Earthworks

What Earthworks does

EarthWorks is a US-based manufacturer of carbon-based organic fertilizers and soil amendments serving the professional turf and ornamental industry. Founded in 1988 by Joel Simmons and Jerry Brunetti, the company pioneered the Biological Soil Management (BSM) approach, which focuses on improving soil biology — microbial populations, nutrient cycling, and soil structure — rather than feeding plants directly with synthetic inputs. Its portfolio comprises two main product lines: Foliars+ liquid fertilizers (BioVantage, CalVantage, MagVantage, Sea3, Kick, KVantage, Trilogy, ProteinPlus, PotentSea, Mikronite) and Replenish dry/granular fertilizers (Myco-Replenish 3-3-3, multiple Replenish N-P-K grades, RenovatePlus, Ecolite). These products are bundled into structured agronomic programs — including the Foliars+ 555 Foliar and Soil Programs, Total Turf Program, Lawn Care Program, Aerification and Recovery, Overseeding, Hydroseeding, and DryJect delivery — that embed the company into multi-season customer workflows.

The company's technical differentiation rests on proprietary formulations such as BioVantage (eight strains of Rhizobacteria combined with carbon-based food sources), CalVantage's Fivefold Matrix calcium complex, KVantage's Eco-Adaptive Technology, Ecolite's high-CEC zeolite, and Replenish's compost-based carbon backbone derived from a circular-economy partnership with Rose Acre Farms. EarthWorks monetizes through wholesale hardware sales of these SKUs, distributed via a network of 20+ regional distributors across the United States, with international channels in Canada (Brett Young) and Korea (Turf Solutions Inc.), plus a dedicated direct-to-consumer residential storefront (EarthWorks4Home.com). Customers include golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, lawn care operators, municipalities, schools, and construction/grow-in contractors, supported by in-house agronomists and a soil-testing partnership with Logan Labs and Soil First Consulting that processes over 15,000 tests annually.

Name

Earthworks

Legal name

EarthWorks

Website

https://earthworksturf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EarthWorks, founded in 1988, manufactures carbon-based organic fertilizers and soil amendments for the professional turf industry, serving golf courses, sports fields, lawn care operators, and municipalities through a US-wide distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Fertilizers

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Compost Manufacturing (325315)

akta.pro primary industry

Turf & Ornamental Specialty Fertilizers (Golf, Sports Turf, Landscaping) (AFABACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foliar Fertilizers & Foliar Nutrition Programs (AFABACAC), Compost & Soil Amendment Product Manufacturing/Blending (Value-Added Organics) (BPALAEAH), Fertilizer Production & Granulation Services (Tolling, Compaction, Prilling) (AFABABAI)

Keywords

• Organic fertilizer products
• Biological soil management
• Turf fertility programs
• Granular lawn fertilizers
• Sports turf amendments

Headquarters

HQ city

Easton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Organic-Based Fertilizer Products: EarthWorks generates revenue through the sale of two main product lines: (1) Foliars+ liquid fertilizers sold in 2x2.5-gallon boxes and 55-gallon drums, and (2) Replenish dry/granular fertilizers sold in bags. Products are sold through a network of distributors to professional turf managers including golf courses, sports fields, lawn care companies, and municipal grounds.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

EarthWorks manufactures carbon-based dry and liquid fertilizers for the professional turf and ornamental industry. The portfolio consists of Foliars+ liquid fertilizers sold in 2x2.5-gallon boxes and 55-gallon drums, and Replenish dry/granular fertilizers sold in bags, organized into integrated programs including Foliars+ 555, Total Turf, Lawn Care, Hydroseeding, Overseeding, and Aerification and Recovery programs. Products are sold through a nationwide distributor network to golf courses, sports turf managers, lawn care companies, parks, schools, and municipalities under the Biological Soil Management approach.

Product overview

EarthWorks is an organic-based fertilizer company offering a comprehensive product portfolio centered on Biological Soil Management. The portfolio consists of two main product lines: Foliars+ Liquid Fertilizers (BioVantage, CalVantage, MagVantage, Sea3, Kick, KVantage, Trilogy, ProteinPlus, PotentSea, Mikronite) for foliar and soil applications, and Replenish Dry Fertilizers (Myco-Replenish 3-3-3, Replenish 10-2-5, 5-4-5, 8-2-2, 3-4-3, 16-0-5, RenovatePlus, Ecolite) for granular soil amendments. These products are organized into integrated programs including the Foliars+ 555 Foliar Program, Foliars+ 555 Soil Program, Total Turf Program, Lawn Care Program, Hydroseeding Program, Overseeding Program, Aerification and Recovery Program, and Dryject delivery service. The company was founded in 1988 and operates from a partnership with Rose Acre Farms, producing compost-based fertilizers from poultry manure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BioVantage Carbon-based biological complex delivering living microbes (eight strains of Rhizobacteria) with carbon food sources (fish and kelp meal) to energize soil biology, break down thatch, and strengthen root systems for professional turf managers.
• CalVantage Carbon-based calcium complex built on a Fivefold Matrix of calcium, nitrogen, sulfur, and boron co-factors that improve calcium mobility through soil for stronger roots and better nutrient uptake.
• MagVantage Carbon-based magnesium complex designed to drive chlorophyll production, improve color, and boost turf vigor through multiple forms of magnesium with carbon carriers and key co-factors.
• Sea3 Liquid carbon-based soil amendment designed to stimulate microbial activity, improve soil conditions, release tied-up nutrients, flocculate compacted soils, and enhance air and water movement in the root zone.
• Kick Soil conditioner that opens tight soils, breaks nutrient bonds, fuels microbial activity, and promotes healthy root growth in both turf and ornamentals.
• KVantage Eco-Adaptive Potassium Complex delivering potassium in multiple forms (formate, bicarbonate, acetate) for maximum uptake while protecting plants from sodium stress using BioCharge technology.
• Trilogy Blended fertilizer and soil builder combining phosphorus, potassium, trace elements, and organic sources to feed plants and soil microbes, enhancing growth, resilience, and turf performance.
• ProteinPlus Complete plant protein builder providing multiple forms of nitrogen, essential macro- and micronutrients, and cofactors to support amino acid and protein synthesis including chlorophyll.
• PotentSea High-performance foliar and soil booster combining fish meal, kelp extract, and HPTA-certified humic complex to stimulate microbial activity and support plant recovery from heat stress.
• Mikronite Advanced trace element booster delivering boron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, and molybdenum with a carbon base to support plant metabolism and microbial activity.
• Myco-Replenish 3-3-3 Mycorrhizal-enhanced organic fertilizer blending high-quality organic poultry compost with endo- and ecto-mycorrhizal fungi to build stronger root systems and improve nutrient uptake.
• Replenish 10-2-5 Carbon-rich bridge fertilizer combining methylene urea (50% WIN) with Replenish compost to feed both plants and soil microbes for balanced, long-term fertility.
• Replenish 5-4-5 All-purpose organic and mineral fertilizer with 50% WIN providing steady, long-term feeding without burn or salt buildup while rebuilding soil health.
• Replenish 8-2-2 Cost-effective organic and mineral fertilizer combining ammonium sulfate with organic compost to provide quick nitrogen for green-up and carbon-rich food source for soil health.
• Replenish 3-4-3 100% OMRI-listed organic poultry compost providing cost-effective, mineral-rich top-dressing fertilizer high in calcium, carbon, and naturally occurring minerals.
• Replenish 16-0-5 Slow-release nitrogen fertilizer with 50% WIN combining methylene urea and ammonium sulfate with Replenish compost for sustained performance while building soil health.
• RenovatePlus Soil-opening, recovery-boosting amendment — a 50/50 blend of Renovate and Eco-Lite zeolite designed for aerification, sports turf recovery, sod and seed projects, and new construction.
• Ecolite High-performance zeolite soil amendment with the highest cation exchange capacity (CEC) among physical amendments, improving soil porosity, water retention, and nutrient availability.
• Foliars+ 555 Foliar Program Carbon-based biweekly foliar application program combining Trilogy, Protein Plus, and CalVantage to provide nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, micronutrients, and carbon cofactors for consistent plant nutrition.
• Foliars+ 555 Soil Program Carbon-based soil program for sodium, bicarbonate, and soil biology management combining Kick, KVantage, and BioVantage applied biweekly as a light rinse-in.
• Total Turf Program Cost-effective fertility and recovery program for large turf areas combining Replenish granular fertilizer with Sea3 liquid foliars for golf course fairways, roughs, sports fields, and lawn care.
• Lawn Care Program Seasonal lawn care program combining carbon-rich fertilizers, biological stimulation, and seasonal fertility applications to improve soil structure and produce stronger, more resilient turf.
• Hydroseeding Program Program incorporating Replenish 3-4-3 into hydroseeding slurry to maintain moisture holding capacity and provide quick turf establishment with denser, greener results.
• Overseeding Program Program using Myco-Replenish at seed drop and Sea3 during grow-in to establish overseeding projects faster with mycorrhiza fungi extending root systems.
• Aerification and Recovery Program Program using Renovate Plus, Myco-Replenish, and Replenish fertility products during aerification to improve soil structure, increase rooting, and accelerate turf recovery.
• Dryject & EarthWorks Aerification Service Aerification delivery service using DryJect equipment to deliver EarthWorks amendments (Renovate Plus, Ecolite, Myco333) precisely into soil profile in a single pass.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fewer inputs needed while achieving better turf performance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Logan LabscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Strategic partnership with Logan Labs in Lake View, Ohio for soil testing services. EarthWorks runs over 15,000 soil tests annually through this partnership, using Logan Labs' state-of-the-art equipment and quality control processes to support client soil analysis.
• Soil First ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Partnering with Soil First Consulting alongside Logan Labs to provide comprehensive soil audit programs and interpretative services for turf managers.
• Rose Acre FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnique circular economy partnership where EarthWorks turns poultry manure from Rose Acre Farms into premium compost-based fertilizers. This partnership enables domestic sourcing and production of organic fertilizers.
• DryJectcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with DryJect for aerification services. DryJect delivers EarthWorks amendments (Renovate Plus, Ecolite, Myco333) precisely where needed in a single pass, simplifying aerification and maximizing the impact of EarthWorks products.
• Brett YoungcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian distribution partner for EarthWorks products across Canada.
• Turf Solutions Inc. (Korea)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKorean distribution partner for EarthWorks products in Korea.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lebanon Seaboard Corporation (LebanonTurf): LebanonTurf is a major manufacturer of professional turf and specialty fertilizers serving golf courses, sports turf, and lawn care operators across the US. It competes directly with EarthWorks in granular and foliar fertilizer product lines for the same superintendent and lawn care customer base.
• Harrell's: Harrell's is a leading distributor-formulator of turf and ornamental protection and nutrition products for golf courses, sports fields, and lawn care operators in the US. It is one of EarthWorks' most direct distribution-layer competitors, blending proprietary and partner brands into agronomic programs for superintendents.
• Profile Products: Profile Products manufactures soil amendments, fertilizers, and erosion control products used on golf courses, sports fields, and landscaping projects. Its product line, including Greens Grade and other soil conditioners, overlaps directly with EarthWorks' Replenish and RenovatePlus amendments.
• Sustane Natural Fertilizer: Sustane manufactures organic and natural fertilizers and compost-based products for turf, agriculture, and horticulture, including OMRI-listed granular options. It competes with EarthWorks' Replenish line of compost-based dry fertilizers, particularly in the organic and sustainable turf segment.

Broad incumbents

• The Andersons (Lawn & Garden / Turf & Specialty): The Andersons is a diversified agribusiness with a substantial turf and specialty fertilizer business serving golf, sports, and lawn care customers. It overlaps with EarthWorks in granular fertilizers and soil amendments, but competes across a much broader portfolio of agricultural and industrial products.
• Simplot Partners (JR Simplot Company): Simplot Partners is the turf and specialty agriculture distribution arm of JR Simplot, supplying fertilizers, plant protection, and seed to golf, sports, and landscape customers. It competes with EarthWorks at the channel level and on granular and foliar fertilizer SKUs in the same end markets.

Emerging players

• Soil Technologies Corporation: Soil Technologies produces biological fertility and biostimulant products for turf, agriculture, and horticulture, including mycorrhizal and microbial offerings. It is a smaller, focused competitor to EarthWorks' biological soil management approach and BioVantage-style microbial products.
• Nature's Safe: Nature's Safe produces compost-based organic fertilizers from poultry litter, similar in feedstock and end-product profile to EarthWorks' Replenish compost-based line. It is a comparable specialty player in the organic and natural fertilizer category targeting turf and agricultural customers.

Others

• Advanced Nutrients: Advanced Nutrients is a specialty plant nutrition company that, while primarily focused on hydroponics and cannabis, develops carbon-based and biologically active formulations conceptually adjacent to EarthWorks' Biological Soil Management methodology. Included as a thematically related specialty nutrition peer rather than a direct turf competitor.
• DryJect: DryJect is a service-and-equipment provider for aerification that partners with EarthWorks to deliver its amendments (Renovate Plus, Ecolite, Myco333) into the soil profile. Included as an ecosystem partner that materially extends EarthWorks' go-to-market via a complementary service offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/soilfirst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXmdDz04GJfr7cks-dZwUPQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/earthworksturf

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Earthworks