Winter may be upon us, but thanks to our great climate getting a new lawn in winter isn’t the impossible dream our southern neighbours have. Here is our annual guide to laying turf in winter.
Why is a new lawn in winter possible in SEQ?
Jimboomba Turf services customers from Gympie in the north to Coffs Harbour in the south. This entire region is part of the sub-tropical zone that stretches down the Australian east coastline.
Being part of the sub-topical zone means there is a mild climate all year round with few frosts. With a mild and generally dry winter a new lawn in winter is not just possible in our region, but has some advantages too.
Winter advantages
The biggest advantage for getting a new lawn in winter is just how much easier the job is. Between preparing the surface and laying the turf, there is a lot of work that goes into a great new lawn. Performing all this work in the hot summer sun makes it quite a sweaty task. Getting a new lawn in winter avoids that making the work much easier.
It’s not just avoiding the heat of the sun that helps, there is far less pressure when laying turf in winter as the turf stays fresh longer. You should always lay turf as soon as it arrives, the less time it spends on the pallet the better. But in summer the clock is always ticking with the pallet getting very hot very fast. Cool winter days mean that turf stays fresh longer, and you can lay the turf at a far more relaxed pace.
One last great advantage of getting a new lawn in winter is the water required during the establishment period. During establishment your lawn gets all of its moisture from the leaf, so you need to keep the water up to it. In summer a lot of that moisture evaporates robbing your new lawn of precious water. By getting a new lawn in winter you will use a lot less water during this period.
Winter precautions
The most obvious problem with a new lawn in winter is a longer establishment period. While normally your lawn will have thrown roots down in around 2 weeks in summer, in winter it will be around double that. This means an important precaution is to hold off on that first mow a little longer, and keep lawn traffic to a minimum during this period.
While we always recommend a starter fertiliser to give your new lawn a great start, winter is even more important. With grasses often in a state of dormancy a starter fertiliser will help encourage the early growth required for establishment.
And since it is winter that means it is time for winter weeds. So another precaution is to be extra vigilant when it comes to your preparation and removing any existing weeds, and looking out for new weeds popping up in your new lawn. Alternatively, you could see our team in the office and use a pre-emergent like Oxafert to stop weeds as they come up.
So put on your ugg boots and get to work now, then your lawn will be established and ready to shine come spring!
To get some more advice on how to install a new lawn in winter call our team on (07) 3114 8281. You can also to pop in and order in person at our sales office on 1/243 Bradman Street, Acacia Ridge. The office opens Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm and Saturday 7am to 12pm.
For more great turf, tips keep an eye on our website and all our social media channels.
