Organic Lawn Care with Lawnbox
This is a true story of Doug’s rivalry with our 90 year old neighbor.
Ohhh yes. You read that right. We may be all smiles on the outside but we’re not above a little healthy competition with our local elderly folk.
You see, we have this neighbor. Let’s call her “Barb.” Barb has a really fricking gorgeous lawn. It’s lush, vibrant green, and always immaculately cut. She does it all herself, too, which is more impressive than I can begin to describe.
Doug is jealous of Barb.
He loves her lawn and – spoiler alert – our lawn is lackluster compared to hers. We’ve got dirt patches. Dry spots. Discoloration. It needs a lot of help.
Remember: We lived in the city for 10 years, are newbies in the home ownership department, and thus have no idea how to care for a lawn. All this will naturally lend to some learning curves. Last year, after our home renovation, our yard was all dirt. To start, we had sod delivered, and were hopeful for a year and beyond of great growth. Buuuuut somehow we screwed it up and this season we’re left with a lawn that…well, even Barb gives the side eye to. Check out the below photos for proof. #Help
I know what you’re thinking. “Why don’t you just put fertilizer down?!” Good question. Honestly, we’ve been concerned with putting anything down that’s not straight from nature because we have kids who run around barefoot every day. Plus, as ones who are trying to be better environmentally, we’ve been concerned with putting chemicals on our lawn. Of course we want a great looking lawn, but not at the expense of our health, values, and the environment.
But then I found Lawnbox, which is a company that delivers 100% organic lawn care plans that are tailored for your lawn.
I decided to be an A+ wife and surprise Doug with a Lawnbox plan so he could show Barb who’s boss. Here’s his reaction as he opened up our plan, tailored specifically for our lawn.
Excited?! Nay. BEAMING. I even got a great foot massage that night.
Here’s what makes Lawnbox organic lawn care different than the rest.
Lawnbox is truly organic.
There’s a lot of noise and misinformation in organic lawn care. Plenty of companies position their products as organic or natural, but they aren’t. Every product they offer is OMRI listed. This means that the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) has reviewed all of their ingredients and approved them as being 100% organic.
Lawnbox is kid, pet, and pollinator safe
With the absence of harsh synthetic chemicals or toxins, Lawnbox is kid, pet and pollinator safe. And unlike traditional lawn care, there’s no need to stay off your lawn after their products have been applied.
Premier Ingredients
Most organic lawn care products use manure, biosolids or other waste products as their nitrogen sources. Lawnbox doesn’t use any of those. Instead they use Chilean nitrate and soybean meal. (Check out more about their ingredients at this link!)
It’s Fool Proof
Or shall I say…Doug and Emily proof? I suppose fool proof still works in that case. 😉 Really though, it’s easy! Lawn plans will cover the entire lawn care season. No more trying to figure out what to apply and when to apply it. AND it’s never too late in the season to start a lawn plan. Lawnbox plans run on a rolling calendar so your subscription will renew at the same time the following year. Furthermore, all products are backed by their “Love Your Lawn” Guarantee. If a customer isn’t happy with their results, they provide a full refund.
Need I say more?!
Okay, fine, I will. Plans start around $150 and cover lawns up to 20,000 square feet. (Be sure to grab my discount code at the bottom of this post!) Outside of the lawn care subscriptions Lawnbox also offers add-on products called Soil Saver, a soil conditioner, GrubOut, a grub control product, and three types of spreaders.
I personally just feel so good about the fact that these products are safe enough for my kids to play on the grass even after applying! That truly says a lot.
We applied our Lawnbox products, and can’t wait to see how it transforms our lawn!
I have to say, it was super easy! Alright, fine, Doug does all the lawn work so it’s always easy for me. But Doug did mention the process was a breeze and he can’t wait to show up Barb. Below is photo documentation of him arriving at the battlefield, then heading into battle. Thank you Lawnbox, for giving us a fighting chance. We can’t wait to watch Barb’s face as our lawn improves.
I can just hear Doug laughing. “HA HA HAAAAA, BARB! WHO’S GOT THE BEST LAWN ON THE BLOCK NOW?!?!” The answer will no doubt be us. If you’re curious, check back in to this post in a few weeks. I’ll be posting an update on here and on Instagram!
Alright guys — added bonus! I recently asked on Instagram what questions you all had about lawn care, and the Lawnbox team generously offered to answer them! Below is a Q&A with their team.
Organic Lawn Care Q&A with Lawnbox
How do you get rid of dandelions in a safe way?
Many traditional weed killers contain chemicals that aren’t safe for children and pets. There are many homemade concoctions that can get the job done, but tread carefully — some are designed to kill all plants, not just weeds. There are also solutions available featuring only organic ingredients, with many being iron-based. Although the Lawnbox subscription plans do not currently include weed preventers/killers, they are in the process of developing these products and hope to have them in place soon.
Is fertilizer safe? Is it harmful for the environment? Especially with kids and a dog?
Traditional lawn care programs typically include synthetic-chemical-based fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide, and fungicide applications. While these programs provide the nutrients your lawn needs and eliminate most weeds, insects and diseases, many of these chemicals aren’t designed to be safe for humans, pets, or wildlife (picture the traditional “CAUTION! Stay off the grass!” yard sign). Many lawns have also become addicted to these chemicals, resulting in shallow roots, little drought and traffic tolerance, and the need for frequent watering.
Rather than filling your lawn with synthetic chemicals, organic lawn care is more focused on your lawn’s entire ecosystem, providing your grass with the nutrients it needs and turning your soil into a grass-boosting machine. Organic lawn plans create family-friendly spaces that can be enjoyed, rather than avoided.
Although it may seem like your lawn is just a small plot of land, your choice to keep things like synthetic-chemical-based fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides off of that land can have a huge impact. With that choice, you are joining so many others in making yards, neighborhoods and waterways around the world saferplaces for humans and wildlife to live and play.
How often do you need to fertilize?
Fertilizer application schedules depend on the ingredients. While synthetic chemicals have been used for decades to provide near-instant greening and feed for months, remember, these are the same chemicals that may be non-family-friendly. All Lawnbox products utilize ingredients found on OMRI’s list of materials approved for organic use. Featuring both quick-release and slow-release nitrogen sources, their fertilizer products provide the near-instant greening we’re all looking for and continue to feed your lawn for up to six weeks. With each fertilizer application, Lawnbox products also help condition your soil, strengthening roots and improving drought tolerance.
What kind of grass grows best in sandy dirt with shade?
Choosing the right grass seed for a new lawn should first take into account your climate. There are two types of grasses — cool season (typically found in northern regions) and warm season (typically found in southern regions). After identifying the type of grass best suited for your region, you would want to narrow the search to those best suited for sandy soils. Varieties like tall fescue, Bermuda grass, Zoysia and bentgrass all form deep roots that assist in absorbing both water and nutrients in sandy soils. Shade is another factor that will assist you in further refining the list of best-fits for your yard. There are many varieties designed for shade alone, but many are combination “sun and shade” products, which allow you to spread the same seed across your entire property.
Lawnbox products were designed to be extremely versatile and impact the full spectrum of climates, soil types and lawn types. They also include beneficial ingredients like humic acid, which provides a boost to any type of soil or grass, creating an ecosystem where lawns can thrive.
Does fertilizer help with things like pests, lawn grubs, and weeds?
Absolutely! An organic lawn care plan that builds healthy grass and soil promotes your lawn’s ability to build strong roots, choke out weeds, and defend against pests, all without the use of harsh synthetic chemicals. In some cases, though, this just isn’t enough. That’s why Lawnbox offers solutions like GrubOut, a product designed to control lawn damage caused by grubs and animals looking to feed on grubs. They are also working to develop insecticide and weed control options and hope to have in place soon.
If you’re like us and want the best lawn on the block, I think we can all agree Lawnbox is the solution. Just for Isn’t That Charming readers, Lawnbox has offered to give your first box free when choosing the Annual Payment option at checkout! Swing by this link and use code CHARMING.
I can’t wait to see how our lawn looks now that we’ve applied these organic lawn care products. Remember to bookmark this post and check back in soon to see the progress in a few weeks!
Do you have a “Barb” on your street? How’s your lawn doing? Are you concerned with having anything besides organic products on your lawn like we are? Let’s chat in the comments below!
PS – 4 Lessons Learned From Our Fixer Upper + Our Bright, Colorful Bohemian Inspired Sunroom
