You are tired of the lawn. Every spring it comes back patchy. Every winter it turns to mud. If you live in a terrace in Lewisham, Catford or Greenwich, you know the drill. You have a dog, or young kids, or simply no time to spend weekends feeding and mowing a lawn that never looks the way you want it to. Artificial grass has crossed your mind but you have no idea what it actually costs when someone professional installs it properly.
This guide gives you the real 2026 prices we charge at Urban Gardeners, a worked example of what a typical SE London artificial grass job costs from survey to finished lawn, and an honest breakdown of what drives the price up or down. No vague ranges, no bait-and-switch figures.
Most SE London homeowners pay between £60 and £90 per square metre for artificial grass, fully installed. That includes ground preparation, sub-base, membrane, and the grass itself.
Our turfing and artificial grass service covers installation across all SE postcodes. Read on for everything you need to know before you book a survey.
2026 Artificial Grass Prices in South East London
These are the rates we charge in 2026. Every price includes labour, materials, ground preparation, anti-weed membrane, sub-base installation, and the artificial grass itself. No hidden extras.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Artificial grass installation | £60 to £90 per sqm |
| Natural turf installation (for comparison) | £15 to £28 per sqm |
| Old lawn removal | Included in survey quote |
| Ground preparation and levelling | Included |
| Anti-weed membrane | Included |
| Sub-base (joists and sharp sand) | Included |
| Waste disposal | Not included |
The range within £60 to £90 per sqm is driven by the grade and pile height of the grass chosen, the complexity of the ground preparation needed, and the size of the job. Larger lawns tend to come in at the lower end of the range per sqm. Smaller, more complex installs with difficult ground conditions sit at the higher end.
Timing matters: the best results come from installations carried out between March and October. If you are thinking about artificial grass for this year, getting in touch now means you are more likely to secure your preferred start date before the summer schedule fills up.
A free on-site survey is required before we can give you an exact figure. Written quotes are provided within 3 business days of the survey. See the full prices page for all services.
'''Perfect job from the start to the end. Very polite, knowledgeable, hard workers and friendly. They installed artificial grass for me with raised flower beds for both garden sides." - Emilia Andrews ★★★★★ See more reviews on Google
Artificial grass installation by Urban Gardeners
How to Calculate Your Artificial Grass Cost
Measure the length and width of your lawn area in metres and multiply them together to get the square meterage. A typical mid-terrace garden in Eltham or Blackheath runs about 20 to 30 sqm. Then multiply by a price within the £60 to £90 range. Here is what that looks like in real numbers.
Quick estimates:
| Lawn Size | Low Estimate (£60/sqm) | High Estimate (£90/sqm) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 sqm (small terrace garden) | £900 | £1,350 |
| 25 sqm (typical SE London mid-terrace) | £1,500 | £2,250 |
| 35 sqm (medium garden) | £2,100 | £3,150 |
| 50 sqm (larger garden) | £3,000 | £4,500 |
These are planning estimates only. Irregular shapes, slopes, drainage challenges, and the grade of grass you choose will all affect the final figure. Send us a few photos and rough measurements and we will give you a tighter estimate within 24 hours before committing to a survey.
The Real Cost Over 5 Years: Artificial vs Natural Grass
The upfront price of artificial grass is higher. That is the main reason people hesitate. But when you factor in what a natural lawn actually costs to maintain year after year, the gap closes fast.
Here is a side-by-side for a typical 25 sqm SE London terrace garden over 5 years, assuming you hire a professional for lawn care rather than doing it yourself.
Natural lawn maintenance cost breakdown: Monthly mowing during the growing season (March to October) at our standard lawn care rate of £80 per visit = 8 visits per year. Plus one seasonal feed and aeration session per year. Total: roughly £720 to £800 per year. Fortnightly mowing doubles that.
| Artificial Grass | Natural Turf | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation (25 sqm) | £1,500 to £2,250 | £375 to £700 |
| Annual maintenance | £0 | £720 to £800 |
| 5-year total | £1,500 to £2,250 | £3,975 to £4,700 |
By the end of year 2, most homeowners have already broken even. By year 5, artificial grass has saved between £1,700 and £2,450 compared to a professionally maintained natural lawn. And the artificial grass still has another 10 to 15 years of life left with no additional spend.
Even if you mow the lawn yourself to cut costs, you are still spending weekends on a lawn that turns patchy in shade and muddy in winter on SE London clay. The time cost is real even when the cash cost is lower.
What Is Included in Artificial Grass Installation?
A lot of the cost difference between quotes from different companies comes down to what they are actually including. Cheap quotes often strip out the sub-base preparation or use a thinner membrane. These are not optional extras. They are what makes artificial grass last 15 to 20 years instead of looking tired and lifting at the edges after three.
Every artificial grass installation from Urban Gardeners includes:
- Site survey and measurement
- Full removal of existing lawn or surface material
- Ground preparation and levelling
- Drainage assessment and sub-base installation (joists and sharp sand)
- Anti-weed membrane laying across the full area
- Artificial grass supply and installation in your chosen grade and colour
- Edge trimming and securing to boundary
What affects which grade of grass you choose: pile height (typically 20mm to 40mm), blade shape (flat, C-shaped, or W-shaped blades affect how natural it looks), and colour variation (cheaper grass is uniform green; better grades have natural brown and yellow tones woven in to mimic real grass). We bring samples to every survey so you can see and feel the difference before committing.
"I got four different quotes, and choosing Urban Gardeners was definitely the best decision. Great value for money, excellent workmanship." - Andres Soti ★★★★★ See more reviews on Google
Why Does Artificial Grass Cost More in South East London?
London Clay Is the Main Reason
The sub-base preparation on a London clay garden is more involved than on most other soil types in the UK. Clay is especially dense across SE9, SE10, SE13 and SE6, which is where the majority of our installations happen. If you lay artificial grass directly onto compacted clay without proper sub-base work, the surface will pool water after rain and the grass will shift and lift within a couple of years.
Doing it properly in SE London means removing the top layer of clay, building a stable base from joists and sharp sand that allows water to pass through, and installing membrane that prevents the clay from pushing back up over time. This takes longer and costs more than installing on sandy or loamy soil. It is not something to cut corners on.
Access and Logistics in Terraced Gardens
As with any garden work in SE London, the terraced house layout adds time to most jobs. Materials have to be carried through the property or through a narrow side passage. Excavated clay and old lawn material has to come out the same way. On a 35 sqm job in a terrace, this can add a meaningful amount of time compared to an open-access suburban garden. That time is real labour cost.
Professional Grade Materials vs DIY Rolls
The artificial grass sold at B&Q or Wickes is not the same product as what we install. Professional grade artificial grass has a heavier backing, better UV resistance, more natural blade variation, and a longer lifespan. The difference is visible within a couple of years. We source directly from commercial suppliers and bring samples to every survey so you can compare before you decide.
Still Deciding Between Artificial and Natural Turf?
If you have landed on a cost guide for artificial grass, you are probably most of the way there already. But here is the short version to settle it.
Artificial grass makes clear sense for SE London gardens that have dogs or children, clay drainage problems, heavy shade where real grass never establishes, or owners who genuinely do not want to spend time on lawn maintenance. In those situations, natural turf will always disappoint.
Natural turf makes sense if your garden has good light, reasonable drainage, and you are willing to mow, feed, and aerate seasonally. It costs significantly less upfront and supports biodiversity. If those conditions apply and the budget gap matters, it is the right call.
For most SE London terrace gardens with clay soil and heavy use, artificial grass wins on a five-year cost and effort basis. For the full breakdown with specific SE London conditions covered, read our guide on natural grass vs artificial grass for South East London gardens. If you want real turf instead, our turfing service starts from £15 per sqm installed.
Does Artificial Grass Add Value to a Property in South East London?
For the SE London market specifically, yes in most cases. Here is why.
The overwhelming majority of buyers and tenants in terraced properties across Lewisham, Greenwich and Bromley are families or professionals who want a usable outdoor space without the upkeep commitment. A well-installed artificial lawn, properly edged and combined with some planting or raised beds around the perimeter, presents well in listings and photographs better than a patchy natural lawn.
For landlords specifically it is a straightforward investment calculation. The installation cost sits between £1,500 and £3,000 for a typical terrace garden. It eliminates lawn maintenance costs entirely, reduces tenant complaints about the outdoor space, and makes the property more attractive to families and pet owners, which tends to mean longer tenancies. Most landlords see the cost recovered within two to three years of eliminated maintenance.
The only situation where it can work against you is a high-value property where the buyer is specifically looking for a mature natural garden. That is a small segment of the SE London market.
How to Book an Artificial Grass Survey with Urban Gardeners
- Contact us by phone or via the contact form with your postcode and a brief description of the area
- Send photos if you have them. We can often give a ballpark estimate within 24 hours from photos before confirming the survey date
- Tilyo visits your garden, measures the area, assesses the ground conditions, discusses your grass options, and brings samples
- Written quote within 3 business days covering all labour, materials, ground preparation, membrane, grass, and waste disposal with no hidden extras
We cover all SE postcodes: Eltham SE9, Greenwich SE10, Lewisham SE13, Blackheath SE3, Woolwich SE18, Charlton SE7, Catford SE6, Brockley SE4, Camberwell SE5, Deptford SE8, Lee SE12, plus Bromley, Bexley, and Dartford. See the full list of areas we cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Old lawn removal is included in the installation price and confirmed during the free on-site survey. There are no separately charged removal fees.
A professionally installed artificial lawn with proper sub-base preparation typically lasts 15 to 20 years. The longevity depends on the grade of grass chosen and the quality of the sub-base. Cheap installations without proper sub-base preparation will start lifting and fading significantly earlier.
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons SE London homeowners choose it. Artificial grass handles pet traffic better than natural lawn, does not turn muddy, and is easy to clean. The drainage sub-base we install allows liquid to pass through naturally.
Ready to Get Rid of That Patchy Lawn for Good?
Urban Gardeners has been installing artificial grass and natural turf across South East London since 2014. We are a small family-run team based in Eltham SE9, fully insured, locally based, and with over 12 years of experience dealing with the specific ground conditions SE London gardens present.
Free survey. Written quote within 3 business days. Samples brought to every visit so you can choose your grass in person.
Call 07760800457 (Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm)or use the contact form.
Combining artificial grass with a full garden redesign? Our garden landscaping and design service covers patios, raised beds, planting, and fencing. Everything quoted together in a single survey visit.
0 comments