The best months to lay turf in the UK are March, April and May. This is because the temperatures at this time are much more favourable for new grass as they tend to be mild. The increased levels of daylight and well balanced levels of moisture also make them the best months of the year to install turf in your garden.
The Best Month to Lay Turf in the UK
If you’re a DIY gardener, understanding the ideal time of the year to lay your new turf can be what leads to its ultimate success or failure. The expert team at BuyLawnTurf.co.uk have created this handy visual calendar to help you understand when you should, and shouldn’t lay fresh turf here in the UK.
- You should avoid laying turf at the beginning and the end of the year. Install new grass in from December, through to February isn’t advised as the conditions aren’t good enough to help it root, establish correctly or thrive.
- You should also look to avoid laying turf in the summer months, so from June through to August. This is because the temperatures are generally a lot higher and your new turf is at much higher risk of dehydrating.
- The ideal time of the year to lay new turf is in Spring and early Autumn. We recommend turfing in March, April and May. If you miss those months, your next best time would be September.
The Best Time to Lay Turf is in Spring (March, April & May)
We’ve mentioned it already, but if you’re looking to revitalise your lawn and garden, we recommend installing fresh turf in Spring. Installing during these months will give your new lawn the best chance of success due to a combination of perfect establishment factors that we’ll get into next.
The Benefits of Laying Turf at the Right Time of the Year in Spring
Newly laid turf needs a few things to come together at the same time in order for your lawn turf to succeed. This includes:
- Perfect Weather and Temperature Conditions – The temperatures in Spring in the UK provide grass with the perfect conditions to thrive as they are much cooler than Summer and other months of the year. The temperatures in these months really help the turf to develop strong roots without the stress hot conditions that could cause it to dehydrate. The slightly warmer and less compacted soil also enable it to establish at a much greater rate.
- Days are Longer and Lighter – During Spring, the average amount of daylight is higher. These increased number of daylight hours allow and encourage the turf to grow faster which makes it a great time of the year to lay turf. Come the summer months, your new lawn will be lush, vibrant and green for you to enjoy with your friends and family.
- Perfect Moisture – Despite the temperatures being more consistent, Spring does throw up the odd shower and wet period. However, this gentle and occasional rainfall acts as a natural irrigation system that really helps to support the root development of the turf.
Laying Turf in Summer (June, July & August)
So can I lay new turf in Summer? Well yes, of course you can. Technically you can lay turf at any point during the year, however, outside of Spring it becomes increasingly more difficult to maintain a new lawn and give it the attention it needs and deserves.
So yes, it’s possible to lay turf in Summer – but the increased temperatures and excessive long daylight will leave it exposed to the threat of dehydration, scorching and brown patches.
If you do decide to lay your turf in Summer, you need yo make sure that you water your turf regularly and we’d even encourage you to use a fertiliser or feed to give it a helping hand.
Laying Turf in Autumn (September, October, November)
Turf can be laid in Autumn, and outside of Spring, its the next best time of the year to install a new lawn with turf. If you are going to lay the turf in Autumn, we’d suggest you do so before October – September is the next best time of the year to lay new turf here in the UK as the conditions are similar to early and late Spring.
Laying Turf in Winter (December, January, February)
Laying new turf in Winter generally isn’t advised. This is because the weather conditions tend to fluctuate a lot – your lawn is exposed to extended periods of frost, the soil can become wet, muddy and easily compacted, which combined leads to much slower growth and root development. All of these reasons combined leave your new turf at risk of dying rather than thriving.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Shouldn’t You Lay Turf?
Avoid laying turf in Winter and Summer – these seasons throw up conditions at two complete opposite ends of the scale with one being excessively hot and the other being extremely cold. Both make it very difficult for grass to establish and grow quickly and healthily.
Can I Lay Turf in the Summer, Autumn or Winter Months?
Yes you can. But it’s best to avoid laying turf in these months for the reasons that we’ve discussed in this guide.
What are the Best Conditions for Laying New Turf?
The best time of the year to lay turf is in Spring – so from March through to May. These months provide the perfect conditions for turf growth and development due to the preferred temperatures, right amount of natural daylight and the level of moisture often found in the soil.
When Can I Walk on New Turf?
After you have taken the time to lay your new lawn, you should wait approximately 3-weeks before you start to walk on it and use it. For more advice and guidance on this, you can read our guide on how long you should wait before walking on turf.
