The grass types grown for lawns in hot dry climates, are generally perennial species and varieties, suitable unsurprisingly, for hot dry summers. These species such as Bermuda, Zoysia or St Augustine grass, are often dormant during the winter, and if laid as turf too close to the onset of winter, will fail to root in time.

This is fairly well known, yet nonetheless, I'm often anxiously urged by customers setting up a garden in autumn to put down an "instant" lawn because they've heard that even if the turf has yet to establish roots, it should get through the winter, and then start to develop roots when the weather warms up in the spring. There is unfortunately enough truth in this opinion for it to carry weight and persuade people that there's no need to wait and to look at bare soil and mud through the winter. Actually there are excellent reasons for not laying turf at this time of year, while there is way of overcoming the bare earth issue as well. Firstly as to why I think turfing is a thoroughly bad idea, when winter is about a month away.

* As the grass has yet to root, it should not be walked on let alone used as a functioning lawn for playing, sitting and entertaining. This means that it just "sits" uselessly.

* Many perennial warm climate species lose their color under normal circumstances when the temperatures drop. Some like the Zoysia and Bermuda varieties often look like straw even in frost-free areas. So turf sod which is not even attached to the soil has absolutely no aesthetic value.

* Masses of winter weed seeds will germinate and grow in the "lawn" because the grass is too week to inhibit them. While weeds will inevitably grow in an established lawn as well, these can easily be controlled by the occasional mowing. Not so of course in the case of disconnected turf, and by springtime, the area is liable to be smothered in weeds, which in turn further retard the development of the new grass. Turf laid in the autumn is liable therefore to struggle far more than one laid the following spring.

* In warm, dry spells, common to Mediterranean winters, the rootless grass has to be irrigated, a criminal waste of water, when the sprinklers should be turned off completely for the duration of the winter.

So if you are planting a new garden in the fall, does it mean that the area designated for a lawn has to be bare and horrible for some four or five months? Happily the answer is NO! My suggestion is to make a temporary winter lawn by sowing seeds of a cool season annual grass. The seeds should germinate within a couple of weeks, and the area can be green and grassy after about a month. The winter grass can then be easily removed when it's time to lay the permanent perennial sod.

About the Author

My name is Jonathan Ya'akobi. I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984. I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners. I also teach horticulture to students on training courses. I'd love to share my knowledge and experience with you. So you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com