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.

If you’ve spent years spreading synthetic lawn fertilizer, spraying weeds on sight and expecting fast, bright-green results, the idea of switching to organic care can feel risky. An organic lawn isn’t about letting your yard go wild. It’s about changing your approach with a focus on your soil.

Traditional lawn fertilizer pushes quick top growth. It forces grass to grow fast and look green, but it doesn’t do much for the soil underneath. An organic lawn works differently. Instead of feeding the grass directly with salts and synthetics, it feeds the soil. That means using natural inputs like compost, plant-based nutrients and slow-release organic lawn fertilizer that build healthier soil biology over time.

Healthy soil grows thicker, tougher turf. Roots go deeper. Grass becomes more drought-tolerant. Weeds have a harder time moving in because dense turf crowds them out. You’re not ignoring weeds, you’re addressing the reason they showed up in the first place.

A natural lawn also reduces runoff and chemical exposure. If you have kids, dogs or grandkids playing in the yard, that matters. You’re not tracking residues into the house. You’re not contributing to nutrient pollution in local waterways. A natural lawn is about working with biology instead of fighting it.

What about cost? In many cases, organic lawn fertilizer is comparable in price to synthetic programs, especially when you factor in fewer corrective treatments for burned spots or compacted soil. Some homeowners find they actually use less product over time because soil health improves year after year. Plus, an organic lawn is stronger than a lawn supported by synthetic chemicals because everything’s balanced, and a balanced lawn means less disease outbreaks and a fewer pests (like grubs)…and that means less money spent on herbicides and pesticides.

If you’re curious, talk with us. We’re a lawn company that specializes in organic lawn management. A natural lawn will still look clean, intentional and well-kept. It just gets there differently.