Wild Strawberry Ground Cover Lawn Replacement Kit

This ground cover starter kit includes 128 young plants, which you can plant at a spacing of 4-6" (closer spacing = faster coverage, wider spacing = more economical/more sqft covered, but takes longer to fill in). A spacing of 4" will cover about 14 sqft, a spacing of 6" will cover about 32 sqft. As an alternative to grass, Strawberry as a ground cover will require no mowing, no fertilizer or herbicide, and is drought tolerant once established.

Wild Strawberry is an ornamental perennial ground cover that makes an excellent lawn replacement. It can withstand moderate foot traffic once it get's established, it tolerates dry soil and requires no additional water, fertilizer, or mowing, and supports pollinators. Strawberry spreads via runners, and will rapidly fill in a large area of ground and is not picky about soil, doing well almost anywhere that gets full sun to partial shade. Pretty white flowers in the spring are followed by tiny sweet fruits hidden under the leaves, just 1/2" diameter, and come fall the leaves turn a vibrant red color. After planting, make sure to water regularly and avoid walking on your new lawn for 12 weeks, but once it is established it will be very drought tolerant and can withstand moderate foot traffic.

Includes 512 young plant starts, each plant is about 3/4" in diameter and 1" deep. The plant height is usually about 1/2." Because with this volume of young plants sometimes there are some empty cells or plants that are damaged in transit, we only charge for 500 plants to account for the possibility that some of the plants may be duds. When planning your lawn, count on 500 plants to play it safe!

Plant Info

Botanical Name	Fragaria virginiana
Height	4-7" when full grown
Spacing	4-12" between plants (each plant will reach about 12 square inches when fully grown. Plant closer together to achieve full coverage faster)
Light	Full sun or part shade
Zone	Perennial zones 4-9
Kids & Pets & Deer	Edible and deer resistant
Climate	Cold hardy and heat tolerant
Water	Drought tolerant
Indoor & Pots	Grows outside as groundcover

Growing Info

How to Plant	Remove existing weeds, grass, and plants in your new planting area (this can be done by smothering the area or turning it over). Now tuck your plant in so the base of the stem is even with the top of the hole, and give the soft ground around the base of your small plant a few solid pats to compress the soil onto the roots, and a long, gentle drink of water
Where to Plant	Find a place that gets mostly sun, or part shade
When to Plant	Avoid the heat of the day when planting — plant in the early morning, late afternoon, or by the light of the moon. Plant outside after your average last frost in the spring, or in the fall
When to Expect Blooms	We're here for the foliage. Tiny white flowers in the spring and summer
Care Instructions	Water regularly for the first year, and avoid foot traffic for the first 12 weeks after planting. Once established, your Wild Strawberry lawn is drought tolerant and can handle a moderate amount of foot traffic. Prepare the site by removing weeds and grass before planting, and weed each spring
Extra Credit	Tiny strawberries will appear in sunny spots in the summertime, which are very popular with bunnies