Can you lay new turf when the weather and ground are wet?
The weather in May can be quite unpredictable!
If you’re planning to invest in a new lawn you might be holding off until the weather is likely to be drier.
The good news is, you don’t necessarily have to wait!
How much does the weather affect when you lay new turf?
In winter the soil may be too frozen or wet for the turf to root and establish.
In summer there’s the risk of the weather being too hot and the soil too dry. The turf can dry out and become damaged, especially if there’s a hosepipe ban to prevent watering.
And in the height of both these seasons, the ground may be too hard to dig and rake to prepare it!
It’s helpful to lay turf when there’s some rainfall as this helps the roots establish and saves you from having to water it yourself.
So when is best? Can you lay turf when the weather is wet?
As a general rule, you can lay new turf all year round if the ground conditions are suitable.
There are possible pros and cons to laying turf in each season!
It’s generally considered that between autumn and late winter is the best time.
It’s fine to lay your new turf on a slightly rainy day. (Although it might not be much fun!).
Weather Warning!
BUT! If it’s raining heavily or has been for a few days, we would recommend you wait until the soil has drained.
This will prevent damaging the turf.
It’s certainly better for the turf to lay it on a wet day than in the middle of a heatwave!
And it means you don’t need to water it as much!
If new turf (or established grass come to that!) is allowed to dry out it’s likely to suffer and develop dry, brown and/or bald patches.
Not what you want to see on what was going to be your lovely new lawn!
So while there’s no ‘law’ about when is best, a mild day is best for the turf.
And it will be much more enjoyable for you!
What do you need to do first?
As with most things, preparation is key!
Make sure you’ve prepared your soil well for the best results!
Check out our blog on how to prepare for laying turf for some top tips!
Check the weather forecast prior to ordering your turf to see if it’s set to be too hot or wet to lay it.
If the weather’s hot, make sure there isn’t a hosepipe ban in your area as you’ll need to water your new lawn regularly!
If you’re unsure, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help!