How Much Does it Cost to Lay Turf/Grass?

Job Costs

Job	Description	Labour
1	To prepare a horrible existing area ready for a new lawn. Let’s assume it’s a back garden about 100 feet by 30. This will take 2 labourers 3 days to clear the site, rotivate it (so there’s a hire cost) and rake it all nice and level.	£670
2	If they can’t get the rotivator in and have to hand dig it add 2 more days	£400
3	To supply and lay the turf (all carried in from the front). That’s 2 men 1 day.	£200
	Plus turf for the above	£650

“Labour” at £175 a day (tradesman) £100 (labourer), includes incidental fixings etc. and tipping charges. “Materials” if mentioned, are larger things (a boiler) and stuff only you can choose (tiles etc). Also VAT must be added all round.

Information Sheet on Laying Turf

Tip: green side up!

I don’t pretend to be a gardener and my wife won’t even let me cut the grass but I’ve laid turf a few times and there are a few things to think about.

Get the soil as flat as possible to start with. Put a scaffold board down to walk on, it’s ok to lay it on the turf you’ve just laid. Offset each turf to stagger the joints (like brickwork). Lay the turfs nice and close together. Give it a good old soaking when you’re done. Then soak it the next day. And the next. And the next again…