Lawn guide
Turf vs grass seed: which is better for a new lawn?
Both turf and seed make a lawn in the end. The differences are in cost, timing, effort and how soon you can use your garden.
Turf and seed compared
| Turf | Seed | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of materials | Higher | Lower |
| Looks like a lawn | The day it's laid | After a season or more |
| Light use | After about three weeks | After several months |
| When it can go down | Most of the year, unless frozen or waterlogged | Spring or early autumn |
| Weeds | Few: the ground is covered at once | Weeds compete while it grows |
| Birds | Not a problem | Seed needs protecting |
| Slopes | Holds in place well | Seed can wash off in heavy rain |
When turf is the better choice
If you want to use the garden soon, if children or dogs need somewhere to play, or if it's the middle of summer or late autumn, turf wins. It covers the soil straight away, so there's no mud and far fewer weeds, and it's laid in a day.
Turf also suits the North East climate well. A wet spell that washes seed away or a cold snap that stalls germination doesn't bother turf once it's down.
When seed makes sense
Seed is cheaper, and if you have time and patience it can make a lovely lawn. It's best sown in spring or early autumn when the soil is warm and moist. It's also good for patching small gaps in an existing lawn.
Keeping birds off seed
Birds love grass seed. Netting, a fleece, or strings with foil strips across the area help. Some seed is coated to make it less tasty. Sowing a little extra allows for losses.
The preparation is the same
Whichever you choose, the ground needs the same care: weeds out, soil broken up, levelled and firmed. Shortcuts here show up whether you seed or turf. See how we lay turf.
Common questions
Can I overseed new turf?
There's no need. Good turf is already dense. Overseeding is useful later if an established lawn gets thin.
Is turf harder to look after than seed?
Not really. Turf needs regular watering for the first few weeks; seed needs watering and protecting for longer.