what do _you_ put under your strawberry plants?

[merlotmama]

My father used to put straw around his strawberries to keep the berries from rotting. In previous years I have tried that and collar-like things I bought from the garden centre. Neither was particularly sucessful, I felt.

Big slug/snail/hedgehog/mouse etc problem. (Wish the hedgehogs would eat up the snail/slugs.) Also rains a lot, so damp.

Suggestions, please?

They have a net on them.

[Desiderata]

Much as I hate to say it, if you've got problems from slugs, nails, hedgehogs and mice, then broken glass is the only answer.

It works, but as a last resort

[merlotmama]

How do I get the strawberries picked without hurting myself? And what do I do with all the glass in the soil?

I can see that desperate measures are needed but don't think I could use glass, Desi.

Something has been at my watermelons in the greenhouse, too. Currently I have 'Slug Off', slug pellets and pepper dust round them to keep off allcomers.

My whole garden is like a food hall for livestock.

I did find 2 dead mice in the greenhouse tho' ...suspect they'd been at the slug pellets...or eaten slugs which had been at the pellets. Serves them right.

[Skribble]

Jaggy gravel can have the same effect as glass, the slugs don't like to slither on it, you can also put in slugg beer traps too.

Straw helps the air circulate but I don't think it helps with slugs. But gravel might also help with this as it will hel surface water drain away and air to circulate too.

[merlotmama]

Ha yes, Skribble, the previous people who lived here left a dustbinful of gravel, so I've lots. I'll try that. And maybe put some 'Slug Off' on top, because it dawns on me that if it works by drying out slug bodies, then it would also be a dry surface for the strawberries.

Thanks for your suggestions, both, I'll let you know how it goes.

[PestoMonster]

I planted mine into a hanging basket this year and got the slugs completely foiled