No-Chemical Organic Lawns--A Growing Consumer Trend

Scripps Howard News Service
July 16, 2001, Monday

Lawn lovers go organic
SOURCE: Scripps Howard News Service
BYLINE: MATT BRANAUGH

Dave Allen of Boulder, Colo., values his yard. When he cranks up his lawn
mower at his Niwot home, he mows the lawn in a certain pattern to achieve a
certain look. He and his wife enjoy spending time working in the yard.
"It's definitely therapeutic," he said. "I like to take some pride in the
way my lawn looks."

But in 1999, Allen decided synthetically made chemicals used by some lawn
care services could be harmful. He said he thinks some of those chemicals
affected the health of one of his dogs.

"I've had other lawn services over the years. Some use some pretty nasty
chemicals. We have dogs, and they are definitely the joy of our life," he
said. "We certainly don't want to do anything to jeopardize their safety."
So he turned to organic products.

At a time when organic foods are grabbing headlines, organic lawn products
are slowly gaining ground. And Boulder-based Organo-Lawn, the company Allen
turned to for keeping his lawn healthy, is just one example of how those
products are growing in popularity.

"We've seen a big change in our lawn over the past couple of years," Allen
said.

Opinions vary as to the impact synthetically made products used by lawn care
services have.

Opponents say herbicides like 2,4-D can damage the environment, ranging from
hurting bird nests and their mating patterns to increased risk of lymphoma
in dogs and added pollution to ground water systems.

Others say studies show 2,4-D and other synthetically made products have
little - if any - health or environmental impact.

Brad Wolfe started Organo-Lawn in 1998 while majoring in marketing at the
University of Colorado. He had become familiar with organic lawn care
products while working for a lawn care service. He made some phone calls. He
did some research.

In the end, he decided products like 2,4-D worked effectively but could harm
humans, plants, animals and water supplies.

Wolfe established contacts with suppliers and other area organic experts as
he grew his business, which started as a part-time venture with 60
customers. He now has a customer database of 2,500 people, 1,600 of whom he
plans to work with this year.

He has seven employees during the busy spring season, and four employees
year-round. Five orange trucks rumble about the Boulder area providing
services.

"A lot of these (organic) products are so hard to find for the homeowner,"
Wolfe said. "I'm really happy I can give a homeowner an opportunity to at
least have the option to use something like this. It is important for our
kids, our pets and our health as well, to at least have an option to use
these things."

Tony Koski, a turf grass expert with Colorado State University's cooperative
extension, said he has worked with organic products since 1980. He said he
recommends both synthetic and organic products because both can help
homeowners achieve healthy lawns.

Koski said studies don't conclusively show that synthetically made products
are damaging. And people should expect to fork out more money for organic
products, he said, but shouldn't expect instant results.

"A lot of what it comes down to is what makes you feel good," Koski said.
"If you like organic products, they are viable. They are more expensive."
Organo-Lawn mostly concentrates on lawn care products, although they also
offer tree care products and perform other yard services.

The corn gluten meal product features ingredients used in animal feed. The
product - essentially mashed up corn - has a 60 percent control rate on
weeds when it is used in early spring.
Koski said the corn gluten meal is very effective, especially when it's used
to prevent weed growth.

Wolfe admits weed control rates with organic products are much lower than
some herbicides. 2,4-D, for instance, can give as much as a 90-percent weed
control rate and visible results within three days, he said, while his
products usually take visible effect in seven to 10 days.

But he said he thinks homeowners who stick to the plan consistently will see
weeds eliminated within a few years. Changes, customers are told, happen
gradually.

"There's no reason an organic product shouldn't work for a customer. If one
doesn't, then we'll try another," he said.
Organo-Lawn can be reached at http://www.organolawn.com.
(Contact Matt Branaugh of the Daily Camera in Boulder, Colo., at
branaughm(at)thedailycamera.com.)
(Visit SHNS on the Web at http://www.shns.com.)