacterial diseases.
  • Makes picking easier: Removing excess foliage produces a clean row for easier harvesting.
  • Extends growing season: New, early growth matures faster for earlier yields.

In summary, cutting back strawberry plants at the right time removes old, unproductive growth so plants invest energy into new, fruitful growth that translates into improved yields and plant health.

Disadvantages of Not Cutting Back

  • Overcrowded plants
  • Spindly, reduced yields
  • Increased pest and disease pressure
  • Old leaves smother new growth
  • Runners take over space

How Much to Cut Back Strawberry Plants

When cutting back strawberry plants, you generally want to remove about 1/3 to 1/2 of the overall mass of each plant. Here are some tips on how much to prune:

  • Cut back old leaves and leaf stems to leave about 1 inch remaining.
  • Thin congested plants so crowns have roughly 4 to 6 inches between them.
  • Remove old runners that have rooted daughter plants.
  • Aim to reduce the size of each plant by about 30% to 50%.
  • Leave the healthiest crowns intact with some leaves.
  • Never cut back so severely that you damage crowns.

You can cut back more or less depending on plant congestion. Leave newer, healthy leaves near the crown while removing older outer leaves and growth. Find a balance between thinning old growth and preserving some leaves to protect crowns.

Signs You Have Cut Back Too Much

  • Severely reduced plant size
  • Exposed crowns
  • Few leaves remaining
  • Cut crowns or plant hearts
  • Removal of more than 50% total foliage

Signs You Have Not Cut Back Enough

  • Plants still heavily congested
  • Minimal removal of old leaves and stems
  • Runners still choking out space
  • Poor air circulation within foliage
  • Less than 30% of foliage removed

Should You Cut Back Strawberry Plants After Transplanting?

Strawberry plants that are newly transplanted in summer or fall should be cut back to help them recover and become established in their new location.

Follow these tips for cutting back transplanted strawberry plants:

  • Cut off any flowers and unripe fruits so the plant can focus on root growth.
  • Trim back about 1/3 of the leaves to reduce water loss stress.
  • Shorten extra-long roots if root bound before planting.
  • Remove any damaged roots or leaves.
  • Water transplants regularly until well established.

Cutting back a transplanted strawberry plant reduces stress and allows it to settle into its new environment. Don’t remove flowers or fruits on established plants, just on new transplants.

When to Cut Back Transplants

  • Just before planting
  • Right after planting
  • Over first few weeks after planting as needed

What to Cut on Transplants

  • Old flowers and unripe fruits
  • About 1/3 of leaves
  • Excessively long roots
  • Damaged or diseased leaves/roots

Should I Cut Back Strawberry Plants in Spring?

You generally should not cut back strawberry plants in spring. At this time, plants are focused on new growth, flowering, and fruit production. Pruning in spring can inadvertently remove flowers and fruits.

Any major pruning should wait until after the main harvest season in early summer. You can do minor tidying of leaves or errant runners in spring if needed.

The ideal pruning time is late fall when plants become dormant. This avoids interfering with spring growth and allows time for new growth to establish before winter.

That said, you can remove old leaves or damaged parts anytime they occur to maintain plant health. Just try to minimize major pruning cuts during peak growth and harvest periods.

When to Avoid Cutting Back

  • During spring growth flush
  • When flowers are present
  • While fruits are developing
  • Right before first harvest

Okay Pruning in Spring

  • Removing old leaves
  • Tidying congested areas
  • Cutting excessive runners
  • Pinching off flowers on new plants

Should I Cut Back Strawberry Plants After Harvesting?

Cutting back strawberry plants after harvesting in early summer can help boost yields and growth for the next season. Key tips include:

  • Wait 1-2 weeks after final spring harvest.
  • Remove old leaves, stems, and runners damaged from harvest.
  • Cut each plant back by about 1/4 to 1/3.
  • Space out plants if they have become overcrowded.
  • Fertilize and water after pruning to encourage regrowth.

Pruning right after harvest removes old fruited stems and leaves while minimizing loss of potential flowers. This helps concentrate growth into new runners and crowns during summer.

Benefits of Cutting Back After Harvesting

  • Removes damaged foliage
  • Encourages runner development
  • Thins out congested plants
  • Channels growth into new crowns
  • Allows fertilizing and mulching

What to Remove After Harvesting

  • Leaves or stems damaged during harvest
  • Old fruited stems back to the crown
  • Insect-infested or diseased foliage
  • Weak, declining leaves

Cutting Back Strawberry Plants in Containers

Strawberry plants grown in containers need a bit different pruning approach than those grown in garden beds. Here are some tips:

  • Use sharp scissors for easier pruning in tight spaces.
  • Cut back any runners so plants devote energy to fruiting.
  • Remove old leaves and stems regularly to encourage new growth.
  • Thin inner leaves and flowers to allow airflow and reduce mold.
  • Cut plants back by about 1/2 after fruiting finishes.
  • Transplant or discard plants after 2-3 years when they start declining.

Pruning container strawberries helps sustain vigorous plants, prevents overcrowding, and maintains fruit production. More frequent pruning is needed than in beds.

Benefits of Pruning Container Strawberries

  • Maintains plant vigor
  • Removes pests and diseases
  • Maximizes fruit production
  • Keeps plants from outgrowing container
  • Allows light and airflow

When to Prune Container Strawberries

  • Early spring before new growth starts
  • After harvest finishes in early summer
  • Anytime plants become overcrowded
  • Late fall when plants start going dormant

Common Questions

Should I cut off strawberry runners?

Most runners should be cut off to encourage strong plants. However, leaving some runners in spring and early summer will allow propagation of new daughter plants. Cut off excess runners in late summer and fall to promote good growth.

Do you cut back strawberries after they fruit?

Yes, it’s best to cut back strawberry plants about 1-2 weeks after the end of harvest. This removes old fruited stems and leaves while encouraging development of new runners and crowns.

When should I stop cutting back strawberries?

Stop cutting back strawberry plants once they go dormant in late fall after several light frosts. Pruning too late into winter can interfere with their protective dormant phase and exposure to cold temperatures.

Can you cut strawberry plants back too much?

Yes, you can damage plants by cutting back too much foliage or accidentally cutting the crowns. Never remove more than 1/2 of the overall plant foliage. Leave healthy leaves near the center of plants and don’t cut into the crown itself.

Conclusion

Cutting back strawberry plants at the right times encourages healthy, vigorous growth and improves yields. Prune plants in late fall after they go dormant to remove old foliage and stimulate new growth. Also prune again lightly after harvest in early summer.

When pruning, cut back old leaves, stems, and runners by about 1/3 to 1/2 on each plant. Be careful not to damage the crown or remove too much healthy foliage. Proper pruning technique will lead to thriving strawberry plants that produce abundant fruits for years to come.

Leave a Comment