Sometimes. Rather less often than people assume, because most bad lawns are bad for a reason that new turf does not touch.
Worth it where the problem is levels, where the lawn is genuinely dead, or where the shape or position is wrong. Those are things only relaying can fix.
Not worth it where the problem is compaction, shade, drainage, roots or poor feeding — new turf goes the same way within a couple of years, and renovation would have cost a fraction.
| Problem | New turf? | What actually fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Uneven, bumpy | Yes | Lifting, levelling, relaying |
| Genuinely dead | Yes | Replacement |
| Wrong shape or position | Yes | Replacement |
| Moss and thatch | No | Scarify, aerate, feed |
| Thin and pale | No | Feed and overseed |
| Boggy patches | No | Drainage |
| Bare under a tree | No | Rethink — shade planting or bark |
| Worn on a route | No | A path, or hard-wearing seed |
| Compacted | Only with the compaction fixed | Aeration, or full preparation |
On a thin, mossy, tired lawn this costs a fraction of relaying and frequently gets you most of the way there. The worst case is that you have improved the ground you will eventually turf onto anyway.
Tell us what you need and we will arrange a free quotation.
See what our turfing service covers in Hanham, or read more about the service across the areas we work in.
Worth it where the problem is levels, where the lawn is dead, or where the shape is wrong. Not worth it where compaction, shade, drainage or feeding is the cause — new turf goes the same way.
Often. Scarifying, aerating, top-dressing, overseeding and feeding costs a fraction of relaying and frequently gets you most of the way there.
Levels. Correcting an uneven surface genuinely requires lifting the lawn, and no amount of feeding changes that.
Because the cause was never addressed. Compaction, shade, drainage, roots and buried rubble all persist beneath new turf.
Why the old lawn failed. If you do nothing else, work that out — it decides whether turf is money spent or money wasted.
Several times cheaper, with no disruption and the garden usable throughout. Replacement's real argument is that it lets you fix what is underneath.
That is drainage, and turf will not fix it. Address the drainage first or the new lawn fails in the same spot.
Deep shade under trees, permanently wet ground, heavy traffic routes, steep slopes, or where nobody will maintain it.
Need tree surgery, hedge maintenance, fencing, garden clearance, turfing or power washing? Complete the form and tell us what work you require.
