Hello Dan,

First of all, “organic” is a specific term in horticulture that controls how garden materials have been grown/developed. As you investigate lawn care, you may want to search “natural” as well as “organic.” Also, MSU cannot specifically recommend any company, product or service. We can provide you with information to help you identify what products you may want to use/buy.

You can have a low maintenance, pleasingly green lawn by choosing an appropriate grass type and applying the proper cultural care for your lawn. The first thing to do, is have a soil test performed. The results of the soil test will tell you what you need to add in terms of organic matter and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) to establish a healthy lawn. Here is information about obtaining an MSU Soil test. https://homesoiltest.msu.edu/get-started

The soil test will tell you what nutrients and/or amendments you need to add in order to maintain a healthy lawn. Generally, the nutrient needed most by grass plants is nitrogen. There are natural sources of nitrogen that can be applied to your lawn to fertilize it. Several are listed in the following links, but in Michigan, fertilizers applied to grass need to have a middle number (phosphorus) of 0 or very near zero.

https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-4031

https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/selecting-and-using-organic-fertilizers

Fine fescues (strong creeping red fescue, slender creeping red fescue, Chewings fescue, hard fescue, and sheep fescue) can make a reasonable lawn that grows to a limited height and can provide a cultured lawn space. White clover is also an antique green ground cover that has interesting properties of fixing gaseous nitrogen from the air into the soil through its root structures. It is best used in conjunction with other low growing grass plants. For fine fescues mixed with clover, very little supplemental nitrogen needs to be added to provide sufficient fertility.

An excellent resource on clover in the lawn is https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/ilriverhort/2016-03-18-microcloversa-new-lawn-alternative

Here is an Ask Extension Reference on using clover in a lawn: https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=825723

Appropriate cultural care for your lawn can keep it healthy and thick, thereby preventing the growth of weeds. Mow high, water approximately an inch a week, mulch your clippings. Also, all grasses require sun to thrive. Even “shade tolerant” grass varieties require at least 2-4 hours of direct sunlight or 5-6 hours of dappled sunshine to grow well. Here is an MSU article covering good lawn care:

https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/go_green_lawncare_tip_sheet

With good cultural care, the lawn can grow thick and choke out most weeds. Any weeds that do grow can by physically removed (dug out). The reference below also cites natural weed prevention options.

Resources on natural lawn care are not plentiful, but here is an excellent summary:

https://www.pittsfield-mi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2241/Natural-Lawn-Care-Brochure?bidId=