Laying turf in this summer weather

ReflexReaction

I know it's not ideal to be laying turf in the height of summer, but alas this is the situation I am in!

I am laying turf tomorrow. The ground has been rotivated a week ago, and since then leveled. I put down some B&Q pre-turf fertiliser pellets yesterday and watered most of the garden last night. I will water it again tonight ahead of tomorrow.

The garden is big - 260sq meters, and watering with the sprinkler means moving it 4-5 times! Also, the garden gets sun for the majority of the day (from about 7am through to about 8pm)

My question is, I have heard contrasting information:

• Water heavily early in the morning (4-5am), while the ground is in shade. Water less heavily in the evening (9-10pm)
• Some people say to water through the day, others say it does more damage than good / is pointless. This reduces rotting over night?

It's going to be near impossible for me to spend an hour or two watering the garden through the day (as we both work).

Any advice on water newly laid turf in the summer sunny days? How long should I be watering heavily twice a day for?

Thanks!

RR

Ash_McCloud

I think the reason for watering in the morning it that that's when the grass starts growing each day. You're not going to do any great harm by watering it at night, lots of people with newly laid lawns work through the day.

You want to be watering it so that the soil's wet a good few inches below the turf. Don't be afraid to roll back a bit of turf and poke a screwdriver into the ground to see how far down you've got, although obviously you'll stop doing this when the turf starts to root into the soil.

Whilst we're enjoying this very un-British spell of weather then it'll help if you can water the lawn little and often, as well as giving it a good soak at the end of the day.

And if you're laying at this time of the year then you should probably be prepared to keep watering it right into Autumn, depending what Mother Nature sends our way. Good luck!

wallbash

I am laying turf tomorrow.

What rotten timing .

Start watering as soon as you have laid a few yds , don't wait until you have finished.

watering with the sprinkler means moving it 4-5 times!

And you don't want to be walking on the grass , so start the sprinkler on the far side of the lawn , and when required pull the sprinkler towards you.

How long should I be watering heavily twice a day for?

For the size of your lawn , moderate water pressure you are going to be watering for a couple of hours EVERY day .

ReflexReaction

Thanks for your reply - it's refreshing as I was kind of expecting to hear:

"If you don't water it 24/7 in this heat it's going to die".

The garden is going to take over an hour (maybe 2) to water, so I was worried I was going to get into serious trouble!

I hope that a good few hours water in evening and morning will keep it from drying out through the day...

ReflexReaction

wallbash wrote: »

What rotten timing .

Start watering as soon as you have laid a few yds , don't wait until you have finished.



And you don't want to be walking on the grass , so start the sprinkler on the far side of the lawn , and when required pull the sprinkler towards you.



For the size of your lawn , moderate water pressure you are going to be watering for a couple of hours EVERY day .

Thanks - I'm prepared for this, just! Out of interest, the sprinklers don't cover the whole width of the garden so I am going to have to walk on it a bit. Is it REALLY nessicary to use scafholding boards? Or will a bit of light walking be ok?

wallbash

Not walking is ideal , but life is never straight forward . Boards reduce weight , but are really awkward, If you must .... you must !

ReflexReaction

Thanks wallbash - I really hope I don't waste £800 of turf It must be possible to get a lawn healthy in this kind of weather - what do they do in Las Vegas!

rochja

Countries which have the kind of sun we are currently experiencing tend to water overnight using timers. During the day [somebody is bound to tell me this is an old wives' tale] the water droplets on the grass act as magnifying glasses causing the new growth to burn off - ie rapidly turn brown. The biggest problem with under-watering is not death of the grass but shrinkage of the turf leaving you with an uneven unsightly mess even when the grass starts to recover

Leif

How about a pair of snow shoes?