Can You Lay Turf in Winter?

Our top tips to effectively lay turf this winter. 

When you picture laying rolls of turf, you probably imagine a clear blue sky, warm weather and gorgeous sunshine – not a chilly December day. There’s a perception that spring or summer is the best time to lay turf. However, autumn is considered a better time. And winter? Well, it’s just as good a time as any! Which is excellent for busy landscapers looking to spread their workload. 

With proper preparation and care, you can achieve a lush, green lawn even in colder months. If anything, you have more time to lay the perfect lawn while the rest of your garden rests.  

In this article, we’ll cover the top tips for installing turf in winter, including: 

• Can you lay turf in winter? 
• Will frost damage my new turf? 
• How to lay turf in colder temperatures 
• How long it takes for turf to root in winter 
• The benefits of laying turf in winter 
• How George Davies can help you 

Is it Okay to Lay Turf in Winter? 

Absolutely! Winter is a great time to install turf and is often recommended by turf growers and landscapers. Winter garden care usually involves fewer tasks, so you can focus on creating a lush lawn. Furthermore, colder temperatures work to your advantage, as drought or scorched grass is less likely. During winter, the grass growth rate slows, so less watering is required, too. Better yet, the damp conditions provide an ideal environment for your turf to establish strong roots ready for spring.  

There are only two factors to consider when laying turf in winter: 

• Avoid frozen soil: Turf should not be laid on frozen ground as the solid ground will prevent the roots from establishing fully.  
• Timing: Choose a mild day and, ideally, a dry day – the soil will be more workable and less challenging for you.  

Don’t Panic if it’s Frosty! 

Believe it or not, frost isn’t damaging to turf. To have turf rolls freezing and defrosting is no different than if you were to defrost food items from your freezer at home. Frozen turf rolls can and do keep for a few days if needed and can then be laid as normal once thawed.  

Whilst you cannot lay turf onto frozen ground, frosty weather once the turf has been laid isn’t a problem. The advantage of cold weather is that before laying, turf rolls last longer than during the summer months. So you are under less time pressure to get them down. 

Order Your Winter Turf Today 

View our range of premium turf, all ready to be laid this winter: 

• Trident Turf
• RTF Turf
• Clover Turf  
• Wild Flower Turf
• Species Rich Turf
• Shade Tolerant Turf 
• Greens Turf 

How to Lay Turf in Winter 

Laying turf in winter is no different to any other season. The secret to a flourishing lawn comes down to proper ground preparation! Get this stage right, and the rest is easy. The bonus of laying turf in winter is damper conditions often mean the soil is softer and easier to manage. Also, once your turf is down, you may not need to water it as much if rain is forecast. For a complete step-by-step guide and video from George on laying turf, head to our turf laying blog. 

How Long Does it Take for Turf to Root in Winter? 

Turf can take a little longer to root in winter – around 6-8 weeks as opposed to 2-4 weeks in warmer months. As long as the ground has been correctly prepped, there shouldn’t be any issues. It’s important to note that grass growth is slower in winter, so although you won’t notice your grass getting taller, the roots will be working their way into your soil, building a robust root system that’ll enhance your lawn all year round. 

Things you can do to help your turf root in winter: 

• Keep the soil moist: Winter brings wetter conditions anyway, so you shouldn’t need to water too much. As long as the soil remains damp, your turf will survive. 
• Watch for water pooling: If we experience heavy rain, check your new turf for areas struggling to drain water. If needed, use a garden fork to spike holes into the ground and loosen the soil to aid drainage. 
• Leave turf to settle: Avoid walking or using your lawn while it roots – this is much easier in winter when you don’t want to be outside using your garden! 
• Feed your lawn: You can apply a winter lawn fertiliser to feed your new turf and help promote healthy growth. It’ll also provide a boost of nutrients to see it through the winter, ready for spring. 

When to Walk on Your New Winter Lawn  

Freshly laid lawns should always be left to settle for at least 2 weeks. In winter, we recommend at least 6 weeks. Because weather conditions typically tend to be wet or frosty, you want to avoid walking on your turf. Wet soil is soft, and foot traffic can cause dips and divots, resulting in an uneven lawn as it grows. Whereas frost hardens your grass and soil. Any heavy foot traffic could damage your grass and stunt its growth come spring.  

A couple of checks to see if your turf is ready to be used include: 

• Root test: Gently lift a corner of your turf. If there’s resistance, the roots have anchored into the ground. If it’s easy to lift, leave it for another week. 
• Visual test: The obvious check is looking at your lawn. If it has a thick sward, full coverage and bright green colour, your turf is settling in well.  

Top Tips for Laying Turf in Winter 

Handle with care 

Recently thawed turf can be delicate. Turf rolls may also become damp and heavy after defrosting, so lift, carry, and lay them carefully. Lay rather than drag turf into the correct position. If any rips or damages occur, simply press the relevant pieces into place. Once they’re established, they’ll knit together, and you won’t notice any difference. 

Check moisture levels 

Even though winter often brings rain, you can’t completely ignore the watering side of turf laying.  

Make sure the ground is damp before installing your turf and watered after laying. This will prevent your turf from drying out.  

Improve existing soil 

This is one of the most important factors when laying turf during colder months – poor drainage and compacted soil are two of the biggest hurdles. To achieve the best results, your soil should be damp but crumbly, not sludgy or too stodgy. You can always mix topsoil into the surface layer to help dry the existing soil.  

Remove fallen leaves 

No matter the season, your new lawn needs as much sunlight as possible. Winter brings with it windy weather and fallen leaves. Be sure to remove any fallen debris from your lawn to ensure it soaks up as much vitamin D as possible.  

Remove heavy snowfall 

Like leaves, snow can also block essential sunlight from reaching your grass roots. If there’s heavy snowfall after laying your turf, remove as much as possible. If left, melting snow could cause water pooling and encourage lawn diseases.  

For additional winter turf tips, check out our December Turf Tips blog to keep your lawn healthy throughout the colder months. 

What are the Benefits of Laying Turf in Winter? 

There are several positives if you choose to lay new turf in the latter part of the year, such as: 

More time for landscapers 

Landscapers are notoriously busy in the spring and summer. But by plotting some turf laying jobs in the winter, they have more time to thoroughly prepare the ground and roll out turf – creating a stunning, healthy lawn ready to use come spring.  

Give your turf the best spring start 

By laying your turf in winter, it has plenty of time to settle in and grow strong roots. It’ll be well-established and thriving when spring/summer rolls around.  

Reduce your spring gardening tasks 

With plenty of other gardening tasks to complete during the warmer months, having your lawn ready to go will be one thing ticked off the list, and you will definitely be thankful for that!  

Less maintenance 

Winter means slow grass growth, less mowing and less lawn trimming. The low maintenance element of laying turf in winter is a huge positive as you save valuable time and money – it’s a win-win situation! 

How can George Davies Help? 

Whilst you would probably prefer to stay inside with a cuppa, laying turf during winter really does have its advantages and removes a lot of pressure on you. There are pitfalls when laying turf at any time of the year, but if you understand and prepare for these, you won’t be caught out.  

If you have any queries about laying turf during the winter months, please contact our customer service team today, who will be happy to help. 

Extra Advice for Laying Turf 

• Turf Calculator Guide 
• How to Prepare Your Soil for Turf 
• Winter Garden Care 
• Can Fertilising Turf in Winter Help?