How to create a lawn?

I'm an absolute beginner so advance apologies for any stupid questions!

Our front garden is just plain, bare soil. I'd like to plant shrubs/flowers around the edges and have grass in the middle.

What is the best way to do this? Should I buy grass seeds and plant them, or buy turf/sods?

 

i would say buy the turf but buy a decent grade as its the same as anything else you get what you pay for.best bet is to ask some of the street who have had theres done where they got thers done and pick the best looking one

 

I'm glad you recommend turf, intermiplants, as it seemed like the easier option to me lol!!

Excellent idea, wiseoldowl - I was actually wondering if I should lay the turf first or last. Cheers

 

Woo that's a good idea to lay the turf last and it gives the plants a head start on the grass.

Good luck Debzy.
Helen.xxx.

 

Definately make sure you get good quality turf as I had mine done recently (total novice!) and I am not particularly happy with it. There are different types of grass - e.g. you may want a perfect ornamental lawn which will be really green and you can cut short but won't withstand, wear and tear, the dog or children or you may want a utility grass which is more hard wearing but not quite as pretty.

You must also prepare the ground properly before laying the turf, this is quite hard work and it;s important you get it right - do a search on the web on how to do it.

 

after recently building my extension and my front garden being used as a building site ,i had to relay my front garden i went to 4 places compared prices and bought the top grade now all the street walk past and say how nice the front is looking. ive seen people in the street buy it for peanuts, and the end results are they might as well have layed peanuts. paying that bit extra is a massive difference

 

Thank you all for your helpful advice I have browsed around online and was wondering if I should go for the ornamental or standard type. The front garden will get very little wear and tear so I think I'll splash out and get the posh stuff!