Now the temperatures are beginning to drop, we often receive calls asking if it’s ok to lay turf during the winter months. The answer is always YES, as long as there isn’t a hard frost predicted before or after you lay your turf.
The turf has ample time to root deeply and establish itself before the arrival of spring, preparing it for active growth and use.
Cooler temperatures decrease the stress on newly laid turf, allowing it to adapt and grow without the extreme heat that can occur in summer.
Autumn and winter can be a great time to lay new turf because it won’t be used as much as if you laid it in the spring or summer.
Plus you probably won’t need to water it as much either. So good news all round!
All of our turf we supply is grown for local gardens in Essex and Suffolk ensuring it is perfectly suited for your soil and will give you a beautiful new lawn.
If you need any advice on laying turf you can email our team at turf@oakleyturf.com or give us a call on 01255 886096.
If your thinking about laying turf during the summer months and wondering if this is a suitable time of the year, do not worry we are here to help guide you in the right direction.
Sometimes we have to do jobs when we have time, rather when we would prefer to do them. You might read our social media posts and see that Spring and Autumn are the best time to lay turf. In reality we have such busy lives with work and family commitments that laying turf when we are told to isn’t always an option. With proper preparation and care, the summer months can actually be an opportune time to lay turf and achieve a lush, green lawn. Here are several reasons why summer months is a viable month for this gardening task.
Firstly, the warmer temperatures in the summer months are conducive to rapid turf establishment. Turf needs warmth to root quickly and efficiently, and the consistent warmer weather this month provides can help the new lawn to establish before the peak of summer heat. This is essential for the turf to become resilient and healthy, able to withstand both the rigors of summer and the challenges of the upcoming seasons.
Secondly, despite the drier conditions commonly associated with the summer months, these can be managed with diligent watering practices. It’s crucial to keep newly laid turf moist during its first 4-6 weeks, and while this might require more frequent watering than during cooler months, the payoff is a robust root system. Here at Oakley Turf Farm we always recommend our customers to use a a sprinkler instead of relying solely on a hose or spray nozzle.
Lastly, laying turf in the summer months can give your lawn a head start on growth and development before autumn. This allows you to enjoy a fully established lawn during the autumn. With the right lawn care, including regular mowing at the correct height, your turf can become a lush, inviting outdoor space perfect for relaxation and entertainment.
While the summer months can present certain challenges for laying turf, these can be effectively managed with the right approach. Adequate preparation, consistent watering, and proper lawn care can turn the potential disadvantages of the season into benefits, resulting in a healthy, vibrant lawn that enhances your outdoor living space.
Please take some time out to read our comprehensive guide to watering your new lawn and how to prepare, lay and care for your Oakley Turf.
Laying a new lawn is an exciting challenge as you will be able to see the benefits it will bring to your outside area. Here at Oakley Turf Farm we want you to help you on your way.
Below is 2 big rules to follow before you order turf.
1) First of all make sure to order your turf for the day you are ready to lay it.
We advise all of our customers to ensure the ground is prepared or in the process of being prepared for when the turf is delivered.
Our turf is harvested directly from the field and delivered straight to your garden. The sooner your turf is laid, the quicker it can start rooting into its new home!
2) We also advise our customers to ensure they have a watering system in place. To properly water your turf, it’s important to use a sprinkler instead of relying solely on a hose or spray nozzle.
For more in depth advice please take a look guides below
If you’re planning on a new children’s play area or planting area in your garden. Did you know you are starting your little ones on a nature journey?
You are setting out to create a safe and sometimes peaceful place in a natural environment where your children or grandchildren can enjoy themselves and explore the outdoors.
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If you have the room, we will always advise you to section off an area that can be dedicated to the children’s swings, slides, or climbing frame, etc.
✅ Top Tip – We would recommend putting a membrane down first as this will help to suppress weeds and makes the area less muddy in wetter conditions.
Then add our Play Grade Bark or Play Grade Chip on top.
A lot of our customers ask us what the difference between our play grade chip and play grade bark is. Well it’s quite simple really: as the name suggests our play grade bark is from the outside of the tree (bark) and our play grade chip is from the inside of the tree.
This means our play grade chip can also be used on pathways or for mulching.
Our Play Grade Bark is ideal, for the customer who is looking for a more natural colour.
As always, our Play Grade Bark and Chips are all certified to British Standard BS EN 1177:2008.
If your little ones our eager to start planting we supply an amazing raised bed soil mix. It is great for when it comes to introducing the wonders of gardening to young minds. Our mix has the perfect blend of topsoil and compost for little hands eager to delve into the world of gardening, whether they’re potting up their first plant or helping to tend a raised bed.
The mix promotes healthy root development and robust plant growth, offering a rewarding gardening experience. By using our soil mix, kids not only learn about the importance of taking care of the environment but also gain a sense of achievement as they watch their plants grow. It’s a wonderful way to introduce them to the responsibilities and joys of gardening, all while using a product that’s safe, reliable.
If you have any questions on any of our products, please do not hesitate getting in contact with us via turf@oakleyturf.com.
Our Horticultural Grit is particularly good if you have heavy clay soil. Clay soil is known for its fine particles and high water holding capacity, which makes it difficult for water to drain through it. When water cannot drain through the soil, it can lead to waterlogging, which can ultimately kill plants. Adding grit to the soil can help to create a more porous structure, as the coarse texture helps to break up clay soil allowing more space for air to flow and water to drain through.
Decorative mulch for beds and borders
Will help protect the root of the plants, enrich the soil and help to control weeds.
Potting
Adding our horticultural grit to your plant pots will improve drainage and allow more space for air to flow.
Its also great for filling joints between paving slabs!
As the winter season is upon us, I wanted to share ways of keeping the nutrition in your soil during the winter months. Nutrients are crucial to the health of your garden. Luckily here at Oakley Turf Farm we have some great soil improvers, and mulches to help keep your soil in tip top condition, ready for spring time.
Here are some tips to help you maintain the nutrient levels in your soil during the cold season:
Apply compost: compost is a great source of organic matter that can provide your soil with the necessary nutrients during winter. Applying compost in the winter will give it enough time to break down and release nutrients into the soil.
If you have acidic soil our organic mushroom compost is a great way of adding rich organic matter to your soil. It can improve weak soils, help break down heavy clay soils and improve water and nutrient retention. Due to its ph being alkaline it also works well with flowers, vegetables, herbs and shrubs, as well as being totally organic.
Sometimes gardeners find their best growth and highest yields stems from adding manure to their compost/soil mix. Animal by-products not only add essential minerals, but also a wide array of helpful bacteria to your garden.
Another simple way of adding nutrients to your garden is of course through creating your own compost from kitchen scraps, grass clippings, cardboard, etc. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, through creating a wormery.
If you have a smaller area to cover or prefer a smaller bark these two products are great for your project.
They are perfect if you have smaller plants to go around.
🌲 Play Grade Bark and Play Grade Chip are ideal for children’s play areas. Now is a great time to top up your children’s play area before the Autumn/winter weather arrives.
If you’re looking for a durable chip to use on pathways we always recommend using our play grade chip. This is because the hardwood chip takes longer to break down compared to our barks.
If you have any questions about any of our products, please just email our team at turf@oakleyturf.com and they will be more than happy to assist you.
The summer has finally arrived and we can’t wait to see what’s in store!
One thing we have heard is that this summer, is set to be hotter than last years, according to the Met Office☀️
Did you know that the meteorological calendar for summer covers the duration of June, July and August, or by the astronomical calendar it begins on the 21st June, a day referred to as the summer solstice. The summer solstice marks the point when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky.
Now is a good time to think about looking after yourself when you’re out in the heat in the garden.
Our top tips for keeping cool in the garden are:
✨Try and do your gardening in the early morning or late evening to avoid the hottest part of the day
👒 Always wear a wide brimmed summer hat to keep the sun off your head and face.
🚰 Have a bottle of cold water in an insulated bottle or keep your bottle in the shade.
⛱ Put all your tools in the shade when not using them.
Now sit back and relax and let Oakley Turf Farm do the hard work for you this summer!
With our moffetts (small forklift) we can easily deliver on gravel drives ways, slopes and narrow passages that a normal lorry can’t. If you have any delivery concerns when ordering just put your comments in the “additional information” section when at the checkout page.
🌱 We’d love to see your photos of your plants grown with Oakley Turf Farm soil improvers! You can email them to us or leave us a review or tag us on our social media pages.
When the sun is shining, there’s no better place to be than in your own garden.
Whether you have a cottage garden, a backyard or several acres, you can make the most of your outdoor space.
Now is the perfect time to give your garden that all-important spring clean. It’s not just indoors that benefits from a bit of TLC this time of year!
And it’s something the whole family can get involved with.
Clean & tidy
🍂 Little ones can pick up any dead leaves and debris left over from autumn and winter.
While older ones can get stuck into the weeding.
Give them a little added incentive, by making it a competition to see who can pull up the most weeds in ten minutes! The winner gets an ice cream!
Make do & mend
🔨 Fix anything that’s broken. Falling fences, the sagging shed roof etc. so everything is safe and in good repair for the coming year.
🖌️ Smarten up and protect fences and sheds with a coat of paint/wood treatment.
🧽 Clean the greenhouse inside and out, if you’re not using it yet.
Beds & Borders
🌲 If you haven’t already, add a thick layer of mulch to your beds and borders when the ground is moist.
It suppresses weeds by stopping the daylight from reaching the ground.
Mulch also creates a thermal layer in hot and cold weather and protects plant roots. So while it suppresses weeds, it actually helps your other plants to grow! 🌷
You’ll still need to weed every now and then. But nowhere near as often as if you don’t use a mulch layer!
🌲 Our specially-produced bark chips are great to use on your beds and borders. They aid weed suppression and water retention.
Plant the seed
🍓 Sow sweet peas and plant summer flowers, vegetables, and fruit.
Lawn Care
🌱 If your lawn is looking a bit worse for wear after winter – DON’T PANIC!!
As the weather warms up in spring, lawns are great at repairing themselves.
We recommend giving lawns spring fertiliser. This will help them bounce back to life and prepare them well for the year ahead.
If any bare areas don’t repair themselves, add a small amount of seed and water it in.
🌱 If you’re laying a new turf lawn this year, spring is a great time to do it.
It’ll have time to establish strong roots and be healthy and strong when you come to use it much more in the summer.
It’s a good idea to add a layer of topsoil before you lay your turf, to keep your new lawn in great condition.
