Grass Seed vs Turf: What is best?

Turf or Grass Seed: What’s Best for Your Outdoor Space

Are you looking to create a prize-winning garden or simply desire a luscious lawn, but don’t know where to start? One question we’re always asked at GDT&S is, “Is it better to use turf or grass seed?”. To answer this age-old question, we’ve created a breakdown of turf vs grass seed to help you decide.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Grass Seed & Turf

Your soil type, budget, project deadlines, and general preferences will affect your decision.

Ultimately, we recommend using turf when you want fast, uniform results, especially over large areas or when completing professional landscaping projects – it delivers instant results to you and your clients. Grass seed can work well for smaller areas or tighter budgets, and is often favoured by homeowners looking to tend to a particular area.

But other elements may sway your choice, and this guide will tell you everything you need to know about both to help you decide.

Turf Vs Grass Seed

As a quick breakdown between the two, the table below compares turf vs. grass seed, and we’ll go into the advantages and disadvantages in more detail later.

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Prepping Your Soil for Grass Turf & Grass Seed

No matter which option you choose, good quality and well-drained soil are essential for a healthy lawn.

Whether you pick grass seed or grass turf, to avoid wasting your investment, you need to ensure your soil is fully prepared and ready to anchor new root systems.

If you sow seeds on compacted soil, the seeds will dry out before they can begin to germinate.

If you lay new turf on top of old turf, the roots won’t grow properly, giving you an uneven, low-quality lawn that might deteriorate over time.

You’ll waste valuable time and money with both methods if you don’t put time and energy into ensuring your soil is fit for purpose.

Hydration is Key for Grass Seed & Grass Turf

Along with nutrient-rich soil comes regular watering of your new grass seeds or turf.

Once scattered, grass seeds need to remain wet during the germination stage for the best results. A lot of care and attention is also needed over the following months, as the roots establish and the blades begin to grow.

Finally, freshly laid turf requires regular watering. Depending on the weather, new turf should be watered daily for its first week and 2-3 times within the preceding weeks.

Obviously, if it’s raining, the weatherman has saved you a job and some money! For more top tips, read our post on how often you should water your new turf.

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The Advantages of Turf

Below is a more detailed breakdown of the benefits of installing turf in your outdoor space.

 Quicker Process

The process from ordering to delivery, installation and usability is extremely fast.

We offer an exceptional delivery service here at GDT&S, so you know you’ll get your turf as soon as possible after placing your order.

You’ll need to install your turf the same day it’s delivered for the best results. You can then use your lovely new lawn within 3 weeks.

Instant Results & Colour

If you’re updating your lawn for cosmetic purposes and don’t plan on using it immediately, your desired lawn results will be instant.

Installation of your turf is required on the same day it’s delivered, giving you your desired results instantaneously!

Ready to Use Lawn in 3 Weeks

Your GDT&S turf has been cultivated for up to 2 years. Which means it’s delivered to you in the freshest condition, and you can then use your lawn just three weeks after installation!

These three weeks give your turf time to settle into the soil, which allows the roots to establish properly and support its health for years to come.

Learn How Soon You Can Use Your New Lawn…

High-Quality, Premium Look

We take the greatest pride in supplying you with top-quality turf, from the way it’s grown to the way it’s delivered.

Our turf has excellent sward density, thrives in various growing conditions, and some types even have beautiful wild flowers that are big hits with pollinators. With these factors combined, your turf will look exceptional.

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Guaranteed Delivery Time (With GDT&S)

We guarantee speedy delivery by our friendly and experienced drivers of our high-quality turf, which is ready for immediate installation.

Our drivers are highly experienced, so they can deliver your turf when and where you need it. Our turf is cut and delivered on the same day, so you know you’ll get the freshest turf possible.

Variations of Turf to Suit Your Needs & Budget

We have a selection of seven types of turf, each suited to different uses, growing conditions, budgets, and personal preferences. They include:

Less Weed Competition

Pre-grown fresh turf is grown weed-free and dense enough to resist weed invasion – that’s why turf grass planting doesn’t involve a weed control membrane. When turf is laid correctly, you prevent weeds from taking over your lawn.

Ideal for Sloped or Problem Areas Where Growing Conditions Are Difficult

Natural turf is perfect for areas where grass seed has had a difficult time growing, because you don’t need to worry about seeds washing away, being pecked by birds, shaded areas, or areas with high foot traffic.

Turf, especially RTF and Shade-Tolerant Turf, will thrive in difficult growing conditions and make the perfect alternative to artificial turf.

What to Bear in Mind About Turf

There are, of course, some things you should bear in mind before ordering turf, as it may not necessarily be the best choice for your project…

The More Expensive Choice

Even if you opt for the lower-cost options, real grass turf can be a more expensive choice than grass seed.

However, you might save more money in the long run by choosing turf. There’ll be less maintenance, you’re less likely to encounter problems, and it can be an overall smart investment.

Fresh Turf Should Be Laid Immediately (Ideally)

Once your turf is out for delivery, it’s preferable to lay it immediately. That’s why you need to order your turf to be delivered at a convenient time for you.

The Advantages of Grass Seed

If you think you’ll favour grass seed over turf, here is a list of the advantages you might get from choosing this surface.

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Ideal for Damaged or Bald Grass Patches

Grass seed is ideal when you have a sparse patch of grass that only needs sprucing up in one small area.

You can simply prep the soil in the affected area and sprinkle the seed down instead of replacing the whole lawn.

Suited to Small Areas

Instead of spending money on turf for a small area, it might be better to use grass seed, which is much cheaper and can offer excellent results.

It’s also easier to maintain and keep track of a small area of lawn compared to caring for a vast area of land.

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Can Be Applied at a Convenient Time for You

Where it’s a race against the clock to install your turf after delivery, the same cannot be said for grass seed. You can sow it at a time convenient for you, because the seeds can survive for a long time in storage.

Tends to be Cheaper

Grass seed, depending on how much you need, is often much cheaper than turf.

If you’re looking for a budget option and don’t mind slower results, grass seed might be perfect for you.

You Can Choose the Right Seed Mix for Your Soil Type

We have various types of good-quality grass seed for you to choose from, so you can decide what’s best for your soil and growing environment. Here’s what GDT&S has to offer:

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Available in Large Quantities, And Easily Stored

If you have a large area to fill, you have the option to buy large quantities of grass seed, which can be stored for a long time without going bad.

This means you can stock up on your seeds as and when you need them, and you don’t need to begin your growing project immediately.

The Disadvantages of Grass Seed

There are some disadvantages to opting for grass seed. Below is a detailed breakdown to help you weigh up your choices effectively.

Long Process (3-4 Months)

The process of growing your lawn from seeds can be quite lengthy, so if you’re not willing to keep up with maintenance and not use your lawn for up to 4 months, grass seed might not be the best choice for you.

Requires More Maintenance During Germination

Seeds need a lot of care and attention to germinate properly and, in turn, grow successfully.

This means you’ll spend a lot of your time outside watering and fertilising your lawn. If you don’t have the time (or effort!) to do this, you might want to choose something that gives more instant results.

Heavy Rain Can Wash Seeds Away

The UK has a very rainy climate, which means that if there is a heavy rainfall after sowing your seeds, they could all be washed away in an instant. Remember to check the forecast before sowing!

Read More on Caring for Your Lawn After Heavy Rain

Can Create Uneven Surfaces If Not Applied Correctly

If you don’t carry out the proper soil prep and don’t take caution when applying your grass seed, you could create some seriously uneven surfaces. Leaving you with patchy, balding areas of lawn, which you’d have to reseed again.

An Expensive Option for Large Areas

If you’re looking to grow grass seed in large areas, you might encounter higher costs, and in the long run, it might be more economical to choose turf instead.

More Vulnerable When Seedlings

Young seedlings are susceptible to weeds, birds, foot traffic, and drought. If you don’t have prior growing experience, you might encounter difficulties and not know how to properly care for your seedlings.

How to Stop Birds Eating My Grass Seed

You need to ensure you properly care for your seedlings, so your sowing efforts and seeds aren’t a waste of time and money.

Season-Dependent

Grass seeds need to be sown during ideal conditions for optimal success. The best times of year to do this are spring and autumn.

If you’re not available to sow your seeds and look after your seedlings during this time of year, you might want to consider turf, which you can lay at any time of the year (as long as the ground isn’t frozen).

Summary: Choosing Grass Seed or Turf for Your Project

Whether you want to invest in high-quality grass seeds or fresh, premium turf, the best way to choose is to understand your lawn’s needs.

Giving your lawn the TLC it needs to thrive is essential for creating a space you can enjoy season after season. So, be sure to understand the maintenance responsibilities before choosing. Plus, getting it right the first time is a great way to save on future outgoings.

If you’re still unsure which surface to opt for, feel free to get in touch with our team of experts, and we’ll be more than happy to talk through your options!

FAQs

Can You Just Sprinkle Grass Seed on a Lawn in the UK?

While this method is definitely possible and can be effective in removing bald patches and sparse areas, it may simply sit on the surface of your lawn and not germinate, leaving it susceptible to rain or bird damage.

Instead, it’s best to fully prepare your soil beforehand, rake lightly, water often, and even consider using a top dressing.

Why Shouldn’t You Lay Turf?

You shouldn’t lay turf unless you have fully prepared the soil. We also recommend against laying turf over a weed membrane, sand, concrete, or old turf. This will deteriorate the freshness of the turf and prevent it from growing properly.

Instead, you should lay your turf over fully prepared, nutrient-rich soil with good drainage.

What Turf Options Do You Have?

GDT offers a wide range of turf options, from low-budget to premium, high-end turf.

Whether you’re looking to cover your garden, public park, golf course, or school field, we have options for all! Head to our in-depth turf buying guide to get the details on each of our turf options.

Is Turf Cheaper Than Seed?

Grass seed is a more inexpensive method to create a lawn, but it takes much longer to achieve the desired results.

Turf, on the other hand, delivers an instant and professional-looking lawn in just one day. While it will likely cost you more upfront, the value and long-term benefits of turf make it a worthwhile investment.