I live in zone 6...northern Mass. In late fall I piled about 3 inches
of hay on top of my everbearing strawberries...1st years.

We have been having some warm days and I started to notice new growth
so I removed the hay and started airating the soil. They get about 8
hrs of late morning/afternoon sun. I figured that if they were left
covered and the weather was warm they would either rot under the damp
hay or it would become a great breeding ground for fungus and other
insects.

However now I'm wondering if mid-April was way to early to uncover
them and if I just should have parted the hay around the plants during
the day and cover them back up at night. Since this is my first
Spring with them I'm sort of learning as I go. Any advice would be
greatly appreciated.