How To Protect Strawberries From Insects (Stake Them To Keep Them Off The Ground!)

When you have a strawberry patch, there are many creatures that want to eat those ripe berries. Birds, insects, and small furry creatures. In this video we discuss how to keep certain insect pests away from your strawberry patch.
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To help defend against slugs, snails, and ants, we use a two tier system. First we put down a wide path of diatomaceous earth that slugs and snails will not walk across. Although the DE will not harm the slugs and snails they do not like it and will rarely cross its path. Fortunately, the DE will take out the ants eventually by cutting their exoskeleton. Secondly, we show you how to stake your strawberries. This keeps those berries up off the ground where roaming slugs cannot get to them. Our stakes are made of a small piece of bamboo and some 10 gauge wire.
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[@YusufYusuf-qm6lw]

I use mini forks, cut from wood branches to keep the strawberries off the ground. No slug or snail would eat them this way. Perfect job.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. Your method sounds solid as well.

[@bkershaccount]

What do you mean mini forks? Just make a triangle stand to hold the leaves hanging higher?

[@AnnoDominiMCMXCV]

@@bkershaccount A bit late but he probably means Y shaped branches with the bottom half stuck in the ground.

[@daisyu4854]

I started growing strawberries a while ago and they’re growing now I was so excited to see them ready and ripe but then I took a good look and they were eaten I’ll definitely have to try this

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thanks for watching. We hope you can save some of your berries.

[@nancyrea3863]

Liked the advice, loved the Border and the kittens.

[@karlitoschmidt]

Amazing!!!! I intuitively put a stick with soft wire but every day the strawberries were sliding down 😅 thank you for the tip for the hook!!!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You’re welcome

[@Rdeboer]

Another idea is to use small, fine mesh bags with a drawstring and just enclose each strawberry, or even clusters in one bag depending on the size.

[@user-we9oe6pr3e]

I was just looking into that myself. As even getting them off the ground doesnt always stop the critters. Just tryng to find some bags to use.

[@marymiller4155]

Thanks for the info. Very simple and helpful. One thing I would like is if you could grab the camera at some point and get closeups of what you did and your strawberries propped up and the snails/slugs.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome. Yes, my filming skills have improved greatly in the past few years. I have added closeups on all of my new vids. Unfortunately I cannot update these old videos.

[@elyse3148]

all the animals joining so cute, great tips!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you

[@luvinwawa]

that cat is adorable, also thankyou for the tips!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thanks and you're welcome.

[@GeauxGrow]

Thanks for the tips!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome! Have a nice day.

[@mtcarmelman632]

thanks, really needed the recommendation! I do need to ask a question, is the DE safe if it gets on the fruit, THANKS AGAIN!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Absolutely. It is a food grade DE so it is food safe. Just give it a quick rinse.

[@suebradford890]

Hi from England!! My problem is woodlice which eat holes in the strawberries. Have looked at other videos like yours and I've raised the trough off the ground and cut back dead foliage - I'll see if that helps.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I hope it helps and you can harvest some great strawberries.

[@spiffyshorts]

Came for the strawberry tips, stayed for the doggo and cats.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Nice!

[@TheTaylorChannel93]

Same lol the kitty in the garden stole the show

[@Ps-tc9ko]

I've tried recycled veg nets, you have to double or triple the over and tie off any loose bits or the slugs will get inside. Treat the nets like putting on a finger bandage where you twist the end a little bit and pull it back over. I am going to try raising them off the ground too. Those little critters get everywhere. The problem we have here in the UK and probably the world over too is that biodiversity has been somewhat compromised as in we build fences that hedgehogs can't get through or find a partner so there numbers have declined dramatically. Peop😊le are now creating little gaps just big enough and building hoghouses for them

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thanks for sharing

[@TheUnkow]

If you have too many ants, they probably have some good food source around like a sugar filled jar or a cherry tree which is not picked and the seeds fall to the ground. In any case if you see their holes on the ground, try watering that patch of ground when you water the rest of your garden. After a few times their numbers should dwindle a lot. Also having few onions/garlics in the viscinity helps against moths and many other flying insects because of its smell. Don't forget a few flowers as well but not too close to the onions because bees are wonderful for keeping other insects out, so luring bees means keeping other insects out. Your advice is great for snails, I've read that salt and cofee grounds help as well, but you can't spam it too much.

[@tbublz]

All great info nice video..

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you.

[@poppylove3673]

I just noticed green little worms eating our first, brand new little strawberries! 🍓 We have them in a raised container, and hope you might be able to help me know what to do! Thank you, I’ve subscribed! 👍

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. Glad to have you here. I am not exactly sure what those little green worms are but you will have to spray them with something to kill them. I did a video on an organic/biodegradable spray here.....kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGO8Z3Zqmderd6s

[@denabatt]

I have the same problem.

[@midnewt1468]

I had one of my biggest strawberries eaten today by a big caterpillar so i went and i looked for a video on how to keep them off my strawberries and i watched this video and it worked thanks

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome! Glad it was helpful. Thanks for sharing Watermantaloupe. (Love the name)

[@midnewt1468]

@@CountryLivingExperience thanks i hope i get some ripe quinalts this summer

[@gnarlymask]

i appreciate the use of the Decemberists

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Cool

[@paplyhussain379]

Hi what did you use for snail not to come near strawberries?

[@anitariley2681]

I have a huge bed that i started a few years ago with 6 little plants. It is now 8 feet long by 5 feet wide and that method looks like too much work. Have to move on to something less labor intensive. Wouldn't be an option for me.

[@jalu7122]

The garden = a battlefield. Thanks for bringing in the heavy artillery.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome.

[@gabrielchiu2650]

I use a cut straw to hold the stem of the strawberry watch out for spotted wing fruitflies as those can really harm your strawberries because of maggots

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Cool

[@gabrielchiu2650]

i now wrap my strawberry bunches in siran wrap to protect from ants and slugs and birds and it works really well

[@VTboys1220]

What about fruit flies? Before my berries ripen I see little flies on them and they create holes

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You need to spray for those. Here is our video on that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGO8Z3Zqmderd6s

[@viagra5207]

I had to throw away almost all of my strawberries last year because of slugs and i only got two.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Been there. Hope this helps.

[@ElzaRitterPianoStudio]

What is in your bag you put on a ground? Thank you!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

That is diatomaceous earth. A fine powder of crushed sea shells that cuts the exoskeletons of certain insects.

[@ElzaRitterPianoStudio]

Thank you for reply. And thanks for making a video. I will try your method.

[@michellesheehan9691]

Hi I’m growing strawberries at the moment and they are falling off the leaf when they are just fruited just before they turn red. I used provanto spray about two weeks ago is this the cause of it did anyone find this happening to there strawberries before and how do I prevent them falling off and rooting.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Hi. I don’t know what provanto is but I don’t spray my strawberries with anything. You may have a watering issue or you injured them with the spray.

[@venidamcdaniel1913]

I’m growing my strawberries in a hanging pocket thingy. Watering is tedious but SOMETHING ELSE eating my strawberries.

[@maryhyde843]

Does this also keep out those pesky little lizards?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

No...but they don't bother the strawberries.

[@ollliiver]

Thank god for this video. Now if only I could stop my dogs from peeing on them

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Glad it was helpful. I had to put bird netting around mine so my cats would stop eating them.

[@ameliep1584]

Ahha

[@jennlozeau]

At 5:55 see the cat ever so slightly in the corner of the screen lmao 🤣

[@CountryLivingExperience]

She loves the strawberry patch

[@jujubee7792]

😂😂

[@vivixl2544]

I see a dog that was in background

[@Ruthybwn]

What if they’re already above the ground in a hanging basket? I’ve just discovered loads of little holes in my strawberry plant leaves and I’m so disappointed. :( they haven’t flowered yet. Should I throw them out? Does anyone know what could be eating them? I’m assuming some sort of bug?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It you have holes in the leaves, that sounds like a flea beetle. Don't throw them out, just treat them with a little Neem oil mixed with soap. No worries, they will recover.

[@Ruthybwn]

Country Living Experience: A Homesteading Journey oh thank you for the quick reply! I’ve googled neem (I’m very new to gardening and in the UK so I hadn’t heard of it before) it brings up a load of insecticide sprays. I’ll have a look and see what would be the best one to buy. Thanks again!!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@Ruthybwn You're welcome. We did a video on how to make the solution here.....kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGO8Z3Zqmderd6s. You can find the Amazon link in the video's description.

[@Ruthybwn]

Country Living Experience: A Homesteading Journey omg I’ve just realised that the holes seem to big to be a small insect. I think it must be a caterpillar? Call me an idiot but do they keep coming back and do you need to get rid of them the same way you would an aphid/flea bug thingie?

[@joanneg7646]

Oh the dirty dogs! they are harvesting my berries before I can get to picking them.. And now they want me to share my beer with them?? Lol

[@CountryLivingExperience]

lol

[@sukikurai]

can the DE damage the strawberry plant itself?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Nope. Not at all.

[@ABDbarma]

Love from India 🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@samanthaperry7415]

My strawberries are in a raised bed thats made of copper. The type of strawberry I grow doesnt lay on the ground, has sturdy stalks, they are 6 inches of the ground. The slugs stilllll eat them. I have sat and watched them just slide uo the stalk to the berry. Raising the berry does NOT help.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Works for me. You must have super slugs. Try dusting with diatomaceous earth.

[@jennlozeau]

Omg that that looks JUST LIKE my cat

[@ginacodalata4885]

Slugs can crawl right up there it doesn’t matter if you get your strawberries off the ground they are on a mission they will eat every strawberry I think it’s their favorite personally I gave up on strawberries

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I have great strawberries and actually sell them. I keep them off the ground and it works.

[@WuHa105]

Maybe a combination of several methods would work better than just one.

[@Birkulumiste7]

What is DE?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Diatomaceous Earth

[@ozzieowlss]

Imagine how many strawberries you have and sticks you would have to use 🤣🤣

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I guess you don't understand how strawberries grow.

[@xxxxBadfishxxxx]

I went to a strawberry patch where they had strawberries at the tops of raised rows and covered 100% of the ground with black plastic except where the strawberries came out it was fairly close around the stems. Didn't see any eaten ones so maybe the hot plastic gets them during the day? I think different areas will have different problems.

[@jameystone2650]

I'm thinking store-bought is the way to go.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Guess you aren't a homesteader or into self reliance.

[@jameystone2650]

@@CountryLivingExperience Yes, I'm into self-reliance but it's discouraging; with every new plant comes a whole array of pests and issues. We also try to keep it organic. Strawberries are my post recent endeavor -- Argh. I appreciate your video though.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@jameystone2650 I totally understand. You can do it. Keep persevering.

[@behemottka]

Raspberries fruit ONLY on new wood. Do not pick the flowers off of your raspberries the first year....

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I disagree. The concept is still valid (first year after planting only). You will have raspberries the following cycle.

[@HighlanderNorth1]

Not true. Most standard, summer bearing raspberry plants DONT produce berries on their new canes during the 1st season. The new canes will grow and produce only leaves during their 1st season. In their 2nd season, those canes will quickly start flowering, then fruiting in late spring to early summer of their 2nd season. But then the canes will die off afterwards. New canes pop up each season to replace the canes that flowered, fruited and died in their 2nd season. The only possible exception are everbearing raspberries, which can produce flowers and fruit late in the 1st season. But from my experience, most raspberry varieties are not everbearing, they are summer bearing.

[@nschaar5142]

I can't see what you are doing with that text all over.

[@naomitaylor929]

Those little bamboo things won't work for birds squirrels voles etc and bugs snails climb I don't see that being effective maybe with all of the tips combined I could see it working🤔

[@CountryLivingExperience]

The video is just about the insects not birds, squirrels, or voles (which I don't have a problem with). The snails and rolly polly bugs do not tend to climb the bamboo even though they could because of other food sources on the ground level. This works extremely well for me hence the reason I made the video.

[@pencilRC1]

I love snails so I’d just let them huehueheue. I even keep snails as pets, cute little guys

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You can have mine

[@pencilRC1]

@@CountryLivingExperience yes

[@gillianbc]

I've a load of plastic picnic forks - I will try those

[@CountryLivingExperience]

That will work.

[@jainprachi71]

Not Visible ...too far

[@therealm00theoriginal27]

evil

[@CountryLivingExperience]

The snails and slugs sure are evil.

[@paulenzor6993]

I'm sorry, but this is barely useful for anyone BEYOND 100 plants! Just saying.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

But most people are thankful for this information and have less than 100 plants or they just complain less.

[@paulenzor6993]

@@CountryLivingExperience or they are just halfwits, that clearly aren't able to think for themselves!

[@christinezemaitaitis7016]

Yes, but what about grubs underground that eat your roots ?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I’ve never had that problem