L. E. Trenholm There is a renewed interest today in organic lawn care and a trend among many homeowners to consider long-term environmental concerns in their lawn maintenance programs. The term "organic" can cover many different aspects of lawn care, including fertility and pest management. There is also a certain amount of confusion and misunderstanding over the concept of organic lawn care and what it entails, and as to whether products are beneficial or fall into the "snake oil" category. What is Organic? By definition, an organic compound must contain carbon. Other than that, organics may be naturally occurring or synthetic compounds, and they may be fertilizers, pest control products, or biostimulants. More generally speaking, an organic care program would be expected to include integrated pest management (IPM) practices and recycling, and would emphasize a more naturalized and less manicured environment. Organic Fertilizers Organic fertilizers fall into two ma...