Organic lawn management

Alternatives include the use of beneficial insects and natural predators such as nematodes to prevent infestation of lawns with pests such as crane fly larvae and ants.

Pesticides are allowed under the NOFA Standards for organic land care[9] but not always used in organic lawn care because proper cultural practices can keep pest populations below action thresholds, such as preventing fungal infections using physical maintenance techniques such as effective mowing and raking.

Synthetic (inorganic based) fertilizers are made in chemical processes, some of which use fossil fuels and contribute to global warming.

[22] In 1996, King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, had transitioned the Highgrove House estate's farm and gardens to organic management.

[27] In 2009, the New York Times reported on Harvard University's decision to use organic management on all their grounds, which was championed by President Drew Gilpin Faust and implemented by landscape director Wayne Carbone.

The New York Times noted: "Thanks to these efforts, the university has reduced the use of irrigation by 30 percent, according to Mr. Carbone, thus saving two million gallons of water a year.

And the 40-year-old orchards at Elmwood, which have been treated with compost tea, are recovering from leaf spot and apple scab, two ailments that had afflicted them.

The High Line's design is a collaboration between James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Piet Oudolf.

[29] Residents Catherine Cummings and Julie Taddeo began a campaign in 2011 to restrict lawncare pesticide use in Takoma Park, Maryland.

[31] In 2014, Bill and Judy Baker and other residents convinced the Ogunquit Town Council to pass a strict pesticide ban requiring organic land care on both public and private property.

Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal (D-at-large) wrote and introduced Bill 52-14,[34] based on Takoma Park's 2013 legislation.

[43] In 2019, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats began the transition to make Delta Dental Stadium the first professional baseball field that is organically managed.

Stonyfield, as part of its #playfree campaign to convert recreational spaces to organic management, supported the field's transition.

[46] In 2022, a synthetic pesticide ban on public and private property passed by the Baltimore City Council in 2020 went into effect.

[47] In 2024, a synthetic pesticide ban on public and private property went into effect in Hallowell, which is located along the Kennebec River.