Compost Tea for Natural Lawn Care
Build living soil for greener grass, less watering, and a yard that’s safe for kids and pets.
Compost Tea for Natural Lawn Care
Compost tea, an alternative to traditional fertilizer, is excellent for improving the soil under your trees and shrubs, but did you know it can also boost the health of your lawn?
At Leaf & Limb, we would love it if everyone replaced their yards with lively meadows—what we affectionately call Piedmont Prairies. But we understand that many people want open, grassy spaces for kids, pets, and play. Since lawns aren’t disappearing, there’s a better way to care for them: compost tea.
Benefits of Compost Tea for Lawns
- Healthier, more absorbent soil
- Drought-tolerant, more resilient grass
- Fewer weeds over time
- Reduced runoff and water pollution
- Safe for pets and kids
What is compost tea?
Compost tea is sometimes called a natural fertilizer, but it’s much more than that. This chemical-free lawn care treatment is made from leaf compost (rotting leaves) and worm castings (worm poop) and is a living brew full of beneficial organisms. These microscopic allies—fungi, bacteria, and other tiny life forms—build richer, deeper soil while nourishing roots.
What’s so bad about Weed & Feed?
Traditional lawn programs rely on repeated applications of fertilizers, pesticides, and weed killers. These chemicals disrupt the natural processes that create and sustain healthy soil—and they must be reapplied to keep lawns green. Over time the soil becomes lifeless, more compacted, and less able to absorb rainfall or irrigation. It doesn’t have to be that way. Healthier soil and greener lawns are possible with fewer chemicals and less water.
How will compost tea help my lawn?
Unlike traditional fertilizers, compost tea supports lawn health by revitalizing the soil rather than degrading it. Turf soils are notoriously poor, but compost tea feeds grass roots and stimulates microbial activity underground. That boosts the natural processes that sustain healthy soil, producing more resilient grass, improving water retention, and reducing runoff and water pollution.
Proof is in the Roots
Troy Hinke, consultant to the Rodale Institute and owner of Living Roots Compost Tea, recently shared this photo from his own lawn.
A side-by-side look at Bermuda grass cores reveals the stark difference between chemical and biological lawn care. Chemical NPK programs create thick thatch, compacted soil, and a need for mechanical aeration which further harms soil structure. In contrast, a lawn treated with compost tea shows no thatch, richer color, better structure, and improved tilth. The result is healthier turf and thriving soil life. Hinke summarized this by saying, "A natural and biological approach to turf grass leads to far less labor. Just grow, mow, and go."
How often should it be applied?
Apply monthly for best results; quarterly or twice per year also helps. Unlike harsh chemicals, compost tea isn’t easily “overdone.” Choose a cadence that fits your budget and goals.
Let Us Help You Build a Lively Lawn
Compost tea creates healthy soil, resilient grass, and a yard that’s safe for pets and kids. Want an estimate for how much this would cost for your yard? Answer this one question and we’ll handle the rest. Or if you'd prefer, you can call us or or send us a message.
