I planted strawberries last summer too, and didn't get them mulched at all. They stayed green all winter, whenever they weren't covered with snow. I think they must be pretty hardy. Funny though, my mom had a huge strawberry bed (we picked them by the pail (as in 4 gallon pails)... when I was a kid, and I don't remember them staying green like this.

Hi Carmellia -

Some years I cover the berries and some years I don't. I haven't seen a difference. I do, however, leave my asparagus fronds on all winter and when I clipped them (about now - if it stops raining!) I will cover the berries with them. It protects the flowers from late frosts. I pull it off about May 10th. This year who knows how they will do. On Tuesday I came out to see a heifer had gotten loose and was standing in the strawberry bed eating out the tops. C'est la vie...