Hello; This plant is taking over my flower garden and I’m hoping you can help with how to kill it. It’s spreading everywhere. I live near Peterborough, Ont. if that helps. Thanks
Dear gardener, thank you for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners with your question.
What you have growing in your garden is wild strawberry. The leaves are showing signs of nutrient deficiency and there are insect holes which are signs that the plant is being eaten. The plants are not healthy and this may be the reason why you have not seen any fruit.
The “mother plants” send out stolons (the runners) with new “babies” at the end of them, and that is how they spread so efficiently. The mother plant eventually dies and the new plants become the primary.
Clearing and cleaning a bed of any species you do not want, including strawberries or grasses, is a reasonably straightforward process. That being said, it is a lengthy and not necessarily attractive process. It is called solarization. All plants need light for photosynthesis, water and nutrients. This process deprives your strawberries of all three. You cover the garden bed with clear plastic for about eight weeks. Doing the process now in the heat of summer would be a good idea. Consider placing attractive plant containers on top of the plastic with plants that you do like.
For more information about how to go about solarizing your garden bed, please read this previous Toronto Master Gardener submission:
Just a last thought: Before you plant your garden bed with new plants, please enhance the bed with fresh, rich top soil or compost to ensure your new plants do not suffer from nutrient deficiencies.
I hope your process goes well. Happy gardening.