The Frozen Ground Rule
We lay turf successfully all through November, December, and January. However, if there is a severe, deep frost, installation must pause. You absolutely cannot lay turf onto frozen soil.
Why Frost is Dangerous During Prep
If the ground is frozen solid, it cannot be rotovated or leveled. More importantly, if you lay turf over frozen ground, the roots are resting on an ice block. They will suffer severe thermal shock and die. Furthermore, as the ground thaws, it expands and shifts, ruining the perfectly flat level of the topsoil.
What if it frosts after installation?
If we lay your turf on a mild Monday, and a hard frost hits on Wednesday, do not panic. Once the turf is safely laid on topsoil, it goes dormant to protect itself from the cold. The grass will be absolutely fine. The only rule is: Do not walk on the new turf when it is frozen crunchy, as this shatters the grass blades.