The plan
This plan assumes the ground is already levelled and firm, and that you are not importing soil. That is the calculator's own starting point, and it is why there is no topsoil in the take-off below — if you are bringing soil in, put your dressing depth into the turf calculator and it will add the tonnes for you.
The 5% allowance is for cutting in at the edges. A lawn with curves, or one laid around a bed, needs more than a rectangle does, and the waste field is there for that.
Doing it, in order
- Clear the area of the old surface, roots and stones, and dig over the subsoil to relieve compaction.
- Level and firm the ground in stages, treading it as you go, then rake the surface to a fine tilth.
- Order the turf to arrive when you are ready to lay it, not before — it has to go down within about 24 hours.
- Start laying from a straight edge, working across in a brick pattern, butting the rolls tight and staggering the joints.
- Cut in at the edges with a half-moon or a knife, and keep off the new lawn while it knits.
- Water it daily for the first fortnight, more in hot weather, until the roots have gone into the soil below.
Don’t forget
- Watering for the first fortnight The calculator's own note says the ground needs watering daily for the first fortnight. That is the single thing that decides whether turf takes.
- Turf edging or lawn sand The calculator returns this as "as needed" — an optional extra for tidying edges and levelling minor dips, not a quantity.
- A starter fertiliser The turf calculator can include one at its own rate if you tick the box; this plan does not, so there is no figure here. Soil testing is the only way to know what your ground actually needs.
- What is under the turf Turf roots into what is beneath it. Compacted or poor subsoil shows up as yellow patches within a season, and no quantity fixes it.
Material take-off for this plan
Worked out by the site’s own Turf for this plan’s dimensions, not typed in by hand.
The working
| Working | Value |
|---|---|
| Lawn area | 40.0 m² 8.00 m × 5.00 m |
| With waste allowance | 42.0 m² 5% for cuts and edges |
| Roll size | 1 m² per roll Most UK turf is sold in 1 m² rolls. |
| Rolls to order | 42 42.0 m² ÷ 1 m², rounded up |
What to order
| Material | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turf rolls (1 m² each) | 42 rolls | Covers 42.0 m² including 5% for cutting in. |
| Turf edging / lawn sand (optional) | as neededestimate | For tidying edges and levelling minor dips. |
Turf must be laid within about 24 hours of delivery, and the ground needs watering daily for the first fortnight — so order it when you are ready to lay, not before.
A lawn from turf, planned out FAQs
How many rolls of turf do I need for an 8 m by 5 m lawn?
42 rolls of 1 m² turf, from the turf calculator. The lawn is 40.0 m², and the order is 42 once a 5% cutting allowance is added for the edges.
Is 5% enough waste for turf?
It is the calculator's default and it suits a simple rectangle. A lawn with curves, or one laid around a planted bed, needs more cutting, and the waste field takes whatever figure your own shape needs.
Do I need to add topsoil before turfing?
Not in this plan: it assumes the ground is already level and not importing soil, which is the calculator's own starting point. If you are bringing soil in, the calculator will convert a dressing depth into tonnes and bulk bags.
How quickly does turf need to be laid?
Within about 24 hours of delivery, and it needs watering daily for the first fortnight. That is the turf calculator's own note, and it is why the order should be placed for the day you are ready.