What to do to strawberries in winter

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Lausanne
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Switzerland
I have this 1m2 raised bed with a very high density of strawberries from last year.

I'm wondering what's the most optimal thing to do in winter between:

- Leave untouched
- Cut the leaves and maybe the runners
- Add a layer of dirt on top of all that to bury the leaves and runners and turn them into green fertilizer for next season

Thanks for any hint
 

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Meadowlark

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Welcome.

Strawberry plants are sensitive to cold temps: Below 28 deg f (-2C) they begin to experience damage affecting fruit production. Below 20 deg F (-6C) prolonged can cause severe damage to established plants even death.

My hint...If exposed to these temps, heavy mulching will help minimize damage. Row covers/plant covers like N-sulate can effectively raise the temps below the cover as much as 8-10 deg F...and easy to apply.
 

oneeye

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Your bed looks very good, friend. You are good at growing strawberries. At the first freeze, I would pile 6 to 12 inches of loose hay or leaves on top of everything. In the Spring, remove the mulch and work the soil well with a hand cultivator.
 

Oliver Buckle

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I would expect to keep strawberries going for 3 years. I leave them alone through the winter so weeds and dead leaves help give a little protection, then clean up in Spring and take out runners to plant on for next year, but a little more protection may be in order in Switzerland.
 
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Mine strawberries are on the ground and leave them alone. I am in Glasgow. Every spring they are getting more and more. Now I ordered white and black strawberries but they died last season so I will keep them inside. We had minus temperature last week but they look OK - a lot of dead leaves but green stems.
 

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