How to Lay Turf: A Step-by-Step UK Guide

How much turf to order

Most UK turf is sold in rolls of 1m², so measure your lawn area in square metres and add 5–10% for cutting around curves and edges. A simple rectangle needs about 5% extra; a lawn with curved borders, paths or trees in it needs closer to 10%. If your lawn is an odd shape, split it into rectangles, triangles and circles and add them up – the Turf Calculator does this for you.

Book delivery for the day you plan to lay it, or the day before at the latest. Turf should go down within 24 hours. Stacked on a pallet in warm weather it heats up quickly and the grass starts to yellow.

Step 1: Clear and dig

Strip off old grass and weeds, then dig or rotavate the soil to around 150mm deep. Pick out stones, roots and rubble as you go. On heavy clay, work in some sharp sand or organic matter to help drainage. If your soil is poor or the level needs raising, spread a layer of screened topsoil before levelling.

Step 2: Level and firm

Rake the soil level, then firm it by shuffling across it on your heels. Rake again in a different direction and fill any dips. Repeat until the surface is firm and even – dips stay wet and humps get scalped by the mower. Finish with a light rake so the surface is fine and crumbly, and sprinkle on a pre-turfing fertiliser if you have one.

Step 3: Lay the first row

Start along a straight edge, such as a path or a string line, at the far side of the lawn so you don't walk on prepared soil. Unroll the first row and butt the ends tightly together.

Step 4: Stagger the joints

Kneel on a scaffold board or plank laid on the turf you have just put down, never on the bare soil. Lay the next row with the joints staggered like brickwork. Push each edge tight against the last row with no gaps and no overlaps. Tamp the turf down gently with the back of a rake so the roots are in full contact with the soil.

Step 5: Trim and water

Cut edges with a sharp knife or half-moon edger. Use a hose laid out as a guide for curves. On a big lawn, start watering the first section while you finish the rest. When you are done, water deeply until the soil underneath is wet – lift a corner to check.

Aftercare: the first six weeks

Weeks 1–2: water every day unless it rains properly. Stay off the lawn.

Weeks 3–5: cut back to a good soak two to four times a week, depending on the weather.

From week 6: water weekly in dry spells. Turf can take six months to root deeply, so don't neglect it in a hot summer.

If small gaps open up between the rolls, brush in some sieved topsoil or lawn dressing so the edges don't dry out. Mow for the first time once the turf has rooted – tug a corner, and if it doesn't lift, it's ready. This is usually two to three weeks in the growing season. Set the mower to its highest setting for the first few cuts. Light use can start from about four weeks.

When is the best time to lay turf?

Autumn and spring are ideal because the soil is warm and moist and you won't need to water as much. You can lay turf in summer if you can water every day, and in winter as long as the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged.