When to prune depends a lot on the
Strawberry growth phase. You should avoid removing any healthy foliage before the plant starts flowering and fruiting as it can have a negative effect on fruit yield. With that said, you can remove dead leaves at any time as that will keep your plant healthy and ward off potential pests and diseases. Look for any leaves that are yellow or brown and have lost their glossiness. Leaving behind dead leaves can prevent air circulation, which can result in the growth of fungus(spot on leaf or mold on fruit). As your fruits start growing and ripening, keep an eye out for overcrowding. The more fruits there are on a plant, the smaller they will grow. Plus, too many fruits can lead to poor air circulation, which can lead to fungus. Removing some of the fruits won’t harm overall yield too much. Plus, most people will plant more than one for their garden. In fact, you should probably expect to have around 7 to 10 plants per person to ensure enough fruit during the season.