When Is the Best Time to Lay Turf

As darker days and nights draw in, the temperature turns a little cooler, the weather turns a little more wet and windy and the bright pop of colour that has adorned lawns, gardens and green spaces starts to change.

It is a sure sign that summer for another year has passed us by and Autumn is setting in. However, that certainly doesn’t mean it’s time to put maintaining them on the back burner. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

What month is best to lay turf

The general consensus is that the best time of year for laying turf is from around mid-Autumn onwards but before the harshness of winter. This will give you the best chance of success and will certainly deliver a better result than sowing seed, which may not germinate at this time of year.

This is because the ground shouldn’t be too wet by this point, and temperatures won’t have dropped to the extent that there is a likelihood of frost. As a result, there is still enough moisture, sunlight and heat for turf to grow.

One difference to bear in mind about laying turf at this time of year, however, is it won’t require as much mowing as turf laid at other times in the year, so it can largely be left undisturbed, giving it opportunity to settle and establish its roots.

Can I lay turf in Summer?

This is a question we frequently get asked as it stands to reason that, come the summer months and brighter and warmer weather, people are spending more time outdoors and in the garden.

It is then that people tend to think about sprucing their outdoor space up and making gardens and patios more attractive places to enjoy spending time with family and friends.

However, the late spring to summer months are not actually the best for laying turf as warmer and drier weather conditions mean it can be more difficult to get newly laid turf established. There are a number of reasons for this. First of all, there will be more need to mow and cut at this time of year and doing this can stress the grass plants and delay rooting.

In addition, there is a greater need to water the turf due to the summer months being warmer and drier. Substantial watering is absolutely essentially for newly laid turf and if you are on a water metre this could incur significantly extra cost.

Why is winter a bad time to lay turf

While winter maybe a time many people still like to get out in their garden, and there are certainly plenty of tasks that can be done, the laying of turf should not generally be high among them.

If the UK was to have an unusually warm and dry winter then it may be possible, but it is probably best to err on the side of caution. Frozen ground presents the risk that turf roots won’t establish, and they will be starved of nutrients from the soil beneath.

Also, once turf has been laid, regardless of the time of year, it will need to be watered and if temperatures are below zero, that water can freeze and turn to ice.

What should I do before laying turf

As much as the time of year for laying turf can be crucial, the preparation work that you do before-hand is also just as important, so before that Autumn window for laying the turf itself, you need to think about factoring in enough time to do those jobs that can make all the difference to the end result.

Make sure you have removed any debris prior to laying the new turf. That could be rocks, gravel, dead plants, weeds or even old tree stumps. The surface should be clean and levelled out and will enable the roots to establish themselves, develop and grow. It is also worth turning over the soil to a depth of around up to ten inches to make sure that is it not too compacted.

Depending upon the type of soil you have, and the light conditions, then it may be necessary to apply some fertiliser as well.

Other things to consider when laying turf

When your turf arrives, it is vital that you have taken the necessary preparation steps and that you are ready for it. Turf is a living plant and needs to be laid ideally on the same day as delivery. If it is left in storage, the roots will shrivel up and then the turf will eventually dry out and die off.

It is also crucial in those first two to three weeks after turf has been laid that it is kept adequately watered. You will need to water it every day, maybe even two to three times a day depending upon the weather conditions. If, however, you do get a good downpour, then this will save you a job. After the first few weeks, you can move away from watering every few days to once a day or every other day, as long as you continue to make sure that the roots are growing and your turf becomes well-established.

Make it plastic free

When you do buy turf, always ensure it is plastic free.

Some turfs are grown using a plastic mesh to help it stay together when being harvested. Unfortunately, however, that plastic mesh is then buried in the soil once the turf is laid and over time will break down into microplastics to pollute the local environment and even get into watercourses.

At Lindum Turf, we believe this practice is outdated and should be stopped. That’s why all of our turf is plastic-free or grown on sandy loam soil. By choosing plastic free, you’ll be able to enjoy your fantastic new lawn guilt-free, knowing laying it has in no way harmed the environment. 

To view all of our plastic-free turfs, click here https://turf.co.uk/all-products.