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Quick Answer
Reseeding costs 2 to 4 pounds per square metre and takes 6 to 12 weeks to establish. Returfing costs 10 to 25 pounds per square metre and gives an instant lawn. Reseeding is better for large areas and budget-conscious gardeners in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Returfing is better when you need an instant result or have a small area to repair in Berkshire or Bedfordshire.
Cost comparison (50 sqm lawn)
Reseed: 100 to 200 pounds in seed, plus soil preparation
Returf: 500 to 1,250 pounds including turf and laying
Professional reseeding: 300 to 600 pounds
Professional returfing: 700 to 1,500 pounds
Reseeding: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cheaper (2 to 4 pounds per sqm), ideal for large gardens in the Chilterns
- Wider choice of seed varieties, choose drought-tolerant mixes for chalky soils in High Wycombe or shade-tolerant mixes for wooded gardens in Beaconsfield
- Better root establishment, roots grow into the native soil rather than being transplanted
- Less skill required, scatter seed and rake in
- No delivery timing pressure, seed can be stored
Cons
- Takes 6 to 12 weeks to establish
- Vulnerable to birds, drought and weeds during establishment
- Cannot walk on it for 4 to 6 weeks
- Results are less uniform than turf initially
- Needs regular watering through dry Chiltern springs
Returfing: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Instant lawn, useful if selling a house in Oxford or Marlow
- Can walk on it within 2 to 3 weeks
- Uniform appearance from day one
- Less vulnerable to weeds during establishment
- Better for small repair patches
Cons
- Expensive (10 to 25 pounds per sqm)
- Limited choice of grass varieties
- Needs to be laid within 24 to 48 hours of delivery
- Can fail if soil preparation is poor
- On chalky Chiltern soils, turf grown on clay can struggle to adapt
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When to Choose Reseeding
- Budget is the main concern
- Large area (over 100 sqm) in a rural Chiltern garden
- You want a specific seed mix (shade-tolerant for gardens in Gerrards Cross, drought-tolerant for chalky gardens in Princes Risborough)
- You can wait 2 to 3 months for the lawn to establish
- You are renovating an existing lawn (overseeding bare patches)
When to Choose Returfing
- You need an instant lawn (selling a house in Oxford, Henley or Reading)
- Small area (under 50 sqm)
- You want a uniform, weed-free lawn immediately
- You cannot keep off the area for 6 weeks
- The soil is good and ready for turf
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Soil Preparation for Both
Whether you reseed or returf, the soil preparation is the same:
- Strip the old lawn (turf cutter hire 80 pounds per day)
- Dig or rotavate the soil to 20cm deep
- Add compost and improve the soil. On chalky Chiltern soil, add extra organic matter to improve water retention
- Level and consolidate the surface
- Rake to a fine tilth
See our soil improvement guide for detail on soil preparation.
Seed Choice for Chiltern Gardens
Choose a seed mix suited to your soil and conditions. On chalky soils in High Wycombe, Amersham and Princes Risborough, use a drought-tolerant fescue mix. On clay soils in Aylesbury and Didcot, use a ryegrass mix that tolerates wetter conditions. In shaded gardens in Beaconsfield and Marlow, use a shade-tolerant fescue blend. See our lawn planning tool for recommendations.
Use Our Lawn Planning Tool
For a seed variety recommendation based on your conditions, use our lawn planning tool. The full seed mix percentages are in our Chiltern Lawn Care Guide PDFs.
Get a Quote
If you need help deciding whether to returf or reseed, send us a few photos of your lawn via WhatsApp and we will advise the best option for your garden in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire or Bedfordshire.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does turf take to root?
Turf roots into the soil within 2 to 3 weeks. You can walk on it lightly after 2 weeks and mow it after 3 weeks. On chalky Chiltern soils, water regularly to help rooting.
Can I lay turf on top of an old lawn?
No. The old lawn must be stripped first. Laying turf on top of old grass will result in drainage problems and the old grass rotting underneath.
What is the best time to reseed or returf?
Autumn (September to October) is ideal for both. Spring (March to May) is also good. Avoid summer as the heat and dry conditions make establishment difficult.
Further Reading
- How much does lawn renovation cost?
- Why new turf fails and how to prevent it
- Lawn renovation in spring
- Why is my lawn full of moss?
On mature lawns, check for leatherjackets and chafer grubs before scarifying. Established turf recovers more slowly than newly seeded areas, so adjust the renovation intensity accordingly.
Put this advice into practice
Use the relevant CGM tool or follow a related guide, then send us a few photos if you would like a tailored plan.
Sources and citations
This article draws on the following sources. Specific claims are cited inline where relevant.
- CGM field records (2024-06. Site observations from gardens across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Bedfordshire.
- Royal Horticultural Society (2024). RHS Gardening Advice and Plant Finder. Available at rhs.org.uk.
- Met Office (2024). Regional climate averages, South East England. Available at metoffice.gov.uk.
- British Geological Survey (2024). Soil parent material data for the Chilterns and Thames Valley. Available at bgs.ac.uk.