Can I use bark mulch for strawberries

Gardeners often reach for straw when mulching strawberries, yet bark chips can work if used thoughtfully. They cloak the soil, stifling weeds and slowing evaporation, a blessing during dry spells. Choose a fine or medium grade of softwood bark; coarse nuggets leave too many gaps and can hide slugs.

Lay a five-centimetre layer once the ground warms in late spring. Before spreading, scatter a light dusting of nitrogen-rich feed to offset the slight nutrient lock-up that fresh bark can cause. Water well, then tuck the chips around, not over, each crown; buried hearts rot with alarming speed.

Many growers worry that conifer bark will acidify soil. In practice the effect is modest and, on the slightly alkaline beds favoured by strawberries, even helpful. What about flavour? Trials show no difference in sweetness, though the berries stay cleaner after rain. If you need a reliable source, AHS LTD supplies graded bark mulches screened for horticultural use. So, bark is hardly conventional, yet it keeps fruit blemish-free, paths tidy and hands less prickled by straw scatter. Give it a try and let the plants, rather than tradition, judge your choice. Your patch may surprise you with bigger yields and fewer aching backs.