Replace a worn lawn.

Whether you are dealing with a stubborn infestation of dandelions and clover or your grass has been decimated by leatherjackets, a professional gardener can transform your garden. This guide covers everything from the initial site preparation to the final roll of the turf, ensuring you understand the costs and processes involved in achieving a bowling-green finish.

What Does the Work Involve?

• Site Assessment: Measuring the area, testing soil pH, identifying weed species, and checking for drainage issues or underground services.
• Weed Eradication: Applying professional-grade systemic herbicides to kill deep-rooted perennial weeds like docks, thistles, and couch grass.
• Turf Removal: Using a mechanical turf cutter to strip away the old, weed-infested grass layer at a consistent depth.
• Ground Preparation: Rotavating the soil to alleviate compaction and incorporating organic matter or sharp sand to improve structure.
• Levelling and Raking: Creating a fine "tilth" and ensuring the surface is perfectly level to prevent puddles and "scalping" when mowing.
• Installation: Laying high-quality, weed-free cultivated turf in a brickwork pattern or sowing premium grass seed tailored to your garden’s light levels.
• Finishing Touches: Firming the surface with a light roller, trimming edges for a crisp finish, and providing initial heavy irrigation.
• Waste Disposal: Removing all green waste and old turf from the site via a licensed waste carrier.

Typical Costs

Lawn replacement costs are primarily driven by the size of the area, the quality of the turf chosen, and the ease of access for machinery. Prices in 2025/26 reflect the rising costs of fuel and high-grade topsoil.

Most UK homeowners should budget between £18 and £30 per square metre for a complete "strip and relay" service. Small gardens often have a higher price per metre due to fixed costs like delivery and machinery hire.

How Long Does It Take?

• Small Lawn (up to 50m²): Typically completed in 1 day by a two-person team.
• Medium Lawn (50m² – 100m²): Usually takes 1.5 to 2 days, allowing time for thorough ground prep.
• Large Lawn (100m²+): 3 days or more, often requiring larger machinery like mini-diggers.
• Seeding: Faster to "install" than turf but requires 4–8 weeks of growth before it is usable.

DIY or Professional?

While laying turf looks straightforward, the physical demand is significant. A single roll of turf weighs up to 20kg, and a medium garden may require several tonnes of topsoil to be moved by hand. Professionals have access to commercial-grade turf cutters that ensure a level finish—something nearly impossible to achieve with a spade.

Professional gardeners often hold NPTC PA1/PA6 spray certificates, allowing them to use stronger, more effective weed killers than those available to the general public in garden centres.

If you choose the DIY route, ensure you do not underestimate the waste disposal; old turf is incredibly heavy and can quickly exceed the weight limit of a standard domestic skip. For a flat, long-lasting result, professional levelling is usually worth the investment.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Check Qualifications: Look for NPTC (LANTRA) pesticide application certificates if they are handling chemicals.
• Insurance: Ensure they have Public Liability Insurance (minimum £1 million) to cover any damage to your property or neighbours.
• Portfolio: Ask for photos of previous lawn replacements, ideally showing the lawn 6 months after installation.
• Red Flags: Be wary of anyone offering to lay turf directly over old grass or someone who doesn't mention soil preparation.

Questions to ask:

• What type of turf do you recommend for my garden's light and usage levels?
• Is the cost of waste removal and skip hire included in the quote?
• How long do I need to stay off the new lawn, and what is the watering schedule?
• Do you provide a guarantee if the turf fails to take despite proper watering?

UK Regulations

• Waste Carrier Licence: Any gardener taking waste away from your property must be registered with the Environment Agency as a licensed waste carrier.
• Pesticide Regulations: The use of professional herbicides is governed by the Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR). Only qualified individuals should apply these.
• British Standards: Quality topsoil should comply with BS 3882:2015 to ensure it is free from contaminants and fit for purpose.
• Hosepipe Bans: Check with your local water authority; newly laid turf is often exempt from hosepipe bans for the first 28 days, but you may need to notify them.

Common Problems

• Sunken Patches: Caused by poor soil compaction or leaving air pockets under the turf. Professional rolling prevents this.
• Yellowing Turf: Usually a sign of underwatering or the turf being left on the pallet too long before laying (heat stress).
• Weed Return: If perennial roots aren't removed or treated with systemic killer, they will grow straight through the new turf within weeks.
• Gaps Between Rolls: Occurs when turf shrinks because it wasn't butted together tightly enough or has dried out.
• Drainage Issues: Laying turf on heavy clay without adding grit or sand can lead to a waterlogged, mossy lawn by the following winter.

Frequently Asked Questions