Laying Turf in Winter
Can you lay turf in the winter? The short answer is yes, you can, but there are specific considerations you should keep in mind when laying your turf in the colder months.
From preparing your ground correctly to choosing the right grass, there’s a lot to consider when wanting to lay your turf in winter.
Preparing Your Ground
When laying turf in the winter, you should make sure that your soil is properly prepared. You will need an even, slightly damp base of topsoil that is high in nutrients to give your turf a boost.
- Clear your soil of any stones, weeds or general debris.
- If your soil is quite waterlogged, you should aerate by poking holes in your soil with a garden fork to encourage drainage.
- You should aim to lay turf on top of slightly damp soil to encourage the turf roots to grow into the ground.
- If you have any compost, now would be the perfect time to add some to your soil to enhance the structure and nutrient content. You can mix this into the top few inches of top soil, and then lay the turf on top of that.
Choosing the right turf is imperative when it comes to winter turf laying- you want a hard-wearing, versatile turf that will survive the winter months.
Our Rye Gold Turf is our customer’s top choice for purchasing turf in winter, as it’s our most durable, hard-wearing and aesthetically pleasing turf. The high percentage of Rye grass in the seed mix makes for finer looking blades and a stable rooting system, allowing the turf to withstand heavy foot traffic and less than ideal conditions, such as colder climates and slightly more shaded areas.
Online Turf Customer’s winter garden transformation using Rye Gold Turf.
Online Turf Customer’s winter garden transformation using Rye Gold Turf.
Online Turf Customer’s winter garden transformation using Rye Gold Turf.
Online Turf Customer’s winter garden transformation using Rye Gold Turf.
Laying Turf in Winter
For advice on how to lay turf, you can follow our step-by-step guide. Regardless of the season, the technique for laying turf stays the same but there are some things to consider if you’re laying in the wintertime.
You should not lay turf if there is snow or ice on the ground. If the ground is frozen, it makes it extremely difficult for the roots to grow into the ground. You should wait for the soil to thaw and ensure there is correct drainage before laying the turf.
Install your turf on areas that get the most winter sunlight. As a natural living product, turf needs sunlight to live. Especially during the winter, turf needs to be receiving as much sunlight as possible to be able to survive & thrive.
When ordering turf during the winter, it may initially appear dormant and less vibrant. Once laid, however, and as the turf starts to root, you will notice the turf settle in and look healthier. This may take some time during the winter, so be patient and continue to provide adequate care to allow your turf time to stabilise. It will then be ready to return to a vibrant lush green come springtime.
Aftercare
Once your turf has been laid, it’s important that you provide it with the correct aftercare for the colder, winter weather.
Turf may take longer to establish in winter, so be aware that you may have to spend extra time avoiding heavy foot traffic and monitoring the rooting progress.
You should water your turf adequately for the first few days to help it root in and not dry out, especially in colder weather. If there has been a lot of rainfall, you will not need to water your turf as heavily during the rooting in period.
