Autumn and spring are ideal — the ground is warm enough for roots to establish and there's usually enough natural rainfall. Turf can be laid at other times, including summer, but summer turf needs a serious watering commitment from you, and mid-winter frost will stop us. If your timeline is flexible, autumn is the easiest time to get a lawn away.
More than most people expect. New turf needs consistent, generous watering for the first few weeks while it roots into the soil beneath — daily in warm weather, and a proper soaking rather than a light sprinkle. This is the single biggest factor in whether a new lawn succeeds. We'll leave you clear instructions, but the honest answer is that a new lawn is a commitment for its first month.
Keep off it as much as possible for the first two to three weeks while it roots. You can usually tell it has rooted when you can't lift a corner. Light foot traffic after that. Dogs are the harder question: they'll want to run on it immediately, and paws on unrooted turf will tear the seams. If you've got an enthusiastic dog, it's worth planning a temporary route around the lawn for the first few weeks.
