When Is the Best Time to Lay Turf in Lincolnshire?

The short answer: early autumn first, spring second

For most gardens in Lincolnshire, the best window is mid September to early November. The soil is still warm from summer, the rain is returning, and the grass has months to root before anyone wants to sit on it. Turf laid in this window usually knits into the ground within two to three weeks and needs far less watering than at any other time.

Spring is the second best choice, roughly March to mid May, once the soil has warmed up and is no longer sticky underfoot. Spring turf takes just as well, but it goes straight into the drying months, so be prepared to water through to June at least.

Why timing matters more here than in wetter counties

Lincolnshire is one of the driest parts of the country. Much of the county gets around 600mm of rain a year, and the east coast often gets less. Add the steady wind off the North Sea around Skegness, Ingoldmells and Mablethorpe, and new turf can dry out at the edges in a single bright afternoon, even in April.

Your soil plays its part too:

• Coastal sand around Skegness and Chapel St Leonards drains fast, so turf roots quickly but needs watering more often. Autumn laying is a real advantage here.
• Fen silt and heavy clay around Boston, Spilsby and Wainfleet hold water and can sit wet in late autumn and winter. Aim for September or October, or wait until the ground dries in April.
• Thin chalky soils on the Wolds near Alford and Louth dry out early in spring, which again favours autumn.

Can you lay turf in summer or winter?

You can, but both come with conditions. In summer the turf has to go down the day it is delivered, because rolls left stacked in warm weather heat up and turn yellow within hours. It then needs a thorough soaking every day, sometimes twice a day, for two to three weeks. If Anglian Water has a hosepipe ban in place, check the current rules before you order, because exemptions for new lawns have varied from one ban to the next.

Winter laying is fine as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. The turf will sit there looking green and do very little until the soil reaches about 6 to 8°C in spring, so keep off it completely until then. Never lay on frost, and never work clay soil when it sticks to your boots.

Getting turf to root, whatever the month

Timing helps, but preparation decides whether a lawn lasts. Most lawns that fail were laid on compacted ground with little more than a quick rake over.

• Dig or rotavate to around 150mm and remove stones, roots and old turf.
• Aim for 100 to 150mm of decent topsoil, firmed by treading and raked level.
• Lay within 24 hours of delivery, staggering the joints like brickwork and working from boards.
• Water until the soil underneath is wet, not just the grass. Lift a corner to check.
• Keep off it for two to three weeks, then give it a first cut on a high setting once you can no longer lift a corner.

What does it cost locally?

Good quality turf in Lincolnshire typically costs somewhere between £4 and £8 per square metre to buy, plus delivery. Having it supplied and laid, including clearing and preparing the ground, is often in the region of £15 to £30 per square metre.

The final figure depends on access, how much old lawn or rubble has to come out, and whether new topsoil is needed. A reliable quote should only come after someone has seen the ground.