Mulching is easiest and most fun after renovating and fertilizing. Strawberry mulch should be pine or weed-free straw. Children throwing straw around the garden to give plants a “cozy jacket” for winter is fun. If pathogen-free, dried deciduous leaves can be used.
Extreme cold in zones 5 and colder may require further protection. The most popular winter protection for commercial strawberries is row cover. This woven fabric adds 2-8°F warmth and lets light in for early spring growth.
The most important winterizing step for container strawberries is root zone protection. Container strawberries are uninsulated. To prevent frost damage to hanging pot roots and crowns, they must be properly warmed.