How to lay turf to make a lawn

When you want a new lawn, laying turf can be a much faster solution than sowing seed, giving you an attractive result straight away. Turves can be used to breathe life into an old lawn, or create an entirely new one. 

It’s also relatively easy to do, and a good-quality turf will establish quickly on well-prepared soil, so you could be walking on it within weeks.

We've trialled turf from several different suppliers to assess quality, ease of handling and how well they held up several weeks after laying. Read on to see the full results, as well as tips on how to buy the best turf online or in-store.

Plus, we give you the step-by-step instructions on how to lay turf and best take care of it to keep it healthy and looking fresh.

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What is turf?

Turf is a roll of grass that can be laid on bare earth, where it will root and start to grow. It's a bit like carpet and is used to repair bare patches on existing lawns or to create a new lawn from scratch.

The best time to lay turf

Spring or autumn are the ideal times to lay turf as the soil is warm. Turf laid after mid-May might struggle to establish well if the weather turns hot and dry. If turf can’t be laid as soon as it arrives, unroll the turves green-side up and keep them watered.

Can you lay turf on top of grass?

For a flat, even finish to your new lawn, you should lift any existing grass or weeds and prepare the ground before laying your turf.

Preparing the soil

For the best results with your turf, you'll want to do the appropriate ground preparation beforehand.

• Prepare the area to be laid, preferably before the turf arrives, by clearing it completely of any weeds and existing grass.
• Fork the soil over to a depth of around 20cm and rake to a fine tilth that the turf can root into easily. A fine tilth has small crumbs of soil with no large clods of earth.

• Incorporate a pre-seeding/preturfing fertiliser into the soil at the recommended rate and rake it in. It’s sold by some of the turf suppliers and has the ideal mix of nutrients to help grass establish. Alternatively, use a balanced fertiliser such as Growmore.
• Level the soil, carefully eliminating bumps, with a large rake moved in different directions.

• Firm the soil by treading over it methodically with your feet close together, weight on your heels, and level it again with the rake, leaving it as flat as possible with no lumps or bumps.
• If possible, leave it to settle for at least a few days at this stage and then clear any weeds that come up.

Laying turf

• Starting on one side, bring the first turf over, think about which way it will unroll and place it so it fits squarely into the space. Unroll the first turf.
• Place the next turf along the short edge of the first. Butt the edges together as closely as possible while keeping them flat against the soil. Do this by lifting both turf edges and placing them together, then flattening them down. Lay the whole first row lengthways in this way.

• Use a plank to give you a straight edge as you cut the final turf with a half-moon tool to slightly beyond the required length to allow for any slight shrinkage.
• Working away from yourself, use a plank laid on the just-laid turf to stand or kneel on as you move on to the next row. The plank will help to firm the turf into the soil but you should also firm it using the flat side of a rake, paying particular attention to joins.
• Take the offcut from the previous row to begin the new row, so that the joins between the turves form a brick pattern. Lay the next full roll in the same way as you did for the previous row, making sure it is tightly up against the turves in the first row.
• To avoid ending a row with a small piece of turf, cut the previous piece laid so you can lay at least half a roll at the end.
• Use a fork or rake, if needed, to pull the turf closely over to the first row.

• Ensure all the turf is firmed onto the soil with no air pockets, and water it to help it settle. Use a plank when walking on the newly laid turf to spread the weight.

When to mow new turf

• When the grass grows to around 5-7cm, mow on a high setting. At this point, the line between the strips of turf shouldn’t be visible.

How to care for new turf

• Keep turf watered as needed during dry weather, especially in warmer months. Water thoroughly and evenly, but avoid watering little and often as this encourages shallow rooting. Your grass should take no more than a couple of weeks to root through to the existing soil.
• Keep an eye on edges and joins, which can start to curl if they get dry. Water those areas if you spot problems.
• Stay off the lawn completely for at least a few days to give it a chance to start rooting. You can walk on it after a couple of weeks, but heavy use (such as football games) should be avoided for a few months.
• Keeping turf growth strong helps prevent weeds establishing. Lawn food can be used once the lawn is established (after around 12 weeks), especially if there’s any discolouration in the grass.
• Broad-leaved weeds and annual meadow grass (which has boat-shaped leaves and flowers quickly) should be removed by hand for the first few months, then after with spot lawn weedkiller or weed-and-feed products.

The online turf suppliers we tested

All the online turf suppliers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Which? members can log in now for the full results and see our recommended suppliers. If you're not a member, join Which? to get instant access.

County Turf

Turf tested Greenscape Turf

Price £176.88 for 12 sq m

Harrowden Turf

Turf tested Jubilee Lawn Turf

Price £91.80 for 10 sq m + delivery (dependent on address)

Inturf

Turf tested Classic Turf

Price Quote on request. £136 for 10 sq m

Lindow Lawn Turf

Turf tested Eco Turf

Price £150.15 for 30 sq m

Lindum Turf

Turf tested LT7 Festival Turf

Price £137.40 for 10 sq m

Online Turf

Turf tested Budget Turf

Price £104.61 for 10 sq m

Best lawn mowers: Which? Best Buys and expert advice - keep your freshly-laid lawn neat and in top condition

How to buy turf 

Online

Ordering online for a home delivery is ideal if you need a large amount or don’t want to load heavy turf into your car, although you can collect from some suppliers if that’s easier.

The websites of the companies we bought from varied in their ease of use. Some have calculators to help you order the correct amount, and some require a phone call to place the order.

Delivery charges also vary widely and can add considerably to the cost, so take this into consideration when ordering your turf.

Most suppliers sell different types of turf for different uses and situations, such as shade and active families, so think about your needs before ordering.

Bear in mind that you may need to allow access for a large lorry, and that pallet deliveries will usually only be moved as far as the kerb outside your house.

In store

At garden centres and DIY stores, such as B&Q, you’ll find turf on a pallet in the car park where it can be easily loaded into your car. While some places may be able to arrange delivery, you might have to wait for this.

Our experience showed it’s best to phone ahead to check they have sufficient stocks of turf as it can sell very quickly. All the places we checked got regular weekly or fortnightly deliveries in spring, and were happy to tell us what day it was expected – one even offered to phone us back once it had arrived. This is ideal as you get fresh turf that has just been delivered.

The turf we saw mostly looked good in quality, although some was older and a bit dry. If you see stock that’s clearly been sitting in the sun for a while and looks dry, don’t buy it. One garden centre even warned us that we’d be better off waiting for the next delivery.

Prices and turf sizes can vary enormously, although Rolawn Medallion turf is by far the most common type sold in stores.

What to look out for

When buying turf, it's essential to check that it's in good shape before you buy or lay it. Some key things to look out for are:

1. The turf should be moist (but not wet), and thick in width and depth 
2. The grass should be a healthy green with no yellowing in the sward or signs of weeds
3. The edges should be straight and not ragged – straight edges are much easier to join
4. There should be no holes in the turf, and turves should hold together well, especially at the corners
5. Preferably, there should be no rocks or stones in the soil