Average cost to lay turf

Summary: How much does it cost to lay turf, average turf installation costs and average price of turf.

Laying a fresh, new lawn can turn a tired outside area into a perfect patch of green, whether it’s replacing a worn-out or dead lawn or creating an entirely new feature. With careful preparation it can be an easy job. A novice can expect to lay 50 square metres in 2 hours providing all the necessary preparation has been undertaken. Tools needed are very few: – a spade and rake for preparing the soil, a wheelbarrow for moving the rolls of turf around and a garden hose for thorough watering. Turf can be laid throughout the year, but frost and extended periods of hot weather are best avoided.

Average Cost

Factors to consider

When looking into laying new turf, any old lawn needs to be removed first and the site properly prepared. Preparing your soil before laying turf and the quality of the soil will make a huge difference to the finish of your new lawn. A soil improver can be dug into your existing soil to enhance the nutrient value and therefore the quality of the soil. Ensure the soil is of the correct depth. Too shallow and the roots of your turf will not be able to penetrate deeply enough to get all the nourishment it needs. Four to six inches is ideal (although the deeper the better) and this could have been prepared by making sure it is rid of stones, weeds and any other obstructions and also loosely turned over with by digging in with a spade. Heel down, rake over and repeat until you get a fine tilth. This helps the turf ‘stick’ to the soil. A couple of days before your turf is due to be delivered give the whole area a good watering so that the soil is damp to a depth of approximately 3″. Water, sunlight air and nutrients are all needed to create a top quality lawn. Three of these are given to the turf from the soil beneath it. The best soil will be one that helps your new turf root strongly, deeply and quickly. Poor soil could be enough to cause your beautiful new turf to die.

Before ordering your turf, you will need to measure accurately – taking into account any curves and irregular shapes. Up to 5% of turf can be lost in off cuts, so measure carefully. You may want to plan on paper – there are many online calculation tools that can be used too. There are generally two types of turf – meadow turf and seeded turf. Meadow is the cheapest to purchase and as might be expected from its name is cut directly from a meadow, so will contain a mixture of different grass (and weed!) types. It’s good for families as its hard wearing. Seeded turf on the other hand has been specifically grown with a known type of grass seed and can be matched exactly to the environment in which the turf is going to be laid – generally the more ornamental the grass the higher the price. Turf is usually delivered rolled up in lengths of 3ft x 1 ft x 1.5 or 2 inches.

Costs to consider

When contacting suppliers you should consider the following:

• Do they have a minimum order? (this is often quoted in square metres not price).
• Does the price for the turf include delivery costs? If not check what the additional delivery costs will be.
• Do they deliver on Saturdays or Sundays? Some firms are limited to weekday deliveries and unfortunately not weekends.
• Can you specify a time for delivery? Some firms will offer this for an additional charge.
• Does the price include VAT? It’s easy to be caught out with finding what looks to be a great deal, only to later realise you need to add VAT costs on top of the quote.
• How easy is it to access your property? Some firms will deliver directly to your garden but many will only deliver to the kerbside nearest your property.
• Do you need to be in when the turf is being delivered? Although turf can be delivered without a homeowner being present, often firms will require a signature as proof of delivery.

Your new turf must not be delivered more than one day before you plan to lay it. It is essential the turf doesn’t dry out, especially before it is laid. If weather conditions are hot, than ensure you keep the rolls of turf well watered.

Ultimately, costs are determined by turf quality and the volume required. Budget meadow grass turf may start at £5 per square metre whereas high quality seeded turf may range as high as £10-15 per metre. Costs are also a little lower in the North of England versus the South.

One final essential tip – for a lush green lawn, keep your new turf well watered for a least one month.