Should You Remove Old Strawberry Leaves After Fruiting?

After fruiting, remove dead, diseased, or badly damaged strawberry leaves, but keep healthy green foliage whenever possible. June-bearing varieties can receive a more substantial post-harvest renovation, while ever-bearing and day-neutral plants usually need selective cleanup – Shutterstock

Strawberry plants can look a little rough after they finish producing berries, with tired-looking leaves, brown edges, and the general appearance of a plant that has clocked out for the season. That often leaves gardeners wondering whether those old leaves should go or whether the scissors should stay firmly in the shed.

The answer depends on what kind of strawberry plant sits in the garden and what those leaves actually look like. Removing damaged or diseased foliage can help tidy the plant and improve airflow, but cutting everything back without a plan can remove healthy leaves that the plant needs to make food and prepare next year’s flower buds.