lawn ruined - seed or returf?

[MauriceMossMug]

Due to building work our lawn is now just a huge muddy puddle.

I have no knowledge on this are at all.
DH keeps saying we'll need to use seeds or returf but when I asked for more information he admitted he didn't really know anything about it either!

So, help! What should we do, when and what would the aftercare be?

Given the time of year and it's condition I would seed. It's so much cheaper and given how mild the weather is you could have a go now and then seed again in March. You won't be using it over much at this time of year anyway.

If that doesn't work for any reason you would still have time to turf it in June and have it to use for the summer.

That sounds like a good idea.
Is there any particular seeds you'd recommend SkiingGardener? And is it fairly easy to do?

Astro turf!!

There are whole text books written on how to get a lawn.

Treat for weeds of you have hundreds, otherwise worry about them later. Basically, rake it hard so the surface is shaken up a bit to give the grass seed a chance. Buy a bag of grass seed that's suitable for the garden and throw it around at the rate it says on the pack. Rake it again but more gently and water. Try and scare the birds away (you won't succeed). Water it if it doesn't rain for a few days and wait. After a month chuck some more grass seed on it to fill in the gaps.

Grass seed depends what type of lawn and aspect you have. Shade or sun and hardwearing or fine lawn. Have a look at the B&Q website and they're labelled.

Good luck.

turf as its not so large so wont cost the earth

It looks like the soil might need improving as well, so 'spike' it with fork and put down peat or other (weed free) organic material.

I would turf that small patch, much easier to do. Add in a bit of top spoil to level it out then off you go.

I suspect that under the mud, the network of grass roots is still there waiting for a moment when it isn't disturbed to sprout again.

So, keep everyone off the lawn, and as PP said, chuck a few handfuls of hard wearing grass seed on it too, just to help it along.

That's all you do.

If you give it time without being trodden on, then by the summer it should have recovered quite well and also have dried out a lot.

Don't despair.

It seems to be dying off rather than getting better Pippa
Immediately after the building work was completed in November the grass had a few spots with no grass but was mostly fine.
It's not been touched or walked on since and it's just got worse and worse until nothing's left.

I think we'll get a professional in to turf it as I think my black fingers couldn't possible get it sorted even with all the helpful advice!

I had a professional turf mine last year and it is already dead! I have to admit I didn't look after it and I think it got some sort of grass disease because it went all manky and mouldy looking. I am going to have to seed it soon because I have big soil patches - I did this is my old garden and it worked really well.