Lawn guide
Choosing turf for your garden: what to look for
Turf on sale varies a lot, from rolls grown carefully as lawn to rough field turf. Here's what separates good turf from poor turf, and why we only lay one: a good-quality, hard-wearing lawn turf that suits most gardens, families and pets.
Good turf and poor turf side by side
| Good lawn turf | Low-grade turf | |
|---|---|---|
| How it's grown | Sown, fed and mown as lawn from the start | Often cut from fields never meant for lawns |
| Look | Even colour and thickness | Patchy, with coarse tufts |
| Weeds | Kept weed-free while growing | Weeds tend to arrive with it |
| Freshness | Laid soon after it's cut | Can sit stacked for days |
| Wear | Recovers from play and pets | Thin patches show quickly |
The turf we lay
We don't offer a menu of turf grades. Every lawn we lay uses the same good-quality, hard-wearing lawn turf, and it suits most gardens: back lawns for football and the washing line, front lawns that need to look tidy, and gardens shared with children and dogs. We don't use or carry low-grade turf.
Why fresh, lawn-grown turf matters
Turf is a living product and is at its best when it's laid soon after it's cut. Lawn turf is grown as a lawn from the start: sown, fed, mown and kept weed-free for months before harvest. Rolls that have sat around for days, or meadow turf cut from rough fields, don't establish as well.
On a laying job, the preparation and labour cost the same whatever goes on top, so poor turf is a false saving. It's the part you live with afterwards.
Shade, dry spells and heavy use
Most of the time, the garden matters more than the roll. A lawn in partial shade, a sunny bank that dries out or a route that takes a lot of wear needs the right preparation and care. Our guide to turf laying for shady gardens covers shade, and the aftercare guide covers watering through dry weather.
Questions worth asking before you buy
- When was the turf cut, and how soon will it be laid?
- Was it grown as lawn turf?
- Is it the same quality throughout the order?
- Who prepares the ground, and what does that involve?
- What aftercare will the new lawn need?
Common questions
What is 'stadium grade' turf?
It's a marketing name rather than a standard. What matters is whether turf is fresh, grown as lawn and hard-wearing.
Can I choose a different turf?
We lay one turf: a good-quality, hard-wearing lawn turf that suits most gardens, children and pets. We don't offer budget or ornamental grades.
Is farm turf better than garden centre turf?
What matters most is freshness and whether it was grown as lawn turf. Turf laid soon after harvest establishes best.