What’s an organic lawn?

Just like the organic produce you can get at the grocery store or farmers market, an organic lawn is grown without synthetic chemicals. That means no synthetic fertilizers & no synthetic weed killers.

Why is it so important that we get away from synthetic lawn chemicals?

With around 40 million acres of turfgrass in the continental United States, grass is by far the largest irrigated crop in the country. We have three times as much land set aside for growing turf as we do for irrigated corn. ​

Each year, Americans apply around 90 million pounds of synthetic chemical fertilizer to their lawns, either themselves or with a lawn company. These chemicals destroy the composition of our soils, pollute our waters and damage the creatures responsible for natural decomposition processes. ​

Chemicals found in synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides also introduce toxins to humans, pets and wildlife, which are known to cause disease and other health problems.

How can an organic yard help heal the planet?

Natural lawn care isn't about pumping nutrients into your lawn, it's about building up organic matter in your soil. Having healthier soil will mean thicker turf and less weeds, which means less need for herbicides. Having healthier soil will mean less watering, because organic matter locks moisture into the soil. Plus, healthy soil sequesters carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere where it becomes a greenhouse gas.

Removing synthetic chemicals from our yards also keeps those chemicals out of our watershed-- something that we as an organic lawn company work at every day. Applying organic fertilizer, soil amendments and microbial drenches will build up your soil and give you a healthier lawn. Natural fertilizer also locks carbon into your soil, which is great for the environment.

What it means to have an organic yard.

Pollinators, people, pets and the planet. These are the things that will benefit from you growing a natural lawn. Switching to an organic lawn is one of the most meaningful things you can do for your yard, your neighborhood and the ecosystem around you. In 2026, Good Sweet Earth is celebrating the Year of the Pollinator, which means we’re focusing on how lawn care affects bees and butterflies, not just your turf. So what does it mean to have an organic lawn, and what does it actually look like?

• It all starts with the soil. A healthy natural lawn is built from the ground up. That means adding organic matter and feeding the microbial populations beneath your grass. It means rebuilding the living ecosystem growing in your soil. When you apply an eco-friendly lawn fertilizer, you're building up your soil, not just force-feeding your turf nutrients. An eco-friendly approach focuses on what's happening underground, because healthy soil produces healthy grass.

• A natural lawn welcomes biodiversity. A truly natural lawn is never a monoculture. You won't find a monoculture growing anywhere in nature, and no eco-friendly lawn company should promote a monoculture as something to aspire to. Having a natural lawn means turning away from unsustainable standards and accepting that at-minimum, 10% of what's growing in your lawn will be something other than turfgrass. That's not a flaw, it’s not a failure, it’s how we work with nature, instead of against it. The goal isn't to eliminate every unfamiliar plant but to manage and guide that biodiversity thoughtfully. One of the best ways to manage your biodiversity is by introducing clover, which feeds the soil and supports pollinators at the same time. As an organic lawn company, we want to help you work with Mother Nature, not fight her.

• It's safe for every creature living in and around your yard. Maintaining an eco-friendly organic lawn means everything applied to your yard is safe for your kids, your pets, local wildlife and the pollinators our ecosystem and farmers depend on. Eco-friendly lawn care is about more than just grass. In this Year of the Pollinator, choosing that path is a commitment to the entire world around you.

Interested in learning more? Get in touch with us. Interested in becoming a pollinator protector? Support the Protect MI Pollinators campaign. Interested in seeing our work for yourself? Check out Lawn Shots.