PROMOTION
THE ADVANTAGES OF
SOWING YOUR TURF
during the autumn season
Pictorial Meadows shares the best time to consider laying turf and reasons behind this
I
f you’re looking for a simple way to transform your project into a blossoming tapestry of colour this autumn, then look no further than our Pictorial Meadows™ turf. Pictorial Meadows™ meadow turf products provide a range of landscape solutions that combine flexibility, ease of installation and maintenance, along with unique combinations of beautiful and resilient plants to create colourful and sustainable garden landscapes. Autumn is the best time to lay our flower meadow turf. Here, we explain why. Easier ground preparation When laying turf, you will need to clear the existing vegetation from your site. You do this by hand weeding or digging. Clearing vegetation will be simplest in late summer/early autumn when herbaceous
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Pro Landscaper | November 2023
THE GARDEN ROUTE, ST AUSTELL
plants have yet to die back, and you can still see them. You will also find that the ground is more likely to be dry and workable. Stronger establishment Pictorial Meadows™ turf is a resilient product composed of a wide range of hardy perennial flowers, but we still want to reduce the risk of drying out before rooting. When we lay turf in the autumn, moist conditions mean that the turf roots will be able to supply the leaves with water,
while warm conditions will encourage these roots to move quickly into the soil and access deeper moisture. With any planting, the main aim is to reduce the impact of ‘transplant shock’. This means trying to reduce the chance of a plant drying out before its roots become able to find and supply water to the leaves. In the example of glasshouse raised vegetables, we gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions before planting on open windy sites where they could quickly desiccate. With trees, we water copiously in the first two years while their roots are growing out of the planting hole. Shortening days and cooling temperatures will limit growth and flowering, with many plants gradually moving into winter dormancy. This means that by the time spring comes around, the turf will have had at least six months to root before beginning to grow strongly and flower.
Widest range of turf Turf availability is lowest in summer while the season’s crop is still maturing and highest in autumn when the turf is first ready to lift and sell. We produce a variety of turf mixes suitable for a range of conditions. By ordering in autumn, you will always have the greatest choice. Time to lay your turf Ultimately, you can usually prepare ground, obtain and lay turf without irrigation until around mid-April in most years. We are, however, seeing increasingly hot, dry springs and the later you lay turf, the greater the chance you will need to irrigate. If you’re planning a turf project now, we suggest laying between the beginning of November and the end of December for the best results.
At Pictorial Meadows, we’re here to assist you every step of the way. Browse our range of designer meadow turf: pictorialmeadows.co.uk If you have any queries about your project or our turf products, please contact our friendly team online or call 0114 267 7635.
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