Guide

How Much Turf Do I Need for My Lawn?

Working out how much turf you need is simple once you know your lawn area, but there are a few things that catch people out. Here's the full guide.

Area plus a little extra

Most UK turf rolls cover about one square metre each, so your lawn area in square metres is roughly your roll count. Add around 5% for shaping around borders, paths and curves — you'll always trim some to fit. Our turf calculator does this for your dimensions.

Order it fresh

Turf is living and perishable. Order it to be delivered on the day you're laying it, or the day before at most, and don't let it sit rolled up in the sun. Rolls left too long yellow and die, wasting your money.

Prepare the ground

Good turf on bad ground fails. Clear weeds, dig over or rotavate the surface, add topsoil if the existing soil is poor, then rake level and firm gently. The better the seedbed, the faster the turf roots and the healthier the lawn.

Best time to lay

Autumn and spring are ideal, with warm, moist soil and less heat stress. Summer laying is possible but demands heavy, consistent watering to establish. Whenever you lay it, water generously for the first few weeks and keep off it until it's rooted.