Turf for Durham and the Villages Around It
Yes, we deliver fresh turf to Durham, both the city itself and the County Durham towns and villages close to it. Buy rolls of turf online at £4.75 each. The grass is rye and fescue and is only cut when you order. Each roll measures about 2.4m by 0.4m and covers about 1m².
Hills, river banks and narrow streets
Durham is a hilly city that claims to stand on seven hills. The centre sits in a tight loop of the River Wear with steep, wooded banks, and many inner streets are now shared student houses with parking on the road. Further out it's easier going. The A1(M) passes just east of the city and the A167 just west, and both lead north to Tyneside and our yard.
- Deliveries run Monday to Friday; get the order in by 2pm the day before (for a Monday, by 2pm on Sunday) for delivery available from the next working day.
- The charge depends on your postcode, and checkout shows yours before you pay.
- There's a 20-roll minimum, which can change with location.
- Rolls are set down at the nearest point we can safely reach, normally the drive or kerb, and aren't taken round to the back.
If your street is steep or tight, say so in the order notes. Read about our turf delivery for the full details.
Gardens and ground around the city
What lies under a new lawn varies across the area. Three common kinds of garden:
| Area | What the gardens are like | Check before you lay |
|---|---|---|
| Newton Hall, Framwellgate Moor, Pity Me | Mostly semis and detached houses on the big Newton Hall estate, about 2 miles north of the centre, built from the 1960s to the 1980s | Older lawns are often bumpy. Lift the old grass and level properly instead of laying on top. |
| Mount Oswald and other new estates | Nearly 300 family homes south of the city, next to the university, on what was a golf course until 2013 | Compacted ground and building debris under a thin covering of soil |
| Former colliery villages | Terraced rows built for the pits in the 19th and early 20th centuries, often with small yards or front gardens | Small areas, which may come in under the 20-roll delivery minimum |
If your garden is heavy clay, break up the top layer, mix in topsoil, then firm and level before laying. Our guide to laying turf on clay explains each step. For quantities, the how much turf do I need guide works out the number of rolls for you.
Building up thin or poor soil
Where the soil is thin, stony or low, bring it up with screened topsoil. It comes as a loose, tipped load or in 1-tonne bulk bags. Topsoil can't be collected, and it normally travels on a different delivery from your turf. Please order it as far in advance as you can.
Collecting from our yard
Heading up the A1 anyway? Collect your turf from one roll upwards. Collection is free. Collections run on weekdays, and on Saturday mornings, 9am to 12pm, from April to September. Orders need to be in by 2pm the day before (by 2pm on Sunday for a Monday).
Questions
My street in the city is steep and narrow. Can you still deliver?
Tell us about the hill, parked cars or awkward corners when you order. The rolls go to the nearest point the driver can safely reach, which on a narrow street may be the kerb outside rather than the drive.
Do you deliver to villages outside the city, like Sherburn or Bearpark?
Yes, to many villages around the city. Enter your postcode at checkout to see the delivery price, or call 0191 500 9669 if yours isn't listed. The 20-roll minimum and the delivery price can vary with the address, and both appear at checkout before you pay.
Can I lay turf straight onto clay?
It's better not to. Loosen the clay, work in some topsoil, then firm and rake it level, so the roots have something to grow into.
Want it laid? See turf laying in Durham.