Turf or Grass Seed: Which Is Best for Your Garden?

Want to revive your garden with a new lawn or patch up bare spots in your current one? If you can’t decide whether turf or grass seed is the best way to go, you’re in the right place.

While both methods have their pros and cons, the right choice will depend on your specific needs, budget and timeline. To help you decide, we’ll be considering both options in this guide and providing some expert tips for success. We’ll also introduce some top-quality products available at AWBS to help your lawn thrive, whichever approach you decide to take.

Turf: The fast-track to a finished lawn

Pre-grown and sold in rolls, turf offers immediate coverage to improve the appearance of your garden. Simply lay it on prepared soil and water it well to instantly create a lush green lawn that will be usable within a few weeks. This is ideal if you’re short on time and want your lawn to establish as quickly possible. Additionally, turf offers the following benefits:

• Hardwearing and attractive – the high-quality Rolawn Medallion Turf we supply offers the best of both worlds. Its dense blend of fescue and ryegrass ensures it can withstand regular foot traffic, whilst providing an ornamental fine-leafed finish.
• Weed-free grass – as turf is professionally cultivated under controlled conditions, it will be delivered free from weeds and pests. This means less maintenance for you, especially during the early stages, compared to germinating grass seed in bare soil.
• Good erosion control – turf acts as a natural protective layer against rain and wind as soon as it's laid. This makes it ideal for sloped gardens or areas prone to erosion where seed is more likely to be displaced.
• Seasonal flexibility – you can lay turf virtually any time of the year in the UK, provided the ground isn’t frozen or exceptionally dry. The damp conditions of spring and autumn are great for rooting, and your turf should embed into the soil with little effort required.

Top Tip: Use Rolawn Top Dressing alongside your Medallion Turf to help level your lawn, nourish it during winter and prevent thatch buildup.

The downside to choosing turf

Despite its many advantages, the main drawback to opting for turf over grass seed is the upfront cost. Turf is significantly more expensive and therefore best for creating smaller lawns.

You’ll also need to lay your turf quickly to prevent it drying out. This requires a degree of precision and speed, and isn’t as straightforward for beginner gardeners as sowing seed.

Lastly, when opting for pre-grown turf, your options will be somewhat limited. In comparison, grass seed comes in various blends to suit different conditions and the look you’re going for.

Grass Seed: Cost-effective & DIY-friendly

While turf is all about quick results, grass seed offers more variety and flexibility. Not to mention excellent value for money! This makes it a popular choice for large areas and specialised lawns. However, the growing process is slower. It involves sowing seeds directly into prepared soil and nurturing them over several weeks until they become established.

Benefits of grass seed

• Affordable – grass seed is considerably cheaper than turf – typically around one-tenth of the cost per square metre. This makes it a much more economical option if you’re covering a large garden or working with a limited budget.
• Range of mixes available – whether you’re seeking shade-tolerant, drought-resistant or fine ornamental grass varieties, there’s a grass seed mix to suit your needs! Meanwhile, pre-grown turf typically comes in a limited number of standard blends.
• Easy to store and transport – if you’re not sure whether you’ll have the time to install your new lawn right away, opt for grass seed. Unlike turf, which only lasts so long after being harvested, grass seed can be stored for months if kept cool and dry.
• Strong roots – seeded lawns often develop deeper and stronger roots than turf to make your lawn more resilient once fully grown. This is because the roots grow directly in your garden’s soil rather than being transplanted with a shallow root bed.
• Great for lawn repairs – if you notice thin areas after raking or your kids have worn out certain spots over the summer, don’t panic. Grass seed can easily be sown over certain areas to fill in visible gaps in your existing lawn. Our handy 1kg boxes of Rolawn Medallion Grass Seed are perfect for this. Or you can upgrade to a large 20kg bag for a complete lawn overhaul as needed.

Top Tip: Boost your seed’s success rate by preparing your soil with Rolawn Turf & Lawn Seeding Topsoil or our own weed-free planting topsoil. More on this later…

The disadvantages of grass seed

Grass seed takes several weeks to germinate and months to become fully established. What’s more, in their early stages of development, seeded areas are vulnerable to weeds and birds. You’ll therefore need to weed the bare soil regularly and apply a protective layer of topsoil.

Additionally, germination is also reliant on temperature. Even the best grass seed won’t grow well in cold or overly dry conditions. It needs consistent moisture and warmth, so the best times to sow are late spring (April-May) or early autumn (September). And if the weather’s dry, you’ll need to water your seeds more frequently than you would new turf.

However, it’s worth pointing out that the extra care and patience that seeds require is generally worth it in the long run. If only for the cost savings you’ll enjoy versus laying turf!

Expert tips for success

Soil preparation

No matter whether you choose turf or grass seed, preparing your soil is key. Before laying or sowing, you want to get the base in top condition to aid root growth and drainage. This process involves removing stones and weeds, aerating the soil to loosen compacted ground and levelling the surface.

We’d also recommend adding nutrients with a layer of topsoil, especially if your existing soil is poor quality or clay-heavy. And if you’re laying turf or seed, you can also incorporate some Rolawn’s GroRight Lawn Establishment Fertiliser into the mix. This will help your lawn establish faster and make it more resistant to disease. Plus, the nitrogen-rich formula will continue to feed your newly laid grass for up to four months. Available in 5kg bags to cover areas up to 125m².

Read more about preparing your lawn and laying your turf in this dedicated guide.

Laying turf

Lay your turf as soon as you can after delivery and keep it moist for the first few weeks. You should also try to stay off the lawn for the first 3-4 weeks while it beds into the soil. Again, spring and autumn are the best times to lay turf, so stick to these seasons if you can.

Another good tip is to calculate the area of your lawn and order slightly more turf than you think you’ll need. That way, if you damage a section or find you need more, you’ll have enough spare to complete the job. The turf is also more likely to match if ordered all together, rather than having to dip into a new batch.

Sowing grass seed

Start by choosing a seed that is suited to your garden’s growing conditions and your lawn’s intended purpose. For example, you can find grass seed suited to shady areas or varieties that are particularly hardwearing for family homes.

Whichever you pick, sow it on aerated soil when temperatures are holding at 10°C or above. Then lightly cover your seeds with topsoil to protect them from being displaced by birds or heavy rain. And remember, be patient! It can take up to 6 months to see the finished results.

Shop high-quality turf and grass seed at AWBS

Whether you’re drawn to the immediate results that turf offers or more wallet-friendly grass seed, we can supply everything you need. This includes our best-selling low-maintenance Rolawn Medallion Turf and coordinating grass seed made up of the same trusted blend.

On top of that, we stock specially formulated Rolawn Turf & Lawn Seeding Topsoil to complement our Medallion turf products. It’s a friable, nutrient-rich mix includes soil conditioners to promote healthy growth. Alternatively, our own-brand AWBS Planting Topsoil is a cost-effective sandy loam soil that’s ideal for root development and promotes good drainage. It’s also well suited to plants that like slightly alkaline soils like geraniums, lavender and lilac. Choose from half or jumbo bulk bags offering coverage up to 10-12m², at a depth of 50mm.

Once your lawn is in place, maintain its good looks with the help of Rolawn Top Dressing. This fine, sand-based blend helps to level uneven areas, stimulate regrowth and improve your lawn’s health over time. Browse the full range online or visit us in branch at Oxford, Swindon or Yarnton to learn more. We also offer free delivery within 25 miles of our stores – just ask and we’ll arrange it! You can also check your postcode’s eligibility on our website.