Lawn guides
Turf or seed: which is right for your garden?
Both can give you a lawn. The difference is how long it takes, how much looking after it needs and when you can use it.
Side by side
| Turf | Seed | |
|---|---|---|
| Looks like a lawn | On the day it's laid | After several weeks |
| Ready for normal use | Around six weeks | Usually a few months |
| When to start | Most of the year | Spring or early autumn |
| Birds and weeds | Little trouble | Birds eat seed; weeds can compete |
| Watering | Daily for the first couple of weeks | Little and often until established |
| Up-front cost | Higher | Lower |
When turf makes sense
If you want a finished lawn quickly, have children or dogs who'll want to use it, or are working around a move or building work, turf is usually the better choice. It also hides the soil straight away, so there's no muddy period.
When seed might suit
If you're patient, on a tight budget and can keep everyone off the area for a few months, seed can work. Sowing works best in spring or early autumn, and patches often need re-sowing.
Our view
We're a turf laying service, so we're biased. But for most family gardens in Newcastle, turf gives a better result faster, with less risk of a patchy start.
More guides
Questions people ask
Is turf harder to look after?
Not really. For the first few weeks it wants watering often, then it's cared for like any lawn.
Can you seed instead?
No, we only lay turf.