When Is the Best Time to Lay Turf in the UK?

Turf is best laid in mid-autumn, but you can lay it any time from mid-autumn to early spring as long as the soil is not too wet or frosty. The cool, moist conditions of autumn allow the grass roots to grow deep while the lawn above needs very little mowing or watering. The RHS advises against laying it from mid-spring to early autumn, because it struggles to establish in hot weather and needs repeated watering.

Why mid-autumn is the best time for new turf

Turf is best laid in mid-autumn. The soil is still warm from the summer months, which encourages the roots to grow quickly. At the same time, the autumn air is cooler and there is usually more rain, meaning the grass blades above ground stop growing so fast.

This balance of warm soil and cool, damp air is perfect for new turf. The roots establish themselves strongly before winter arrives, while the grass needs very little mowing or watering from you. Trade guides also rate autumn highly, generally September to November.

Because you use your garden less in the autumn, it is also easier to keep off the new lawn for the two to three weeks it needs to root.

Laying turf in spring and summer

Spring, running from March to May, is the busiest season for landscapers. The warming soil makes it an appealing time to start garden projects, and trade guides note that the soil is warm enough for roots to grow well.

However, you must be prepared for the extra maintenance required. Turf laid in early spring often needs extra watering during dry spells over the summer. You will have to monitor the soil closely as the weather warms up.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advises against laying turf from mid-spring to early autumn. Grass struggles to establish in hot weather and needs repeated watering, and turf that is allowed to dry out struggles to root.

If you must hire a landscaper for a summer turfing job, trade guides say you need explicit watering terms agreed in writing. You must ensure everyone knows who is responsible for keeping the grass constantly moist during the hottest months.

Can you lay turf in winter?

You can lay turf in winter, but only when the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. The RHS confirms that turf can be laid any time from mid-autumn to early spring whenever the soil conditions allow.

Frozen ground cannot be dug, rotavated or firmed properly, so the preparation that decides whether a lawn lasts has to wait until it thaws.

Waterlogged ground is equally bad for new grass. Walking on wet, muddy soil compacts it and ruins the structure, squeezing out the air that grass roots need to survive. If the winter weather is mild and the soil is workable, a landscaper can lay the turf.

Comparing turf and seed for your new lawn

The table below compares the timing, wait times and typical costs of laying turf versus sowing seed.

These are typical published prices for 2026, and local quotes will differ based on your garden and the groundwork required. You should always check whether VAT is included in your quote.

Seed is cheaper but slower to establish than turf. The RHS says the best times to sow a lawn from seed are autumn (September to November) or mid-spring (March to April). Early autumn is preferred so the seedlings establish before frosts arrive. Germination takes seven to ten days, but you will wait much longer before you can walk on it.

Preparing the ground ahead of delivery

The ground needs thorough preparation before any turf arrives. The RHS advises digging or rotavating the soil to a depth of 20 to 25cm so there is no compaction. This deep digging ensures the new grass roots can push down easily to find water.

You must remove all perennial weed roots during this digging phase. You should then work in well-rotted manure or compost to improve the soil structure and provide nutrients for the new grass.

The ground should then be left to settle for at least a few days, and ideally for five to six weeks or more. Letting the soil settle prevents the new lawn from sinking unevenly later on. After this settling period, the ground needs firming and raking to create a level surface. This timeline means the preparation can start well ahead of the turf delivery.

If you have light, poor soil, a general purpose fertiliser can be raked in at about 35g per square metre just before laying. Turf is a living product and must be laid within 24 hours of delivery if possible. If laying is delayed for more than a few days, unroll it, lay it out flat and water it if it is dry. Because of this strict window, delivery and laying must be booked precisely together.

A trader who carries away your old garden waste must be a registered waste carrier, and the public register allows you to check their details. If you are removing a large old lawn, you might want to look at how much garden clearance costs so you can budget for the waste disposal.

Watering and caring for a new lawn

Watering is the most important task once the turf is down. In dry weather, you must water regularly to keep newly laid turf constantly moist. During dry periods in mid to late summer, the RHS recommends watering every five to ten days. At other times, water every fortnight in dry spells.

You must always soak down through the turf. Wetting only the surface leads to shallow rooting, which makes the grass weak and vulnerable to drought. Some trade guides go further and suggest watering daily in dry weather while the turf is rooting, so agree with your landscaper which schedule to follow.

You must keep off the new turf for two to three weeks while the roots establish. Leave it completely undisturbed for the first few days to give the roots the best possible start.

When to mow a new lawn

You can mow your new lawn for the first time once it has rooted well. This is usually about three weeks after laying. You must set the lawnmower blades high for this first cut so you do not stress the young grass.

If you chose to sow seed instead, you should make the first cut when the seedlings reach 5 to 7.5cm tall, reducing them by only about one third. Autumn sown grass usually needs no further mowing until the following spring.

How landscapers price a turfing job

Landscapers price per project after a site visit. They will not give you an accurate price over the phone without seeing the garden first. The main cost drivers for a new lawn are:

• The total area of the garden.
• The groundwork and excavation needed.
• The levels and slopes of the site.
• Access, because everything carried through the house costs more.
• Waste removal for the old soil and grass.
• Drainage requirements.
• The materials chosen.

Access makes a huge difference to the final bill. If the landscaper has to carry every roll of turf and every bag of soil through your living room, the job will take much longer and cost more. Waste removal is also a factor when an old lawn has to be stripped and taken away. Design fees are usually separate, and larger jobs are paid in stages. Prices are generally higher in London and the South East. If you want to understand the budget for a larger project, you can read more about how much garden landscaping costs.

Common questions

Can you lay turf on top of existing grass?

It is not recommended. Proper preparation clears the old grass and weeds and digs the soil over to a depth of 20 to 25cm, so the new turf roots into loose, weed-free ground. Laying new turf over an old lawn skips that preparation, so treat it as a shortcut rather than a saving.

Do you need to use a new lawn fertiliser?

The RHS mentions fertiliser for light, poor soil. In this case, it suggests raking a general purpose fertiliser into the soil at a rate of about 35g per square metre before laying the turf.

How long does grass seed take to grow into a new lawn?

Grass seed germination takes seven to ten days in the right conditions. However, it takes 8 to 12 weeks before a seeded lawn is strong enough to be used. This makes seed much slower to establish than laid turf.

What happens if you have waterlogged ground?

Turf should not be laid while the ground is waterlogged, because working on wet soil compacts it. Wait for the ground to drain before it is prepared and the turf is laid.

Booking your landscaper and agreeing the details

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, all landscaping work must be done with reasonable care and skill. If the work does not meet this standard, the customer can ask for it to be put right or seek a partial or full refund. If something goes wrong and you cannot sort it out with the landscaper, Citizens Advice can help. Landscaping is not a licensed trade, so membership of a vetted body such as the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) or the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) is a good sign, though not a guarantee.

Citizens Advice suggests getting written quotes from at least three different traders before you choose a landscaper. You must ensure you receive a quote, which is a fixed price, rather than an estimate, which is a rough guess that can end up much higher.

You should ask for two to three recent references and check the firm's insurance documents. Once you select a tradesperson, you need to agree a written contract that covers the work, timings, clean-up, materials and payment terms.

Citizens Advice says you should keep any deposit to 25 per cent at most. You should pay by card rather than cash, as this offers better protection, and pay for larger jobs in stages. You must never pay everything upfront before the work starts. You might also be able to cancel within 14 days of telling the trader to go ahead or signing a written contract.

Be wary of doorstep callers offering cheap work or leftover materials, and of cash deals with no written specification.

Your next steps

Before you hire a landscaper for your new lawn, make sure you have covered these key points.

• Decide whether you want to lay turf for a fast result or sow seed to save money.
• Plan your project for mid-autumn or early spring to give the grass the best chance of thriving.
• Ask for three written quotes that state the exact excavation depth and detail the waste removal.
• Agree a written contract that includes watering responsibilities if the work happens in spring or summer.
• Check that the trader carrying away your old grass is a registered waste carrier.

Once you know when you want the work done and have a clear idea of the preparation needed, you can find a landscaper near you to arrange a site visit and a detailed quote.