How to Thin a Strawberry Bed

Cut back the strawberry foliage to within 3 to 4 inches of the ground, taking care not to cut into the fleshy crown where the leaves join the root system. For large beds, mow the foliage with a lawnmower. Set the mower blades at their highest setting so you don't cut into the plant crowns.

Rake the strawberry bed with a leaf rake. Remove and dispose of the trimmed foliage and any other leaves or plant debris that have collected in the bed.

Break up the soil and pull up the plants between the established rows of strawberries, using a hoe or power tiller. Thin out the strawberry plants between rows so the rows are approximately 12 inches wide. Pull up extra strawberry plants within the row so the remaining plants are about 12 inches apart. Remove the oldest and poorest producing plants, leaving the healthier, more productive plants in place.

Sprinkle ½ pound of 13-13-13 fertilizer over every 50 square feet of garden bed immediately after thinning. Apply the fertilizer to the soil between plants, taking care to keep the granules off the foliage and crowns.

Water the bed after fertilization so the fertilizer granules dissolve and the nutrients soak into the soil. Provide about 1 inch of water or enough to moisten the top 6 inches of soil.