Turf Laying vs Grass Seeding: Which is The Best For Your Lawn?
For achieving a lush, green lawn, you will be faced with two main options; turf laying and grass seeding. In this article, we will be taking a deeper look at both of these tried and true techniques, so you can make an informed decision about your own lawn’s needs.
A Brief Overview Of Both Techniques
Turf Laying
Turf laying is the technique of installing a new lawn by laying down pre-cultivation rolls of grass. Your professional garden team will do this by preparing the soil and measuring your garden space. After getting a general understanding for the size and shape of your garden, the turf will then be cut down to fit the area.
The turf will be rolled out in staggered patterns and watered thoroughly to ensure it thrives in its new position. Turf laying can be an extremely effective way to create a healthy lawn immediately. It is often used for both residential and commercial properties to give off that sleek and well-maintained look.
Grass Seeding
In comparison to turf laying, grass seeding is the process of planting seeds which will establish new grass growth over time. If you have a damaged or patchy pre-existing lawn, this could be a great way to bring it back to life. Typically, grass seeding is done by spreading seed over a prepared area and then regularly watering it. If done correctly, you will notice a new lush lawn begin to grow in.
What Is The Best Time Of Year To Carry Out Each Technique?
When To Lay Turf
In our expert opinion, we would recommend laying turf between the end of August and the first half of October. Alternatively, you could also look to lay turf between the second half of April and the first half of June, at the latest. During this time, the soil is more friable and with the temperature being much more optimal, the grass will root much quicker.
Gauging the weather is of the utmost importance when it comes to turf laying. If you wait until the weather is too warm, you may run into problems such as sod heating. Whereas, during the winter months, there is harsh frost and unpredictable weather – again, making laying turf a more difficult task.
When You Should Sow Grass Seed
For grass seeding, when you sow will depend on what type of grass you plan to use. We would recommend early spring, between March to May or early autumn, between September to mid-October. According to Mowwy.co.uk, ‘grass plants go dormant during the winter after the temperature drops below 10ºC – so it stands to reason that they won’t germinate in those conditions.’ By planting in seasonably warm weather, you will garner much better results.
During March through to May, the heat of summer is beginning to arrive, meaning that the soil temperatures will start to rise. This can aid in grass germination and help your grass take root much faster. Between September and mid-October the soil is still warm from the summer sun, encouraging further germination. But also the cooler autumn weather can actually massively reduce the stress on the young grass seedlings, giving them much higher chances of surviving.
How Long Does Each Technique Take?
For both turf laying and grass seeding, it can depend on the size of land you are working with. For large estates, with acres of land, you will find that you will have your professional gardeners set aside more time than if you are working with a smaller lot.
How Long Does Turf Laying Take?
With the proper care, turf laying can take up to six weeks to develop a strong root system. During the first few weeks of laying turf, you will want to take extra care when using your garden. It’s vital that you avoid heavy foot traffic to newly laid turf. This can prevent both long-term and short-term damage to your lawn. Also, it’s recommended to keep your new turf moist, but not waterlogged.
To ensure the turf takes to the new ground with ease, you may have to water it daily or every other day, depending on the time of year you have laid it down and the weather conditions. Around the third week, the turf will begin to establish itself and the roots will start to penetrate the soil and anchor the grass in place. To encourage further deep root growth, we would suggest still watering the turf frequently throughout this time period.
How Long Does Grass Seeding Take?
Similar to turf laying, grass seeding can germinate at different rates. This can depend on varying factors such as; what grass species you are looking to use, what the weather forecast is looking like, what time of year you have opted to sow your grass seed at, and how moist/ prepared the soil is. For most grasses, the seeds will begin to germinate within a 7-21 day span after they have been sown. Whilst some grass seeds tend to take longer than others, in general, you can expect to see tiny grass seedlings pop up from the ground around this time.
After they have been sown, it will take 2-6 weeks for these new seeds to germinate. As they do so, they establish themselves even deeper into the soil and begin to root. For around the 6-12 week mark, it is recommended to avoid walking on your newly planted grass and to avoid heavy foot traffic. This is to not risk damaging the growing process and allow the grass to fully mature. It is also suggested to not mow or trim the grass seedinglings either during this time. Maturity in grass can take around 6 months or longer – again, depending on the grass type and the environment surrounding it. Look out for thick, healthy looking blades of grass, which make your lawn look full and lush.
What Are The Benefits Of Turf Laying?
Both turf laying and grass seeding come with their own benefits. For turf laying, one of the most advantageous aspects is that you will have an instantly green lawn. With grass seeding, you may have to wait weeks, or even months, before the grass is lush and established. Turf on the other hand can completely transform an outdoor space almost instantly.
Another benefit of turf laying that sets it apart from grass seeding is the fact that it will have a more uniform appearance. As the process is almost instantaneous, you will have an even lawn straight away. This is because the grass is already mature, and harvested. Unlike grass seeding, turf laying makes for a smooth garden, without any patchiness present.
Also, laid turf is great at suppressing weeds. A more established turf is way more efficient when it comes to preventing weeds from popping up. This is because the grass tends to be much more dense, and as it’s already mature, it can compete with those pesky weeds for the required space and resources they would take to grow.
What Are The Cons Of Laying Turf?
Laying turf can be quite an expensive feature, particularly if you have a large estate or garden space. Even with professional help on board to maintain your newly laid turf, it can be a costly venture if you are planning to fit your entire ground. Many people opt for grass seeding due to this reason, as it can be a much less expensive way to fill acres of land.
Another con of turf laying is that it is not as eco-friendly in comparison to its alternative counterparts. The general production and transportation of turf can add to our carbon footprint, which some consider to be much less considerate to our planet.
Also, turf laying has less of a variety of grass types available. As well as minimising our aesthetic design choices, turf laying could also promote less biodiversity for this reason. Also, with less grass types being available for turf laying, it may be difficult to find matching feed to fill in any gaps you may already have in your lawn – another negative for choosing turf laying over grass seeding.
What Are The Benefits Of Grass Seeding?
Grass seeding can help you fill in any bald spots or patchy areas you have on your pre-existing grass. Here at BZ Gardens, we understand the pain of getting all of your grass looking uniform and lush on large estate homes. Whilst turf laying can make your lawn look consistent, sometimes, you don’t need to lay all new turf. If you have a garden with a few grassless spots, your local garden service can lay grass seed to encourage further growth.
In addition, grass seeding is much more convenient. Living in the UK, the weather can be unpredictable. With turf laying, as soon as the grass gets to its final location, it will need to be laid down promptly – this is because the grass is already alive and mature. Whereas with grass seeding, the process can be delayed if the weather is unexpectedly poor.
The options with grass seeding is also endless. We all want a nice looking garden where we can relax and invite company over too. With grass seeding, there are many more options when it comes to what grass types you can have. You can design your garden to be as aesthetically pleasing as you would like with this technique.
What Are The Cons Of Grass Seeding?
Where there are many pros for grass seeding,, there are also some negatives when it comes to opting for this method. Firstly, it takes a much longer period of time for grass seeds to germinate in comparison to turf laying. With turf, the new grass will be there instanstanousely, whereas with grass seed it can take months to become mature.
Grass seeds also could attract birds, such as pigeons, sparrows, finches, blackbirds and other regular garden visitors. Birds can pick up these seeds as they appear to be readily available to them on the surface of the soil. Or, if they have been absorbed into the ground already, you may find that they also scratch away at the soil to uncover them. This is because seeds act as a natural food and protein source. – this can, in turn, leave your garden with grass-less spaces.
In comparison to turf laying, grass seeding can be harder to maintain. Without ongoing professional advice, It can be tricky to get the watering of newly grass seeded lawns correct. With too much water, you can wash away the newly planted seeds, which can either prevent them from growing and result in a ruined sowing, or create bald patches once they start to germinate. As well as this, grass seeding can make it all the more difficult to achieve neat outer edges. With turf laying, the grass will be cut to the shape and size of your garden space. Whereas with grass turf laying, it can be a slightly more tricky task to get the edges around your patio or paving just right.
Local Garden Services – How BZ Gardens Can Help You
Here at BZ Gardens, we understand what a well-maintained garden means to you. No matter what your preferences are when it comes to turf laying or grass seeding, we are here to help you make an informed decision, and to assist you in the process. If you have any more questions or queries, feel free to contact our professional garden team today.