New lawn: Seed v Turf?

Asker

ADVICE PLEASE!!!!

My Q:  what are realistic times for new turf v new seeds for a lawn?
We're having our garden completely redone and would love a lawn for our staycation so our kids (3 and 5, never had a lawn to enjoy due to years of building works) can enjoy it, riding around perhaps little cars, running around, putting swing etc on etc.    
Info 
I know pretty much zero about gardening so forgive stupid Q, and I'll try and give as much info as I think is important but...
1) Area: 190 square metres
2) Soil:  clay
3) hard water area
4) Location: Berkshire (south UK)
What I have found out so far
I've asked around a few people, done google searching, called some places and I'm getting a lot of conflicting info.  Shops saying they sell seeds but never have seen how long it takes, or turf places being very vague.   What I *think * I understand is turf you put down and then can let kids loose on it in as little as two weeks.  And with seeds while it does grow up quicker I've been quote 12 weeks or so before kids can start runnign aroudn and using it.  Could this be quicker? If so how quick?  If they start running around on it at a month, will it cause damage to the fragile grass, which then wont grwo properly and be patchy, and then if I want to put more seed on it it'll be autumn when they've stopped using it and it'll be pointless?

Slinky

New grass is very fine and needs treating carefully. There's nothing you can do realistically to speed it up. If you want kids to be able to use the garden this summer without wrecking it, the option has to be turf.

twopenny

I agree, seed is a difficult balance of nurturing and keeping the birds off.

Turf will need watering through summer but the kids could do that for a bit of fun. With clay if it's full on clay you may want to research the best way to lay it before you get anyone in.

If you plan to do it yourself check out how. It's not rocket science but it needs to be done right. Must be lots of vids on that as I've been watching the garden makeover series doing it for decades.

hd216

I'd say that two weeks to walk on newly laid turf was way too early as the roots would only just be starting to recover and grow into the underlying soil. When we had ours laid, we were told to avoid walking on it for 4-6 weeks. From experience, seed gives a better appearance in the long run, but you'll be fending off the birds and will have to pick out any rogue weeds that appear.

donemedosh

Agree with all the previous posts. Turf is instant as far as looks go but I would leave for a min of 3 weeks (4 is better) before running around on it. If you go for seed you have to make sure you get the right type & apply it evenly. Most seeded lawns also end up patchy unless you are really carefull

Asker

Ok so if turf is realistically 3-4 weeks not two, then I'm still guessing it's significantly quicker than seed?   i.e. TURF 2(dodgy) - 3(minimum safe) 4 (safest)  but SEED probably 12 safest?  So like for like a significant win for turf i.e. the difference between using it this summer vs not?
Trying to justify the extra £500 or so!

twopenny

With experience I've found that some things are actually not as different in price as they seem.

So you plant seed, the birds eat a large amount (it's breeding season) you end up with patches, you buy more seed etc.

If it was easier than this yes, seed would be the cheapest but not if you have to keep buying it and watering it as summer is on the way. And the children are going to want to run and play on it when you're not looking.

Could be exasperating - or could be budget friendly.

I'd go for being able to leave small children out on the grass for a while or chilling out there youself it could be worth the money