Strawberry Winter Care UK: Protect Your Plants and Grow Better Next Year

When you grow strawberries, a hardy, fruit-bearing perennial plant popular in UK gardens for its sweet, juicy berries. Also known as Fragaria × ananassa, it thrives in cool climates but needs protection to survive freezing temperatures and wet soil. Many gardeners in the UK lose their strawberry crops not because of cold, but because they don’t prepare them properly for winter. The key isn’t warmth—it’s dryness, insulation, and airflow.

Strawberry plants go dormant in late autumn, but their roots and crowns stay alive under the soil. If they sit in soggy ground after frost, they’ll rot. If left exposed to biting winds and ice, the crowns freeze and die. That’s why mulch, a protective layer of organic material like straw or pine needles used to shield plant bases is your best friend. A 2-3 inch layer around the plants keeps the soil temperature steady and stops mud from splashing onto the fruit buds. Don’t use leaves—they trap moisture and invite mold. Straw is ideal because it’s light, breathable, and easy to remove in spring.

Another thing that matters: container-grown strawberries, strawberry plants grown in pots, hanging baskets, or raised beds instead of directly in the ground. These are more vulnerable because their roots have no insulation from the earth. Move them to a sheltered spot—against a south-facing wall, under a porch, or even inside an unheated greenhouse. Wrap the pots in bubble wrap if temperatures drop below -5°C. You don’t need to bring them indoors, just keep them out of the worst of the wind and rain.

Don’t fertilize in late autumn. Feeding late tricks the plant into new growth, which frost will kill. Stop watering too—strawberries need less moisture when they’re dormant. If your soil drains poorly, consider raising your beds or adding grit to prevent waterlogging. And if you’ve got runners, cut them back. They drain energy from the mother plant when it should be resting.

Some gardeners cover plants with horticultural fleece during hard frosts. It’s not always necessary in mild UK winters, but if you’re in Scotland, the Pennines, or a frost pocket, it’s worth it. Just make sure the cover doesn’t touch the leaves—it can cause condensation and rot. Use hoops or stakes to hold it up.

You’ll find plenty of advice online about heating pads, plastic tunnels, or even Christmas lights. Skip those. They’re overkill. The goal isn’t to keep strawberries warm—it’s to keep them dry and safe. Simple works better. Look at the posts below: you’ll see real-world tips from UK gardeners who’ve tested mulching methods, compared straw vs. pine needles, and figured out exactly when to cover their plants after the first frost. Whether you grow in the ground, in pots, or on a balcony, you’ll find a method that fits your space and climate.