Caring for Wild Strawberry

Wild strawberry is a low-maintenance plant once established, asking little of you through the year. Watering needs are moderate. In spring and summer, water during prolonged dry spells, especially if plants are in full sun or sandy soil. In partial or full shade, or in heavier clay or loam, natural rainfall is usually sufficient except in drought. The evergreen foliage will flag and wilt if the plant is too dry, giving you a clear signal. In autumn and winter, watering is rarely needed. Feed lightly in March with a general-purpose granular fertiliser or a sprinkling of blood, fish and bone around the plants. Wild strawberry is not a heavy feeder—over-fertilising, particularly with high-nitrogen feeds, encourages lush leaf growth at the expense of flowers and fruit. A single spring feed and an annual top-dressing of garden compost or leaf mould in autumn is ample. This plant is fully hardy to zone 3a, so overwintering in temperate Europe presents no difficulty. The foliage remains green through winter, providing year-round cover. No protection is needed, even in exposed sites. Pests and diseases are few. Slugs and snails may nibble young leaves and ripe berries, but damage is usually cosmetic. Birds also enjoy the fruit—net plants if you want to harvest berries yourself, though many gardeners are happy to share. Powdery mildew can occasionally appear on foliage in dry conditions with poor air circulation, but it's rarely serious; remove affected leaves if it bothers you. Mulch lightly around plants in autumn with leaf mould to suppress weeds and improve soil. Avoid piling mulch over the crowns. Wild strawberry's spreading habit means it will self-mulch to some extent as the mat thickens, shading out most competition.