Company Focuses on Organic Products
By Matt Branaugh – Camera Business Writer
 Dave Allen 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.
The concept fits in well inside Boulder Valley, an area often viewed as a leader in organic products. Notable area businesses working with organic products include Longmont's Horizon Organic Dairy, Broomfield's Gaiam Inc. and Boulder's Celestial Seasonings, the herbal tea brand of the Hain Celestial Group. "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." Industry experts say the organic yard care industry is an unproven — but budding — business.
Steven Hoffman, managing partner of Broomfield-based Natural Business Communications, said the organic products market is worth $8 billion and grows 20 percent annually. Organic products go beyond food and into medicines, clothing — "and now organic lawn care," Hoffman said. "This is an interesting service to the homeowner," he said. "It reduces using synthetic pesticides and is a more sustainable approach to agriculture and gardening."
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.
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