Strawberries are my favorite fruit and my favorite dessert (with cake and whipped cream, of course).
Growing them, however, can be challenging for some. They require quite a bit of space if you want them nice and plump, and if you have birds and rabbits about your yard like we do, it can be tough to keep them away. They best solution I have for scaring off the birds is Christmas tree tinsel. I like to tie it or staple a few pieces to the planter box, or tie it to some wire and poke it right into the soil. This allows it to really move in the breeze, making it seem more alive and “scary” to the birds.
As far as the space issue and rabbit issue, I like to use vertical containers. The rabbits have a harder time getting to the berries, especially if you set them up higher on blocks. Vertical containers also allow for growing more fruit in a smaller square foot area of your yard or on your deck or patio! I am a huge fan of space saving, and if you are looking to do the same, then vertical is the way to go.
How do you get started in vertical strawberry growing? Below are a few tutorials to help you build your own containers and get growing!
Image Source: prakticideas.com
Image and Tutorial Source: removeandreplace.com
Image and Tutorial Source: lovelygreens.com
Notice in this bottom photo that berries are growing out of each layer! It is made from pallets. Be sure to check out all of these great tutorials to see which idea best suits your garden space.