Strawberry Living Mulch in an Organic Vineyard

The study examined whether living mulch could suppress weeds and improve biodiversity without creating damaging competition for water. Local Fragaria vesca was propagated by runners, lifted after summer and transplanted into a one-year-old vineyard. Treatments using two or four strawberry plants per grapevine were compared with an uncovered control in a randomised complete-block design; a horizontal blade weeder was used once annually in every treatment.

Both planting densities produced full winter soil cover and, together with the blade weeder, removed the need for further tillage. Strawberry cover did not change vine transpiration during a summer water-stress event. Yield per vine and grape quality remained comparable with the uncovered treatment. Growth was strongest around the vines, while continuous cover reduced erosion risk, increased biological diversity and potentially improved vineyard resilience.