According to the Environmental Protection Agency, residential lawns can use more than 10 times as much fertilizer and herbicide as commercial farms—chemicals that eventually end up in our water supply. While both cold-weather and warm-weather grasses often require additional nitrogen, phosphorus, and/or potassium to remain healthy and vibrant, there are several things homeowners can do to reduce the amount and frequency of fertilizing with these chemicals.

The first question to ask yourself is whether you need to fertilize at all. There are a few things to look for before grabbing the bag of weed and feed. First, is clover taking over? Clover thrives on nitrogen but, unlike your lawn, pulls it from the air, not the soil. So if clover is taking hold, it usually means that your lawn is low on nitrogen.

Luckily, those yard clippings that you sweep and bag after mowing are packed with the nitrogen your lawn needs. According to the EPA, nearly one-fifth of all municipal solid waste collected is organic matter or yard waste that could be composted on site. Using a mulching mower that chops grass clippings to less than a half inch long and leaves them on the lawn builds a healthy thatch to protect against soil erosion, returns the nutrients directly to the plants, and reduces the amount you feed your local landfill. No fertilizer needed.

What is the pH level of your soil? The arch-enemy of any lawn lover is the dreaded dandelion, and it turns out that the little weeds love a high pH while your lawn wants a lower pH. If the weeds are taking over, have your soil professionally tested. To strike the right balance, you will want to apply either sulfur to lower the pH or lime to raise it.

If you do need to feed the grass, you have options. Applying organic mulch is a great way to nourish your lawn without injecting potential toxins into the environment. Usually applied in the fall, organic fertilizers slowly release nutrients when the root system is stocking up for winter. These products promote deep root growth that improves your topsoil as well as reduces water run-off.

Likewise, when you consider the cost of purchasing herbicides that target broad-leaf plants like dandelions, remember that those chemicals end up polluting the planet's soil and water supply. While it may seem faster and easier just to apply a few squirts of poison to the cracks in your driveway or sidewalk, elbow grease and a hand spade are considerably safer for you, your pets, and your neighbors downstream.

What Is Organic?

In the fertilizer industry, the term organic is used to refer to any product containing carbon in its chemical structure. This means that man-made forms such as ureaformaldehyde are called organic along with “natural” fertilizers such as composted manure.

While both kinds of materials supply slow-release nitrogen to your grass, natural, or nonsynthetic, fertilizers do more than just add nutrients to the soil. They improve the overall condition of the soil and increase the number of beneficial microorganisms residing in it.

Unfortunately, natural fertilizers would need to be spread in large quantities to meet lawn fertilization requirements. So, the best strategy is to use natural fertilizers to supplement a yearly dose of synthetic fertilizer.