Prices guide
Written by Craig, Foundation Garden & Trees
The turf is the cheap part. Preparation, levelling and getting rid of the old surface are what the price is really made of.
6 minute readUpdated September 2026Last updated:
Preparation typically outweighs the cost of the turf itself.
Removing an old lawn adds both labour and disposal.
New build gardens often need topsoil imported over builder's subsoil.
A quote should tell you which of these is included, because a bare turf only price and a full installation price are very different numbers for the same garden.
Setting up, delivering turf and removing spoil cost roughly the same whether the lawn is 30 or 130 square metres, so the fixed costs are spread over fewer metres on a small garden.
That is also why combining turfing with other work in the same visit is usually better value than booking it alone.
Plots handed over after construction often have compacted subsoil and buried rubble under a thin skim. Turf laid straight onto that will look tired within a season, so honest preparation means digging out and importing soil.
Common questions
No. Turf laid over old grass has poor root contact and dies back in patches. The old surface has to come off first.
Autumn and spring are ideal because rainfall does most of the watering. Summer turfing works fine if you can water it heavily every day for the first fortnight.
Keep off it for two to three weeks, then light use only. Give it a full growing season before heavy play or garden furniture.
Soak it thoroughly on the day, then water daily for the first two weeks and taper off as the roots take hold. Lift a corner to check moisture underneath.
Yes. Stripping, spoil removal and disposal are all included in the quoted price, so nothing is left for you to deal with.
Straightforward advice
Call Craig or send photos, your location and a short description for an initial estimate.
