I'd go with the lawn mowings idea but, to keep them off smothering the berries, I'd use 5-litre water bottles, bottoms removed and placed over each strawberry. Half a dozen, gradually hedgehopping over each other as you proceed along the row, will do the job. Most people have access to mowings.
I can't see how lawn clippings would reliably work. In a dry windy spot, they'd just blow away, and in a wetter, cooler one they'd just turn to a soggy mess. Very difficult to get the right balance. Straw was always the method, but a decent layer of hay would be fine, or shavings, and are easily available in those pet shops if you only want a small amount. They both stay in place better. The hay is long, unlike grass mowings, so doesn't move around in the same way, and shavings don't shift readily, especially after a light watering. They let moisture through, but don't become solid or soggy. I don't use anything round mine though. Just somewhere for even more slugs to hide!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I agree about the lawn clippings becoming a soggy mess.
I don't use any mulch either, that way water can get to the base of the plants easier. I've got access to plenty of fir cones, so will use them to prop up the groups of berries. Keeps off any slugs that fancy a snack too.
Bee x
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Have you got a Pets at Home or similar nearby, they sell bales of straw, clean for animals. 2 sizes available depends on how bit your strawberry patch is. It does deter slugs a bit, they don’t like walking over it, They're quite happy walking over grass though.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
We've only got 7 plants growing in a large planter for now. The planter is sitting on a raised concrete platform (alongside our garden room), so slugs hopefully shouldn't be a big problem. Will get a small bag of pet straw and see how that goes. I like the idea of using cones too. We do have a lot of pine cones. Thanks again!
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Straw was always the method, but a decent layer of hay would be fine, or shavings, and are easily available in those pet shops if you only want a small amount. They both stay in place better. The hay is long, unlike grass mowings, so doesn't move around in the same way, and shavings don't shift readily, especially after a light watering. They let moisture through, but don't become solid or soggy.
I don't use anything round mine though. Just somewhere for even more slugs to hide!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I don't use any mulch either, that way water can get to the base of the plants easier.
I've got access to plenty of fir cones, so will use them to prop up the groups of berries. Keeps off any slugs that fancy a snack too.
Bee x
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
It does deter slugs a bit, they don’t like walking over it, They're quite happy walking over grass though.