If you’re dreaming of bowls full of fresh, juicy strawberries this summer, April is when the magic begins.
This is the month your strawberry plants start waking up after their winter rest.
And if you give them the right care now, you’ll be rewarded with a sweet, tasty harvest in just a few weeks.
But strawberries aren’t the kind of plant you can ignore until it’s time to pick.
They’re early risers and need a bit of your attention now to get the season off on the right foot.
April isn’t about pampering your strawberries—it’s about setting them up to do what they do best.
Grow strong.
Bloom beautifully.
And make fruit you’ll be proud to show off.
So let’s talk about how to care for your strawberries in April and make sure your plants are ready to produce their best crop yet.
Clear Away the Winter Mess
First things first—clean up your strawberry patch.
After months of cold weather, there’s probably some leftover mess from last year.
You might see dead leaves, dry runners, and old mulch that’s flattened or soggy.
All of that needs to go.
Start by gently raking out any debris around your plants.
Use your hands or garden shears to remove dead leaves and dried-out stems from the center of each plant.
This helps air flow through and keeps the crowns (the center of the plant) from rotting.
Getting rid of that clutter also helps warm the soil faster.
And warm soil means faster growth.
Don’t worry if your patch looks a little bare afterward.
That’s a good thing.
It means your plants now have space and breathing room to stretch and grow without anything in their way.
Clean beds are healthy beds.
And healthy beds lead to sweet berries later.
Check for Winter Damage and Trim Smartly
Once the area is cleaned up, it’s time to inspect each plant.
Look closely at the crown of every strawberry.
That’s the thick part at the center where leaves grow from.
If it’s brown, mushy, or soft, that plant probably didn’t survive the winter.
Gently pull it out and toss it in the compost.
Now check the leaves.
If they’re dry and crunchy or have blackened tips, go ahead and trim them away with clean scissors.
You don’t want your plant wasting energy on leaves that won’t help it grow.
It’s okay to be a little picky here.
Healthy leaves should be firm, green, and coming from the middle of the plant.
Any weak, floppy outer leaves can go.
Removing this damage gives your strawberries a fresh start.
Think of it like spring cleaning for your plants.
Out with the old.
Make room for the new.
Wake Up the Soil and Feed Those Roots
Your strawberries are waking up, and your soil should be, too.
April is the perfect time to gently loosen the soil around your plants.
Don’t dig deep—just use your fingers or a hand rake to break up the top inch or two.
This helps air and water reach the roots faster.
It also keeps the soil from crusting over.
While you’re doing that, go ahead and add some compost or well-rotted manure.
This gives your plants a healthy dose of nutrients without overwhelming them.
Strawberries like balanced, slow-release food.
So skip the heavy fertilizers for now and go for natural options.
You can also sprinkle a little organic fertilizer around the base if your soil is poor or sandy.
Feeding in April gives the plants strength to grow flowers—and flowers turn into fruit.
So don’t skip this step.
A well-fed strawberry is a productive one.
Divide and Replant Crowded Plants
If you’ve had your strawberries for a couple of years, they might be starting to crowd each other.
Too many plants packed together means less airflow, smaller berries, and a higher chance of disease.
In April, before the growing season kicks into full speed, you can fix that.
Start by digging up any runners—the long stems that grow out from the main plant and create baby plants.
Some of these baby plants will have roots and can be replanted in a new spot.
Others can be trimmed off if you don’t have space.
If the center of a plant looks old, woody, or isn’t producing well, it might be time to replace it with a younger plant.
The best setup is to space your strawberries about 12 to 18 inches apart.
This gives each one plenty of room to grow and breathe.
It also makes harvesting easier later on.
A little thinning in April means a whole lot of healthy plants by June.
Add a Fresh Layer of Mulch
Mulch is a strawberry plant’s best friend.
In April, it does three important things.
First, it keeps weeds out.
Weeds compete for water and nutrients, and they crowd your strawberries.
Second, mulch holds moisture in the soil.
Strawberries need steady water to make plump, juicy berries.
And third, it helps keep the fruit clean and dry once the berries start forming.
For mulch, straw is the classic choice—and for good reason.
It’s light, easy to spread, and doesn’t get soggy.
You can also use pine needles, shredded leaves, or even a thin layer of compost.
Avoid anything too thick or heavy—it can smother your plants.
Spread a two- to three-inch layer around each plant, but don’t cover the crown.
Leave space around the center so it can breathe.
Mulching in April keeps your strawberries protected and productive from now through harvest time.
Watch the Water—But Don’t Overdo It
In April, your plants are just starting to grow again.
They don’t need daily watering, but they do need consistency.
Keep the soil evenly moist, especially if you’re getting sunny, windy days that dry things out.
Stick your finger in the soil about an inch deep.
If it feels dry, it’s time to water.
If it still feels cool and damp, check again tomorrow.
When you water, do it in the morning so the leaves can dry before evening.
Wet leaves overnight can lead to disease like powdery mildew or leaf spot.
Also, aim for the base of the plant—don’t spray water all over the leaves or flowers.
Drip irrigation or a soaker hose is perfect for strawberries.
They get water right where they need it—at the roots.
Getting the watering right in April sets up your strawberries for success when flower buds begin forming.
Keep an Eye Out for Early Pests
April is when the bugs start waking up, too.
And unfortunately, some of them love strawberries just as much as we do.
Slugs, aphids, and spider mites are common early-season pests.
They might not do major damage in April, but they’ll get worse if you let them stay.
Take a few minutes each week to check your plants.
Look under the leaves and around the base.
If you see tiny holes, webs, or chewed edges, it’s time to act.
Slugs can be caught with shallow dishes of beer or removed by hand.
Aphids and spider mites can be knocked off with a blast of water or treated with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
Just make sure to follow label instructions and avoid spraying when bees are active.
The sooner you catch pest problems, the easier they are to control.
A little effort in April keeps the bugs from taking over your patch later.
Support Flower Growth (But Don’t Panic Yet)
By late April, your strawberries might start forming flowers.
This is when things get exciting—but also a little tricky.
Some gardeners remove the first round of flowers on brand-new plants to encourage stronger roots and better production next year.
If your strawberry plant is in its first year, you can pinch off those early flowers.
It might feel wrong, but it gives the plant more time to grow strong before focusing on fruit.
If your plant is older and well-established?
Let those flowers bloom.
Each one has the potential to become a delicious berry.
Be gentle around the flowers—don’t step on them or accidentally brush them while weeding or mulching.
And don’t fertilize after the flowers appear unless your plant looks weak or pale.
Too much fertilizer now can lead to lots of leaves and very few berries.
Let the flowers do their thing, and the fruit will follow.
Protect From Late Frosts
One of the biggest dangers to your strawberry plants in April is a surprise frost.
Just when everything seems to be going great, a cold snap can hit and damage flowers or young leaves.
If your forecast shows a night below freezing, take action.
Cover your strawberry plants with a lightweight frost cloth, old sheet, or row cover.
Just make sure it doesn’t crush the plants—use hoops or stakes if needed.
Remove the cover in the morning once the temperature rises.
If you have potted strawberries, bring them indoors or into a garage for the night.
Frost damage in April can set your plants back and reduce your harvest.
But with a little protection, your strawberries can sail through the cold and keep growing strong.
Keep Records So You Can Grow Better Every Year
This step might sound boring, but it can really help you grow better strawberries in the future.
Start a simple garden journal or notebook.
In April, jot down what variety of strawberries you’re growing, what the weather has been like, and what you’ve done so far—cleaning, mulching, feeding, etc.
Make a note when the first flowers appear and when the plants seem to grow fastest.
Next year, you’ll be able to look back and plan even better.
You’ll know which plants did well, which ones struggled, and what changes you might want to make.
Gardening is a learning process.
Every season teaches you something new.
A little record-keeping in April can make you a smarter, more successful strawberry grower year after year.
Final Thoughts
April is the month that sets the tone for your strawberry season.
Give your plants the right care now—clean them up, feed the roots, mulch well, and keep pests in check—and you’ll be on the path to a harvest you can be proud of.
Strawberries don’t need fancy tools or expert tricks.
They just need a gardener who’s willing to pay attention at the right time.
April is that time.
By the end of this month, your plants should be growing, flowering, and getting ready to fruit.
And when that first ripe berry appears, you’ll know all your work paid off.
Because nothing tastes sweeter than a strawberry you helped grow from the ground up.