Not really a thread for lunchtime but still...

[MotherSouperior]

Ahem. I've finally got down to catching up with my long-overdue jobs in my soft fruit beds - and it appears to have become an alfesco catlitter tray.

There is a liner between it and the soil but, as it is performated, I'm concerned about whether there are any risks in eating the soft fruit when they develop? I've got raspberries - (less risk I should imagine?) underplanted in places with strawberries (already flowering and a bit dodgier?)

Or am I worrying over nothing, it's all good for the immune system and I should embrace the new-found organisms in my soil?

A punnet of this year's first strawberries to whoever is kind enough to answer...

not keen on the strawberries

You might consider a good thick mulch. It will suppress weeds (best if you hoe off first). Grass cuttings are good, but you can add something more prickly like holly leaves or broken twigs. Once the cats have got out of the habit, they will move on. Fork over another patch of soil nearby to divert them.

Thanks for your reply, PigletJohn

I've got some 10yo horse manure here, which I can use as a mulch,can't I? That's a terrific idea about the holly leaves.I have some here which could do with a trim...

And I take it I shouldn't touch the strawbs this summer either?

I'll get digging that alternative litter tray now...

No, I meant that the strawbs might get fouled if cats are still using it. They should be OK if not.

AFAIK it doesn't matter if the roots are in soil which contains microorganisms (which it always does) as long as the fruit is clean.

Ah! Thank you so much for clearing that up.

I'll go get my mulch on.