Why lay turf in the summer?
There are two main reasons for laying turf during the warmer months:

1. Your lawn is in dire need of a refresh!
Perhaps your lawn is more brown than green, has become patchy beyond repair, or has been wrecked by pests or disease. If it’s become an eyesore or even an unusable space, it can make sense to re-turf, particularly in the summer months if you’re planning outdoor events and social gatherings or simply want to enjoy relaxing in your garden.
2. Landscaping to a deadline
Professional landscapers often don’t have the luxury of choosing the season. Working to new build or renovation timescales means turfing whenever the project demands it. Summer may not be ideal, but it’s often unavoidable.
The key to successfully laying turf in summer requires taking into account the likelihood of higher temperatures and lower rainfall.

What to think about before laying summer turf
New turf can thrive in summer, but only if you take the right steps beforehand. Preparation is even more crucial in hot weather:

1. Soil preparation
Prepare the soil as you would at any other time of year:
a. clear old grass and weeds
b. dig over the soil to at least 15cm depth, and rake it level
c. it is very important to roll or firm the soil down before raking so the texture isn’t left ‘squashy’
d. Water the prepared ground thoroughly a day or two before turfing. This helps create a cooler, more welcoming environment for the new turf’s roots.
2. Timing is key
Avoid laying turf during the hottest part of the day otherwise the roots may dry out too quickly – and don’t lay in the morning then wait until the evening for the first watering. Ideally start watering the turf before you’ve finished laying, especially if it’s a large area: lay some rolls and begin watering while you continue laying. For smaller jobs you can just water once you’ve laid.
3. Shrewd ordering
Only order the amount of turf you can comfortably lay within a few hours. In hot conditions, stacked rolls of turf can quickly overheat and begin to degrade (read more about heat stress here). If possible and practical, arrange for multiple smaller deliveries rather than one large one.
4. Be weather-aware
Always check the weather forecast before placing your turf order. While a bit of sunshine is fine, a looming heatwave is not the time to lay new turf. If there are overcast days or cooler spells on their way, it’s worth holding off until then, if you can. However, a sudden heavy downpour could lead to muddy, uneven laying conditions. The basic rule is to try to avoid extreme conditions, dry or wet.

Aftercare – water, water, water!
Watering is the most critical part of summer turfing. New turf needs moisture to settle in and start forming roots in the soil beneath. In summer, that means watering generously, usually for at least the first two weeks. Don’t water in the hottest part of the day, choose early morning or evening. Make sure the water reaches the soil beneath the turf, not just the surface.

Avoid walking on the new turf until it’s properly rooted. This generally takes 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the weather.

Our summers now bring the risk of hosepipe bans. The good news is that newly laid turf can be watered during a hosepipe ban. This is only up to 28 days after installation but that should be enough to give the turf time to form roots and gain strength.

Laying turf in summer isn’t the first choice, but it’s perfectly doable with the right planning and attention. Whether you’re replacing a tired lawn or working to a building schedule, the key to success is preparation, watering and watching the weather. Get those things right, and your summer lawn can thrive just as well as one laid in spring or autumn.

One of the biggest and most obvious benefits of No Mow May is the boost it gives to pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Wildflowers like daisies, clover and dandelions often appear naturally in lawns when mowing is paused, providing an important source of nectar and pollen at a time when insects are becoming more active. In turn, a healthier insect population helps support birds and other wildlife higher up the food chain.

Encouraging wildlife can also have long-term benefits for the lawn itself. A more biodiverse lawn tends to be healthier and more resilient. Longer grass helps the soil retain moisture during dry weather, while deeper-rooting plants can improve soil structure and reduce compaction. Allowing a mix of grasses and wildflowers to grow can create a more balanced ecosystem that naturally supports lawn health, rather than relying heavily on watering or chemical treatments.

You may be surprised at the variety of wildflowers that appear. Along with the daisies and dandelions, you might spot Common Vetch, Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Storksbill. There are some rarer treasures, too; orchids, like the Bee Orchid or Green Winged Orchid, or the delicate Snake’s Head Fritillary.

No Mow May doesn’t have to mean abandoning the entire garden for a month. If you prefer a mown lawn, remember that even leaving just part of the lawn uncut can make a difference. You might allow corners, the end of the garden or less-used areas to grow longer. This creates a more natural look without making the garden feel untidy or unmanageable.

For those worried about how to tackle the lawn afterwards, the key is to avoid cutting it too short too quickly at the beginning of June. Long grass should be reduced gradually over a few cuts rather than scalped in one go, which can stress the lawn and leave it looking patchy. Start by raising the mower blades to the highest setting and remove only the top section of growth. Over the following weeks, the height can be lowered gradually until the lawn returns to its usual appearance.

No Mow May is a simple change that can have a surprisingly positive impact. Whether it is a full lawn or just a small section left to grow, giving nature a little more space during spring can benefit wildlife, improve lawn health and create a garden that feels more alive.

Key points

• Leaving even a small area of lawn uncut during May can provide valuable food and shelter for pollinators and wildlife.
• A more biodiverse lawn can improve soil health, moisture retention and the overall resilience of your grass.
• When mowing again in June, reduce the grass height gradually to avoid stressing or damaging the lawn.

If you have any questions about lawn health or need to order turf this spring, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always happy to help.