Southampton and within 20 miles
Turfing and Turf Laying in Southampton
Fresh turf laid over properly prepared ground for an even, healthy lawn that settles in well.
Planning your lawn? Read the turf cost guide.
Local installation details
Planned for your property
A sound foundation and a finish that belongs
The quality of a new lawn begins below the surface. We clear, level and prepare the soil carefully before laying turf with close joints and a clean edge.
Ashley stays closely involved from the first conversation to the final tidy-up, so you always know who is responsible for your project.
What you can expect
- Ground cleared and prepared
- Accurate levelling
- Aftercare guidance included
Turf layers who prepare the ground first
Whether you call it returfing, lawn replacement or simply a new lawn, the work is the same at heart: take away what is failing, put the ground right and lay fresh rolls while they are still at their best. Turf installation is quick once the soil is ready. Getting the soil ready is where most of the time goes, and it is the part that decides whether the lawn lasts.
Where the garden is uneven or sits on a slope, the levelling happens first. Where an old patio, a buried yard or rubble sits under the grass, a digout clears it so the roots have proper soil beneath them. Ashley looks at all of that on the site visit and writes it into the quote, rather than finding it on laying day.
Already have a lawn that needs replacing?
If your existing lawn is patchy, mossy or full of weeds, our guide to returfing an old lawn explains when stripping and starting again makes sense. Once your new turf is down, the aftercare guide covers watering, the first cut and when to start using the lawn. We keep those details in the guides so this page can stay focused on the laying itself.
Considering a different lawn surface?
Real turf remains a living lawn with soil and aftercare needs. If you are weighing an artificial surface instead, the installation page sets out the groundwork questions. That proposed service is confirmed individually at the site visit, and is not a claim of previous artificial lawn work.
Costs
Turfing price per square metre
Turf itself is the cheap part. What you are really paying for is the clearance, the topsoil and the levelling underneath, which is exactly what decides whether the lawn knits together or sits in ridges.
Guide figures only, based on recent local work. Your quotation follows a site visit.
Timescales
Turfing from bare ground to lawn
Strip out
Old grass, weeds and roots removed rather than buried.
Level and soil
Ground graded, topsoil added where needed and firmed by foot.
Laying
Rolls laid in a staggered bond with tight joints and cut edges.
First fortnight
You water daily and stay off it while the roots take hold.
Guides
Helpful reading before you commit
Turf cost per m2, and how much to turf a garden
Laid rates per square metre, what clearance and topsoil add, and the number that actually matters on a turf quote.
Read the guide SeasonalWhen is the best time to lay turf?
Why autumn is the strongest window locally, what to avoid in high summer and how to look after a lawn in its first month.
Read the guide ProcessReturfing an old lawn: what actually happens
Stripping a worn lawn and relaying it is a different job to turfing bare ground. Here is each stage and why it matters.
Read the guide SeasonalWhy your lawn stays waterlogged, and how to fix it
Puddles that never drain usually have one of four causes. How to spot which, and what a lasting fix looks like.
Read the guide ComparisonsTurf vs seed: which is right for your new lawn?
How turf and seed compare on cost, speed, weather and weeds, and when to returf rather than reseed.
Read the guide SeasonalNew turf aftercare: the first six weeks
Watering, walking and first mowing advice for a freshly laid lawn, and the warning signs to watch for.
Read the guideCommon questions
Turfing: your questions answered
How much does turf cost per square metre laid?
Laid over ground that is already close to level, expect £14 to £22 per square metre. Add clearance and topsoil and a full lawn typically lands nearer £25 per square metre.
When is the best time to lay turf?
Autumn is the strongest window in Hampshire because the soil is still warm and the rain does most of the watering for you. Spring is the next best.
How long before I can walk on new turf?
Keep off it for two to three weeks, then use it gently. A first light cut is usually right at around three weeks.
How often should I water a new lawn?
Daily for the first two weeks unless it rains properly, and enough that the water reaches the soil under the turf rather than just wetting the blades.
Can you turf over an existing lawn?
We do not recommend it. Laying over old grass traps a dead layer that stops the roots knitting into the soil.
How long can turf sit before it is laid?
Not long. Rolled turf starts to yellow and heat up within a day or so, faster in warm weather, which is why we order it to arrive once the ground is ready and lay it the same day.
Do I need to roll my new lawn?
A heavy roller is not needed. We firm the rolls down as they are laid so the roots touch the soil, and that light contact is what helps them knit in.
Plan ahead
Book winter groundwork so your garden is ready for spring
Autumn and winter are useful times to tackle digouts, levelling, fencing and foundations. Get the preparation done before the days get longer.
Areas covered
Local landscaping within 20 miles
Ready to improve your garden?
Arrange a free site quotation with Ashley.