Laying Garden Turf

[StrangewaysHereWeCome]

I wouldn't have thought so fella. Just rake,rake,rake so there's a decent surface for the turf to grow on and so you get the ground level and removing any large stones.

Cheers. I won't be doing it myself as I'm an idiot and it would go badly wrong, however easy people say it may or may not be, I couldn't do it.

Just trying to get an idea of what it will cost as I've had a couple of quotes which are fairly wide apart and not too sure why as the cost of labour has been pretty consistent.
Only 23m2 so not a big job for someone who knows what they are doing.

Had quotes so far from £180 (didn't sound like they knew what they were doing so wouldn't let them do it), £220 from proper gardening company to £370 and various amounts in between.
How can there be such a big difference for doing the same job?

I can't say why labour costs are varying so much. Perhaps the expensive quotes are from long established cos with a reputation for good service and the cheaper ones are from newer company with less overheads.
As for laying it yourself, don't worry about it. You can do it yourself!
True story. At an old house I had a small garden which was very messy from the previous tenant. Patches of thick clumps of grass, weed and lots of bare earth because they had had, so my neighbours told me, two staffies which they would let on there to tear arse around. They had also burnt rubbish on there and half heartedly buried. I was putting off doing anything to it, cleared the rubble so it was safe for the little people to play on.
Anyway, neighbour was in process of doing his garden, he had removed what was left of the old brick shed and bought turf o ly he had hugely overestimated and had shitloads spare. My garden was half the size because shed was still there but I had to be quick and clear the ground to lay it. I tried my best, dug it all up, rake,rake,rake got it as level as I could and threw the turf down. I had to do it over two nights after work when I'm at my most impatient and irritable but I still did it and you know what? It took. Didn't even water it and the seams fell together mint bar one or two.
If you prepare the soil yourself and don't leave it until you're positive you've got it level I'm absolutely sure you'll piss it.
If a thicko like me can do it while the clocks ticking anyone can. Worth a thought, you can treat yourself with the money you've saved to a crate of beer and a flymo !!

 

[TommoCTID]

I wouldn't have thought so fella. Just rake,rake,rake so there's a decent surface for the turf to grow on and so you get the ground level and removing any large stones.

Cheers. I won't be doing it myself as I'm an idiot and it would go badly wrong, however easy people say it may or may not be, I couldn't do it.

Just trying to get an idea of what it will cost as I've had a couple of quotes which are fairly wide apart and not too sure why as the cost of labour has been pretty consistent.
Only 23m2 so not a big job for someone who knows what they are doing.

Had quotes so far from £180 (didn't sound like they knew what they were doing so wouldn't let them do it), £220 from proper gardening company to £370 and various amounts in between.
How can there be such a big difference for doing the same job?

The difference in quotes is more than likely the quality of the turf they will lay, just had my garden done recently and its roughly the same size as your's. We got 1 down from the quality of a golf course, cost 250 and done by a professional landscape gardener, get a pro to do it mate it's actually an easy job that won't take long.

 

[117 M34]

Cheers. I won't be doing it myself as I'm an idiot and it would go badly wrong, however easy people say it may or may not be, I couldn't do it.

Just trying to get an idea of what it will cost as I've had a couple of quotes which are fairly wide apart and not too sure why as the cost of labour has been pretty consistent.
Only 23m2 so not a big job for someone who knows what they are doing.

Had quotes so far from £180 (didn't sound like they knew what they were doing so wouldn't let them do it), £220 from proper gardening company to £370 and various amounts in between.
How can there be such a big difference for doing the same job?

Can you send me their name/number?

The difference in quotes is more than likely the quality of the turf they will lay, just had my garden done recently and its roughly the same size as your's. We got 1 down from the quality of a golf course, cost 250 and done by a professional landscape gardener, get a pro to do it mate it's actually an easy job that won't take long.

 

[TommoCTID]

Had quotes so far from £180 (didn't sound like they knew what they were doing so wouldn't let them do it), £220 from proper gardening company to £370 and various amounts in between.
How can there be such a big difference for doing the same job?

Can you send me their name/number?

The difference in quotes is more than likely the quality of the turf they will lay, just had my garden done recently and its roughly the same size as your's. We got 1 down from the quality of a golf course, cost 250 and done by a professional landscape gardener, get a pro to do it mate it's actually an easy job that won't take long.

Sorry mate im in Northern Ireland so no help to you but any quote between 2-300 sounds about rite, just ask them what quality turf they will be laying, for that price I would be expecting quality.

 

[Carver]

John MC, all in here:

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/techniques/lawn.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/techniques/lawn.asp</a>

 

[TommoCTID]

Helpful little link here also advising to get a sample of the turf before it's layed.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.lawnandmower.com/buy-turf.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.lawnandmower.com/buy-turf.aspx</a>

I got mine done about a month ago, it's a good job, the only problem was the lengths of turf were about 1 meter so I have had to put grass seed down between all the joints but I have to say its coming along nicely now, just make sure to water it at least 2 times a day.

 

[mscenterh750]

Soil, wheelbarrow, rake, knife and water.

1. Rake the soil as level as possible, removing stones clumps etc, looser soil the better for root establishment.

2. Start laying the turf along a straight edge, butting the turf together, do it like brick work and stagger the turf.

3. Make sure turf is in full contact with the soil, avoiding air pockets.

4. Use planks to walk across the turf, to spread weight even.

5. Water first thing in the morning AND last thing in the evening, as less water will evaporate.

6. Start to cut after 5 days (if possible), as cutting helps growth.

Voila you have a brand new lawn.

 

[blueish swede]

Had quotes so far from £180 (didn't sound like they knew what they were doing so wouldn't let them do it), £220 from proper gardening company to £370 and various amounts in between.
How can there be such a big difference for doing the same job?

Might depend on how much work they've got on. If they are busy they give you a price that will cover overtime and still make a nice profit. If they haven't got a lot on they come in low to win the business.

 

[117 M34]

Had quotes so far from £180 (didn't sound like they knew what they were doing so wouldn't let them do it), £220 from proper gardening company to £370 and various amounts in between.
How can there be such a big difference for doing the same job?

Might depend on how much work they've got on. If they are busy they give you a price that will cover overtime and still make a nice profit. If they haven't got a lot on they come in low to win the business.

Yes, maybe it would be best to wait until they are quietest - I'm thinking September of February as can't really be done over winter.