Strawberries: Pests & Diseases
Strawberries are rewarding in beds, raised planters, hanging baskets and pots, producing fruit from late spring into summer. They need sun, fertile free-draining soil and regular watering while flowering and fruiting. Healthy plants with clean, dry fruit are far less likely to suffer serious pest and disease problems.
Common pests
Birds can strip ripening berries quickly, especially blackbirds and thrushes. Slugs and snails chew fruit resting on the soil and leave tell-tale slime. Vine weevil larvae eat roots, most noticeably in pots, while adults notch leaf edges. Aphids distort young growth and may spread viruses. Red spider mite can cause pale speckling and fine webbing, particularly on dry plants under cover.
Common diseases
Grey mould, also called botrytis, is the chief problem in wet or poorly ventilated conditions, turning fruit soft and fuzzy grey. Powdery mildew produces a white coating and may curl leaves. Verticillium wilt can stunt plants and cause older foliage to collapse. Leaf spot creates dark, often purple-edged marks and can weaken plants if affected leaves are left in place.
Prevention
Grow strawberries in full sun with good air movement, spacing plants so leaves dry quickly after rain. Put clean straw, mats or supports beneath developing fruit. Use healthy stock and resistant varieties where available, avoid planting into ground recently used for strawberries or related crops, and do not overwater. Remove runners unless needed for new plants. Replace the planting every three years and keep beds clear of old leaves and fallen fruit.
Non-chemical control
Net crops before fruit colours, securing the edges so birds cannot enter. Hand-pick slugs and snails at dusk and lift fruit clear of the soil. Remove mouldy berries promptly into household waste. Pick off aphid colonies or wash them from sturdy shoots with water, and encourage hoverflies, lacewings and ladybirds. Apply biological nematodes for vine weevil larvae when soil is warm and moist, following the supplier's timing guidance.
What to look for
From flowering onwards, inspect plants twice weekly. Check beneath leaves for aphids, red spider mite speckling and vine weevil notches, and examine pots for wilting that suggests root damage. As berries ripen, look daily for bird pecks, slime trails and soft grey mould, removing affected fruit immediately.
Tips
Water at soil level in the morning and harvest ripe berries often. Keep netting raised above plants where possible, so birds do not reach fruit through it. After the final crop, tidy old foliage and label vigorous, healthy runners if you intend to renew the bed.
Strawberries pests & diseases: frequently asked questions
What are the common pests of strawberries?
Birds can strip ripening berries quickly, especially blackbirds and thrushes.
What diseases affect strawberries?
Grey mould, also called botrytis, is the chief problem in wet or poorly ventilated conditions, turning fruit soft and fuzzy grey.
How do I prevent pests and diseases on strawberries?
Grow strawberries in full sun with good air movement, spacing plants so leaves dry quickly after rain.
General guidance for UK home gardens, focused on prevention and non-chemical control. The RHS or a local garden centre can help with tricky cases. Page updated 18 Sep 2026.