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A Busy Half-Term at Oakley Turf Farm

During the recent February half-term, the Oakley Turf Farm children rolled up their sleeves and got to work, helping us refresh the outside area of our office. Their efforts were focused on our new range of planters, now available on our website. These planters, filled with our signature raised bed soil mix, are a testament to the quality and craftsmanship we pride ourselves on.

Our Raised Bed Soil Mix is a perfectly balanced blend of 70% premium topsoil and 30% compost. This mix is specifically designed to provide your plants with essential nutrients while retaining moisture to support robust root structures. Screened down to 10mm, it includes added grit for excellent drainage, making it ideal for raised beds. Plus, it’s dry stored to ensure consistency and quality.

Benefits of Our Raised Bed Soil Mix

  • Nutrient-Rich Composition: The compost supplies essential nutrients while the topsoil aids in moisture retention.
  • Optimised for Drainage: Screened with added grit to prevent waterlogging.
  • Versatile Use: Perfectly suited for raised bed gardening.
  • Long-Lasting: Dry stored for enhanced longevity.

Our planters are more than just containers; they are a fusion of durability and have the wow appeal! Each one is handcrafted by experienced joiners in the UK, ensuring a product that stands the test of time. Constructed from dry wood and treated with a high-quality preservative, these planters are designed to enhance the beauty of your garden for years to come.

Main Benefits of Our Planters

  • Expert Craftsmanship: Handmade in the UK by skilled joiners.
  • High-Quality Materials: Built from dry wood and protected with premium wood preservative.
  • Quality Assurance: Undergoes pre-shipment inspection for guaranteed satisfaction.
  • Elegant Design: Features a stunning appearance with a ready-made liner inside.
  • Can be shipped throughout the UK

Explore our website to discover these planters and more, and see how Oakley Turf Farm can help transform your garden with our superior products.

Planters

Raised Bed Soil Mix

Oakley Turf Farm Home Page

OTF Facebook Page

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Perfect Partner Found For Your Raised Beds!

If your looking to enhance your raised beds, we have the perfect partner for  them.  We’re excited to share with you why our Raised Bed Soil Mix is the ultimate choice for your gardening needs.

Our Raised Bed Soil Mix is screened down to 10mm which makes it easily rakeble, it also has added grit for drainage. It has the perfect combination of 70% topsoil and 30% compost, plus its dry stored all year round!

Nutrient-Rich Composition

Our Raised Bed Soil Mix is designed to provide your plants with the essential nutrients they need to thrive. Packed with a balanced blend of organic matter, it supports robust plant growth and high yields.

Optimal Drainage

Good drainage is crucial for healthy plants, and our soil mix ensures just that. The combination of the topsoil and compost  prevents waterlogging, which can harm roots, by allowing excess water to drain away while retaining enough moisture for plant needs.

Improved Soil Structure

The mix enhances the soil structure within your raised beds, providing a stable environment for root development. This stability helps your plants establish a strong foundation, leading to healthier and more productive growth.

Versatile Usage

Whether you’re growing vegetables, herbs, or flowers, our Raised Bed Soil Mix is versatile enough to accommodate a wide variety of plants. It’s crafted to meet the diverse needs of your garden, making it an all-in-one solution.

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Laying Turf During the Winter Months

Spring is a great time to lay a new turf lawn

Laying Turf During the Winter Months
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.

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It’s ok to lay turf in warmer months – but make sure you read our blog first!

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.

How to Prepare, Lay and Care for your Oakley Turf

 

10 Steps for Watering Newly Laid Turf

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TURF PRE-ORDER CHECKLIST

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

https://www.oakleyturf.com/garden-advice/how-to-lay-turf/

https://www.oakleyturf.com/garden-advice/10-steps-for-watering-newly-laid-turf/

If you have any turf questions, please email them to us at turf@oakleyturf.com – our experts will be able to help you!

 

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Kids Nature Retreat

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.

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It’s Time To Add Mulch To The Garden

This month we are putting the spotlight on horticultural grit and the benefits it has in the garden.

Mulch: Mulching your garden beds can help retain moisture in the soil and regulate soil temperature.

Our customers love our decorative mulch – Horticultural Grit.

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!

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Keep The Nutrition Going

 

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.

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Which Bark Do You Need?

Now that the children have gone back to school, now is a great time to start working on your garden again.

If you’re looking to save time and money in the garden our bark is one of the best ways to get your garden looking tidier and better kept.

Did you know that bark is a mulch and when spread around and between plants, it helps to enrich and insulate the soil.

This means our barks help weed suppression by stopping the daylight from reaching the ground and in turn helps with water retention.

With our bark you simply spread the amount required across the desired area then rake it into place – no digging needed!

✅Handy Tip – if you do have any weeds in the ground, make sure you take them out by hand before spreading the bark.

 

We have a variety of different types of bark to suit your needs.

 

🌲 Bark Chippings

Is our go to product when a customer has a larger area to fill, or they prefer the look of a chunkier bark.

🌲 Fine Boarder Bark  and Decorative Bark

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.

 

Happy Gardening!

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HELLO SUMMER!

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.

 

Happy Gardening!