Do-it-yourself supports for strawberries: TOP-10 best supports, photos, from scrap materials, wire, bottles (tips for making)

What is a strawberry stand?

As a rule, a stand is a kind of support made of plastic or metal rods of small diameter. They support strawberry bushes in an upright position, preventing them from sinking to the ground, thereby protecting them from potential threats.

Strawberry stands make caring for them much easier. And if you are dealing with strawberry plantations, then you cannot do without them at all.

Features of growing garden strawberries on vertical beds

We propose to consider the most “popular” mistakes made by summer residents, which invariably arise during the first experience of constructing and operating vertical beds.

Soil quality

If the owners of their summer cottage previously grew strawberries on ordinary beds, then when planting in various structures they often do not pay attention to the recommendations about the need to prepare a special substrate. So they use ordinary garden soil, or even the contents of flower pots. Please note that in containers on vertical beds the amount of substrate is limited , so increased requirements are placed on its looseness and nutritional value.

More sun - better harvest?

Under natural conditions, strawberries are lovers of bright sun and high areas without excessive moisture. But when there is only a small volume of soil at its disposal, the roots of the plants quickly overheat, which cannot be compensated for by any watering. Therefore, it is better to place vertical and hanging devices for the berry garden in partial shade, on the western or northwestern side.

On vertical structures and in small containers, plants require more frequent irrigation, because a small volume of soil dries out quickly

Organization of watering

For the full growth of seedlings and obtaining a bountiful harvest in hanging strawberry beds, constant moisture is needed, and ideally, watering combined with fertilizing. An irrigation system should be organized before planting the bushes. This can be either a drip tape or centralized watering in the middle of the box (barrel).

Types of stands and supports

Depending on the materials used and types of structures, there are several types of supports and stands for strawberries. The most durable ones are made of metal. The cheapest and easiest to install are plastic and rubber structures. Here are some of them:

A wooden pyramid is a multi-tiered structure. Nothing stops strawberries from growing. On top of that, such an unusual solution can play into your hands in the landscape design of your garden.
The plastic holder is a disk-shaped design made of mesh. These are usually used for spreading strawberry bushes. Due to their size and design, the berries will be well protected from fungal diseases, but not completely from attack by insects or rain if the bushes are located too close to the stand. The main argument for these stands is their low cost, so you don’t have to spend too much money at first to use a large area for strawberries.
The net is a plastic checkered shape that allows you to surround a strawberry bush in a cylindrical shape. At a very low cost, a net can protect the plant from various insects and pollution. The only caveat lies in the fragility of the design - it is not enough for several summer seasons due to the cheapness of plastic and constantly changing temperature conditions.
Easily bending wire is in fact metal in the form of a thin line, from which a variety of designs are already made. But their essence is that on the legs there is a circle or other shape into which the plant is already installed. This structure is as practical as possible both in terms of protecting your bushes and in terms of the practical side of its use, because it is very durable and can resist corrosion with a protective layer.
Homemade designs - here the only limit is budget and imagination!

Warm strawberry beds

This type of structure is installed directly on the surface of the earth or goes deep into the soil. The structure of the insulated version includes several layers: drainage, heat-generating layer and soil. Its arrangement is optimal for regions with an unfavorable climate, where there is still a threat of a return of frost until mid-June. Structures of this type can be frame, bulk, or combined. Regardless of the organization option, the filling of the “warm garden” is identical. Sequence of filling the box:

The rectangular structure is made from boards for the box. The height of the sides is about 60 cm, and the width of the box is approximately 90 cm. The inside of the body is finished with waterproofing material.
A fine metal mesh is installed underneath to protect against voles.
This is followed by a layer (about 20 cm) of chopped branches, bars, and wood waste.
Newspapers and cardboard are placed on top.
Then you need to lay sawdust and small wood shavings.
The next layer consists of fresh plant waste.
Next comes humus from the compost pit.
At the very end, the box needs to be covered with a layer of earth.
If necessary, lay out the area around the front garden with tiles and make paths. Lay decorative stone, etc. around the perimeter.

Before you make a “warm garden” to set up a strawberry bed, decide on the fencing material. An excellent choice would be boards, metal profiles or slate. Another option is a wicker structure made from branches. It is relatively simple to manufacture, but is not able to provide proper thermal insulation - moisture will quickly evaporate when used.

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Frame

In such a structure, all the lower layers and the fertile “cushion” are placed in a pre-made box. This method of organization is ideal for areas with high levels of humidity, where the soil is swampy or where it rains frequently. The main thing is to make a durable frame that will last more than one season. Boards or slate are well suited for its manufacture. The former need to be treated with a protective coating.

Bulk

The peculiarity of this technology is the need to dig a shallow trench, which is filled with “filling”. This creates a raised bed-hill with a warm bottom. Bulk technology for application on the ground without the threat of flooding, i.e. where groundwater is far from the surface. Main stages:

A trench is dug across the width of the bed (from 40 cm) - the depth of a shovel bayonet.
Pre-chopped dry branches are laid at the bottom of the trench. You need to start with the largest ones and end with the smallest ones.
Any plant debris, for example, leaves, compost, withered grass, humus, is placed on the branches.
Then everything is thoroughly compacted, water with warm water.
Fertile soil is laid on top.
The mound will eventually become 20-30 cm higher. You can fence it with boards or make the edges flat.

Combined

This option for organizing a “warm garden” for growing berries differs in that it combines the features of the previous two. Sequencing:

Dig a trench as in the first option.
place the lower layers of organic matter in it.
make a box, for example, from boards.
put the top layers of organic matter in it.

Homemade from a bottle

If you want to make a stand for strawberries with your own hands, then there are a lot of possibilities for this, the main thing is time and patience.

So, the simplest option made from a plastic bottle requires virtually no costs - you just need the bottle itself and scissors/knife.

The bottle must be cut into a cylinder about 10 cm high, rectangular petals cut out and bent on one side, the size of which can be 3-4 cm, and the stand is ready.

All that remains is to install the plant inside it so that the stalks and shoots are on the petals of the plastic structure.

Geogrid

You can also make a support for strawberries with your own hands from geogrid. Supports made from this material can be slightly more expensive than those made from a bottle. In order to assemble the desired structure, it will be necessary to cut the geogrid into segments of 30 cm each.

The width of such pieces should be 8 cm. In order to lift the lower leaves and stalks of the plant, it is necessary to place the cut pieces on the edge and thus form a cylinder.

At the end, the edge can be tied with nylon thread or, if you need to make many similar stands, you can use a professional stapler. We can assume that the design is ready.

Magic straw

Methods of planting strawberries, such as two-line and continuous, do not involve the use of improvised materials. Relatively small row spacing with a bed width of up to 1 m does not allow the use of single supports, if only because of the inconvenience when caring for cultivated plants.

It is better to buy ready-made plastic stands, which are mesh sheets with legs. But there is also a good folk version. Straw will help protect the crop from slugs, diseases and dirt:

First, straw needs to be scattered over the strawberry growing area in a small layer.
When the first berries begin to appear, enough straw should be added so that it completely covers the ground. This method will increase yields by conserving moisture and creating a more comfortable environment for the plants.
After growing and turning red, the berries must be carefully transferred to straw. Its two layers will provide the necessary support and prevent the strawberries from coming into contact with the ground.

Harvesting from straw will be easier than from a regular garden bed. The reddened strawberries are clearly visible against the yellow background. Elementary straw in this regard becomes a truly magical help.

You can often find advice on using dark covering material as support. But this method is quite controversial. Firstly, it is difficult to combine cutouts in the material with individual bushes without damaging the plants. Secondly, the continuous covering of the ridge makes high-quality watering impossible, but the berry loves water.

Wire construction

The third option for a homemade support is a wire support. All we need is some kind of durable tube, the diameter of which will be about 8 cm, bendable metal wire and wire cutters.

It is enough to wind the wire in the form of spirals around the tube and then cut one resulting spring into springs 6-8 cm in height. This will be a support for our plant.

Actually, all that remains is to install our bush inside these cylinders and admire how the simple and cheap design properly copes with protection and correctly distributes the short and long stems of the bush.

Wooden pyramid

To make a pyramid-shaped strawberry stand with your own hands, you will need the following materials: a board with a minimum thickness of 2.5 cm, self-tapping screws with a screwdriver, a hacksaw and antiseptic impregnation.

Square frames are cut out of the board, the sides of which are 120, 80 and 40 cm and impregnated with an antiseptic. After drying, the frames, one at a time, in a pre-prepared area, are placed on top of each other in the center, and the tiers themselves inside the frames are covered in turn with fertile soil, a fertile layer, and then the last tier is covered with soil.

After a week, you can plant strawberry plants, the main thing is to make sure that the soil level is at the upper limit of the frame.

Raised beds

When you decide to plant strawberries in spring, pay attention to the tall structure, which many gardeners do not distinguish from a warm one. In fact, there is no big difference between them, especially since raised beds for strawberries are made using the same technology and using the same materials. The only difference is the backfill. Tall structures often consist of one layer of fertile soil, i.e. They do not have a “heat-generating” component.

Advantages and disadvantages

Smart tall beds for strawberries have several pros and cons that are important to consider if you want to get a tasty and aromatic harvest. The disadvantage of the design is the rapid drying of the soil. The problem can be partially solved by deepening the plantation 20 cm into the ground. The advantages are:

for the construction of deep or frame structures, you can use balanced purchased soil;
you can build a tall structure for growing garden strawberries yourself, the main thing is to make a frame;
a raised horizontal mini-plantation can be given a winding shape, which will become an original decoration of the site;
rapid heating of the soil accelerates the ripening of fruits;
the soil is not trampled down, remaining loose - more nutrients and oxygen will flow to the roots of the bushes.

How to choose the right size

When choosing the optimal parameters for a “raised garden” for cultivating berries, consider several nuances. More about the recommendations:

In regions with a harsh climate, it is better to make a structure whose height is 20-25 cm. In winter, the structure will remain under the snow and the plants will not freeze. The sides of a structure 40-60 cm high may not be covered with a layer of snow, as a result of which the bushes will freeze through.
Choose the length in accordance with the dimensions of the land plot.
If you can approach the mini-garden only from one side, then the width of the structure should not be more than 60 cm. For double-sided maintenance, a value of 1-1.2 m is acceptable.

Pyramid of tires

A simpler version of this pyramid-shaped design can be made from car tires. To do this, just find 3 car tires of different sizes that suit you.

The side of the tire on one side is carefully cut out using a simple hammer drill. Next, with the whole side down, the largest tire is placed on a previously prepared surface on a piece of land and filled with soil.

With these steps, a pyramid of tires is created, which can then be painted and decorated as you please. To make everything look more beautiful, you can put all the tires in the center and paint them in any attractive color.