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What changes the cost of turf and turf laying?
The cost of a new turf lawn in Cheshire depends on the area, the grade of turf, how much preparation the soil needs, whether an old lawn has to be lifted and taken away, and the access for deliveries. This guide prints no turf prices, so compare quotes that cover the same area, turf and preparation.
Last reviewed:What a new turf lawn involves
Turf is grass grown on a farm, cut with a thin layer of soil and delivered in rolls or slabs. Laid on well-prepared ground, it gives a green lawn on the day it goes down, and it can be walked on lightly within a few weeks. That speed is why most people choose it over seed for a new garden or a tired lawn.
The price of the turf itself is only part of what a new lawn costs. Clearing the old grass and weeds, preparing the soil, delivery, labour and aftercare all add up. A quote that looks low for the turf may leave out the preparation that decides whether the lawn lasts.
QuoteZila is starting in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach among the first towns. This guide prints no turf prices. It explains what you are paying for, what makes one job bigger than another, and how to compare quotes.
Grades of turf
Turf is not all the same. Growers sell several mixes for different uses, and the grade affects both price and how the lawn behaves.
- Utility or hard-wearing turf. Usually contains tougher grass types such as ryegrass. It copes with children, pets and regular use. This is the most common choice for family gardens.
- Fine or ornamental turf. A close, fine-leaved lawn that looks smart but needs more care and closer mowing, and does not stand up to heavy wear as well.
- Shade-tolerant turf. Mixes intended for areas that get less sun, such as under trees or beside tall fences.
- Specialist turf. Wildflower turf, meadow mats and sports mixes are made for particular jobs and are priced differently.
The RHS says that if you have tricky growing conditions, such as a shady spot, you should buy turf with a mix of grass species suited to those conditions, otherwise the turf will struggle to get established [S1]. Ask the supplier or the gardener which mix suits your garden.
Preparing the ground
Preparation is the part of a turf job that takes the most time, and it is where quotes differ most. The RHS describes preparation as clearing weeds, loosening compacted soil and levelling the ground [S1]. It suggests digging or rotovating to a depth of 20–25cm so there is no compaction [S1].
After digging, the ground has to settle. The RHS suggests leaving it for at least a few days, longer if possible, and ideally five to six weeks or more [S1]. Many contractors firm and rake the soil instead of waiting that long, so ask what they plan.
Old lawns are usually lifted with a turf cutter, then taken away or stacked upside down to rot. Weeds such as couch grass and bindweed need their roots removed, or they will come back through the new turf. If the soil is poor or thin, topsoil may be brought in.
Laying the turf
On the day, the turf is laid in rows from one side of the area. The RHS suggests working across the site so you face the bare soil, and standing on boards so you do not leave footprints in the new turf [S1]. It suggests staggering the joints like bricks in a wall and pushing the pieces tightly together so there are no gaps [S1]. Each piece is checked for level, and soil is added or taken away underneath as needed.
Timing matters. The RHS says turf should be laid within a day of delivery if possible [S1]. Deliveries are usually booked for the morning of the laying day, so the ground must be ready before the turf arrives.
What changes the cost of a turf lawn
| What is being priced | What makes it bigger or smaller | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Area | The total square metres to be turfed | Whether they measured the area or used your figure |
| Turf grade | Utility, fine, shade or specialist | Which mix and which grower |
| Old lawn | Lifted with a turf cutter, or left to rot under | Whether lifting is in the price |
| Weeds | Perennial weeds and roots to remove | How they deal with weeds first |
| Soil | Digging, rotovating, topsoil in | Whether topsoil is included and how much |
| Levelling | Firming, raking, filling hollows | How they get the surface level |
| Waste | Old turf, stones and rubble taken away | What leaves the site and how |
| Delivery | Pallets at the kerb or carried in | Whether turf is carried to the garden |
| Edging | Lawn edging, mowing strips | Whether edges are included |
| VAT | Whether the business is VAT registered | Whether the total includes VAT |
A business must register for VAT when its taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000 [S5]. Ask whether each total includes VAT.
Delivery, access and waste
Turf is heavy and is often delivered on a pallet by a lorry with a tail lift. The driver may leave it at the kerb. If your garden is at the back of a terrace or up steps, someone has to carry every roll through. Ask whether the quote includes moving the turf from the kerb to the garden.
Old turf and soil can be bulky. If a company takes it away, GOV.UK says that if you hire a private company to move waste, you should check they are registered [S4]. Ask for the waste carrier details.
Aftercare for new turf
New turf needs water until its roots grow into the soil below. The RHS says only wetting the upper layer of new turf can lead to shallow rooting and encourages coarser weed grasses such as annual meadow grass [S1]. Water deeply rather than little and often, especially in dry spells.
Keep off the lawn as much as possible for the first few weeks. The RHS suggests mowing with the blades set high once the turf has rooted well, usually about three weeks after laying, after tugging on the grass to check it does not lift [S1]. Once the lawn is established, its RHS mowing guide says never to take off more than one-third of the grass height at a time [S2].
Some gardeners offer a first cut or a feed as part of the quote. Ask whether aftercare visits are included, or whether you will be left to water and mow yourself.
Turfing a garden in Cheshire
A gardener or landscaper covering Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach and the villages around them will want the size of the area and photos of what is there now. Measure the length and width of each part, and sketch any curves or beds. Say whether there is an old lawn to lift and how the area is reached.
If the lawn is part of a bigger garden job, such as a new patio or a levelled area, mention it, so the work can be planned in the right order. Anyone in the UK can post a job or register a business on QuoteZila.
Turf or seed, and doing it yourself
Seed costs less to buy than turf, but the lawn takes longer to establish and is more open to weeds and birds in the early weeks. Both need the same soil preparation. If you need a usable lawn soon, turf is usually the better fit.
Laying turf yourself is possible if you are fit and have time. The rolls are heavy, the preparation is hard work, and the turf will not wait once it is delivered. Some people split the job: a contractor prepares the ground, and they lay the turf themselves. If the garden slopes or has hollows, sort the levels first. The garden levelling cost guide explains how that is done.
What to have ready before you ask for quotes
- the measurements of the area, with a simple sketch
- photos of the area as it is now
- whether there is an old lawn to lift and take away
- how the garden is reached from the road
- the use the lawn will get: play, pets, show
- whether you want edging or a mowing strip
- your postcode and when the work could happen
How to compare turf quotes
Check each quote for:
- The area, and how it was measured.
- The turf mix and grower.
- Lifting and removing the old lawn.
- Weed removal, digging and topsoil.
- Delivery to the garden, not just the kerb.
- Edging and aftercare.
- Whether the price is fixed and includes VAT.
Citizens Advice says a quote is a fixed price, while an estimate is a rough guess, so you might end up paying more [S3]. It also says some traders charge for quotes, so ask about this first [S3].
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts. "Please quote to lift the old lawn, prepare the soil and lay new hard-wearing turf in the back garden." Or: "New build garden, bare soil with rubble. Needs clearing, topsoil and turf." Or: "Small front lawn to returf. Access straight from the drive."
Get quotes for turf laying
Describe the area, what is there now and the access, and add photos. Up to five matched local businesses can reply [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
Posting a job is not open yet
See the gardeners page or the landscapers page. If you are thinking about an artificial lawn instead, see the artificial grass cost guide.
Official and public sources
QuoteZila is not affiliated with these organisations.
- Laying turf: RHS: how to lay turf [S1].
- Mowing: RHS: how to mow a lawn [S2].
- Quotes: Citizens Advice [S3].
- Waste carriers: GOV.UK: report fly-tipping and waste crime [S4].
- VAT: GOV.UK on when to register [S5].
Questions about turf costs
How much does turf cost?
This guide does not print turf prices. The total for a new lawn depends on the area, the grade of turf, delivery, how much the soil needs preparing, whether the old lawn is lifted and taken away, and whether you lay it yourself. Ask for quotes that list each of these.
When is the right time to lay turf?
The RHS says a lawn can be made from turf from autumn to early spring, in suitable weather. Avoid laying turf when the ground is frozen or waterlogged. Turf laid in warm, dry weather needs a lot more watering to root.
How soon should turf be laid after delivery?
Quickly. The RHS says turf should be laid within a day of delivery if possible. If laying is delayed for more than a few days, it suggests unrolling the turf flat so the grass gets light, and watering it if dry. Rolled turf left too long turns yellow.
When can I mow new turf?
The RHS says to mow with the blades set high once the turf has rooted well, usually about three weeks after laying. It suggests tugging the grass first to check it does not lift. Keep off the new lawn as much as you can until then.
Does laying turf myself save money?
Laying turf yourself saves the labour but not the turf, delivery or soil preparation. Preparing the ground is the hard part, and poor preparation can leave a new lawn uneven. Many people buy the turf and pay a gardener or landscaper only for the preparation.
Should I choose turf or seed?
Turf gives a usable lawn much sooner, while seed costs less to buy but takes longer to establish and needs protecting from birds and weeds. Both need the same soil preparation. Ask a gardener which suits the season, the soil and how soon you need the lawn.
Does QuoteZila check the businesses who quote?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
Related guides
- Gardeners: lawns and aftercare
- Landscapers: new gardens and levelling
- Lawn treatment cost guide
- Grass cutting cost guide
- All cost guides
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Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and jobs-for-tradesmen copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila terms and matching notes.
- S1: How to lay turf, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/lawns-from-turf
- S2: How to mow a lawn, Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/mowing
- S3: Before you get work done on your home, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S4: Report fly-tipping or litter, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.gov.uk/report-flytipping
- S5: Register for VAT, GOV.UK. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.gov.uk/register-for-vat