When can you walk on new turf?

Whether you are creating the perfect new lawn or a rich and diverse wildflower area, turf is a fast and effective way to generate instant and high-quality results in your garden.

However, to guarantee the best results, a degree of patience is needed after the turf has been laid. The first few weeks are critical to establish a healthy lawn and during this time, some simple care and attention is needed.

The most common question we are asked by our customers is “when can you walk on new turf?”.

In this blog, we explore how long you need to wait before walking on your new turf, why you shouldn’t walk on your new turf, how you care for newly laid turf and, crucially, what you should do if you accidentally walk on new turf.

So, when can you walk on new turf?

It’s important to try and avoid walking on turf for the first two to three weeks as you need to give the roots time to properly establish in the soil beneath it.

By leaving the turf undisturbed, the roots will be able to penetrate deep into the soil and this will ensure your lawn is long-lasting, durable, healthy and able to recover quickly after mowing or periods of stress or heavy use.

If you walk on the turf during these early stages, you risk disturbing the soil and the roots. This can lead to uneven growth, bare patches or, in a worse case scenario, permanent damage to the lawn or wildflowers.

This is why patience is key. For the best results, sit back and wait for your turf to properly establish.

When can you stand on turf?

While standing on turf brings similar risks to walking across it, inevitably you will have to stand on it at some point to either water it or perform other important tasks.

Ideally, you should avoid standing on the turf at all during the first week after laying it, after that, distributing your weight evenly is key.

After the first week, if you do need to access parts of the new lawn or stand in a specific area, distribute your weight by placing a wide plank or large wooden board on the lawn. By spreading your weight out over a larger area, you will minimise the risk of damaging the grass, wildflowers or soil.

In those first 2-3 weeks, this method should only be used when absolutely necessary and you should try to minimise the time on the lawn to as short as possible and as infrequently as possible.

How long to leave turf after laying?

The key to creating a healthy lawn is knowing how long to leave turf after laying before using the space. However, that timeline can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the weather, soil conditions, type of grass, etc.

As already mentioned, the general rule of thumb is to avoid putting any weight on your turf for the first 2-3 weeks but here is a helpful week by week guide:

Week One

During the first week, you should just be focussed on watering the turf thoroughly and regularly. The turf should be kept moist, but not waterlogged, to encourage root development. This is the most critical time for your turf and you should avoid walking or standing on the turf for this first week.

Week Two

You should be continuing to water the turf as needed this week but can start to reduce the frequency as the roots are now starting to take hold. You can check root development by gently lifting a corner of the turf to see if the roots are attaching to the soil.

You should still avoid walking or standing on the turf at this stage unless it is absolutely necessary.

Week Three

If the roots are now well-established, you can now start to walk on the lawn. Foot traffic should be light though and you must avoid any heavy use of the lawn.

You can also make your first cut of the lawn using a light mower on a high setting if the grass has grown enough.

Week Four

At this stage your turf should have established secure roots and you can start to use your lawn normally. It is still wise to avoid heavy foot traffic or placing heavy objects on the lawn for the next few weeks however, so your lawn has time to fully mature.

Why Can’t You Walk on New Turf?

In those first few weeks, new turf is extremely vulnerable to damage and this is why being patient is so important.

During this establishment period, the turf’s roots are slowly embedding themselves in the soil below and by walking on the turf, you will compact the soil and this makes it difficult for roots to penetrate deeply.

Soil compacted by walking, standing or heavy footfall can create a range of issues for new turf, ranging from poor drainage, weak growth and even susceptibility to diseases.

Similarly, excessive movement on new turf can cause it to shift or create bumps and hollows, creating an unattractive and uneven lawn. The edges of the turf slabs are at greatest risk of movement and damage when you walk on a new lawn and this can lead to poorly jointed seams or even gaps in your lawn.

The Importance of Proper Watering

We’ve already provided a comprehensive guide to watering new turf, but the importance of proper watering cannot be overstated.

During the first week, your turf must be kept constantly moist and you will need to water every day, ensuring the water reaches the soil beneath.

After this initial week, you can start to reduce watering cycles but keep a close eye on the turf moisture as you cannot allow turf to dry out completely.

If it does dry out, root development will be severely impacted and the grass will turn brown or even die.

On the flip side, be careful not to overwater your turf too. If you allow it to become waterlogged or puddles to form, it could lead to the roots rotting as they will be underwater with no access to any air.

What to do if you accidentally walk on new turf

As we’ve said, if you take care and precautions you can safely step onto your turf. However, accidents do happen and if you land heavily on the turf, drop a heavy object or damage the turf in another way – you can save the situation.

If you do have any damage, notice any indentations or spot the turf shifting, don’t worry, there are ways to repair it.

With damaged areas, gently lift the affected turf and then gently smooth out the soil beneath or loosen it again if it has been compacted. You can add more soil if necessary to raise the area if needed.

Once the soil has been restored and levelled, replace the turf and water the area thoroughly to encourage the roots to reestablish. It’s then important to avoid the area and treat the repaired turf like new turf, giving it plenty of time to establish and mature.

Conclusion – be patient

Turf is always going to deliver the best and quickest results when creating beautiful outdoor spaces but, despite it be an instant solution, patience will still yield the best results.

With a little patience and some care and attention, new turf will establish properly and this will result in a healthy, robust and attractive feature in your garden that will last for years to come.

By avoiding walking on your new turf, watering it regularly and preventing any damage in those important formative weeks, you will be rewarded with a lush green lawn or an abundant burst of wildflowers.

Another key consideration is making sure the turf you use is plastic-free. Many growers continue to embed turf with a plastic mesh as this can make it easier for them to handle. However, this plastic will slowly break down into harmful microplastics in your garden and can ultimately make their way into watercourses and the food chain.

Lindum Turf is campaigning for an end to the use of plastics in turf and all of our products are plastic-free.

If you’d like to see the various, plastic-free turf options that are available for your garden, click here.