Using in substrates superabsorbents, also called hydrogels, contributes to considerable savings of water. Lawn turf quality depends largely on frequency of watering, having the effect on financial savings while incurring expenses connected with management of turf lawns. The aim of this study was to assess wintering of different turf lawns depending on the depth of placing hydrogel in the substrate and the type of soil cover. The study was conducted based on two field experiments established in three replications, carried out in the split-plot design. The experimental unit was a plot of an area of 1 m². The treatment of first experiment was a monoculture lawn, where four species of lawn grasses were studied in pure sowing. In the second experiment four designed mixtures of the same grass species were used. In each mixture one grass species was sown as dominant (40%), and the other three species accounted for 20% each: M1 – 40% of perennial ryegrass; M2 – 40% of red fescue; M3 –40% of Kentucky bluegrass; M4 – 40% of fine bent grass. The following experimental factors were used in each experiment: type of substrate: a) without hydrogel „0” –control; b) with addition of hydrogel placed at a depth of: 5, 10 and 15 cm; soil cover: a) arable soil (P), b) garden peat (T). Monoculture turf of perennial ryegrass and red fescue wintered best. Mixtures with domination of both grass species also were characterized by better wintering. Degree of turf wintering was determined by the type of soil cover; the best wintering, irrespective of the type of lawn, was provided by placing hydrogel in the substrate at a depth of 5 and 10 cm.

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