Something is eating small holes in my strawberries, the part touching the ground. I have them in a flower bed with mulch. I've seen snails & slugs. What can I do?

It's almost inevitable that something - bugs or slugs - will eat your ripe strawberries if they are touching the ground. If you can prop the fruiting stems up with some little twigs that will help.

IF the problem is the slugs or snails, they will climb the twigs to get to that fruit. You need to put down some slug bait, but not too near the plants. A light sprinkle 6in. or so away from the plants will help a lot. Be sure to buy the type that says it is safe for edibles!

Now if you solve that, you just need to keep the birds, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and children away from the berries and you might get to eat some yourself! I once asked an Extension agent "How the heck to commercial berry growers ever get enough harvest to make money?" and he replied "You don't want to know".

Thank you. I will try the slug bait. Critters aren't a problem, cats keep them in check. My youngens are good about not getting them

Only until the kids discover how delicious they are, I'm betting!

Good Luck.

Pill bugs may be nibbling them. If they're touching the ground, pill bugs will think they're fair game.