What Kind of Videos Can You Expect?
We know that sometimes reading about seed types, planting techniques, and maintenance practices isn’t enough. That’s why we’re taking things a step further by creating engaging, informative videos that bring our expertise to life. Here’s what you can expect:
Informational Videos
Ever wondered what makes TWCA grass different or how Nature’s Seed stacks up against the competition? Our informational videos will break down key topics so you can make the best choices for your lawn, pasture, or restoration project. Expect expert insights on:
- The benefits of TWCA-certified grass and how it conserves water.
- How Nature’s Seed compares to other brands and what sets us apart.
- The science behind native seeds, drought-tolerant grasses, and pollinator-friendly plants.
Buying Guides
Choosing the right seed can be overwhelming with so many options available. Our buying guides will simplify the process by walking you through:
- What to look for in grass seed based on your climate, soil type, and intended use.
- The differences between cool-season and warm-season grasses.
- Selecting the best seed mixes for pasture, wildflowers, erosion control, and more.
Seed Guides & Best Practices
Planting grass seed isn’t as simple as just tossing it on the ground—at least, not if you want the best results! Our seed guide videos will answer some of the most common questions, including:
- Can you just throw grass seed down?
- How to plant grass seed for optimal germination.
- How to properly water and care for new grass seed.
- Tips for maintaining a healthy lawn year-round.
Stay Tuned & Subscribe!
Our goal is to make high-quality, expert-driven content that helps you succeed in all your seeding projects. Whether you’re planting a new lawn, reseeding a pasture, or establishing native wildflowers, our videos will provide the guidance you need every step of the way.
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay updated on all our latest videos!
We can’t wait to share this journey with you—we’ll see you in the comments section!
]]>How the Partnership Began
The relationship between Jimmy Lewis and Nature’s Seed started with a simple purchase. Jimmy, like many homeowners passionate about lawn care, was searching for a high-quality grass seed that could deliver the results he wanted. He ordered a bag of Nature’s Seed, planted it in his own yard, and was blown away by the results.
Impressed with the seed’s performance, Jimmy decided to take things a step further. He visited the Nature’s Seed office to personally express how happy he was with the product, even bringing photos of his lush, green lawn as proof. That visit turned into a conversation, which ultimately led to a full-fledged partnership. Recognizing Jimmy’s expertise and passion for lawn care, Nature’s Seed worked with him to develop a custom blend that met his exact specifications.
Why Jimmy’s Blue Ribbon Premium Grass Seed Mix Was Created
After more than a decade of testing different seeds, soil conditions, and lawn care techniques, Jimmy knew exactly what he wanted in a grass seed mix—but he couldn’t find it on store shelves. Most commercially available mixes contained unwanted filler, inconsistent quality, or lacked the rich green color he was after. Rather than settling for something that wasn’t quite right, he decided to create his own.
With Nature’s Seed’s expertise and resources, Jimmy’s Blue Ribbon Premium Grass Seed Mix was formulated to provide homeowners with a professional-grade lawn solution. Designed for both home landscapes and high-end sports fields, this ultra-premium blend ensures stunning results for anyone looking to elevate their lawn.
What’s in the Mix?
Jimmy’s custom blend includes a premium mix of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. These two species were carefully selected for their deep green color, durability, and ability to create a thick, lush lawn. The mix boasts some of the best genetics available, ensuring optimal performance under various conditions.
Key Features of Jimmy’s Blue Ribbon Premium Grass Seed Mix:
- Ultra-Dark Green Color – Features some of the darkest green genetics available, giving your lawn that rich, professional look.
- 0% Weed Seed & 0% Other Crop – Unlike many commercial mixes, this blend contains absolutely no weed seed or other crop contamination.
- Professional-Grade Quality – The same seed Jimmy uses on his own lawn, now available to homeowners and professionals alike.
- Ideal for Home & Sports Fields – Whether you want a pristine backyard or a professional-level playing field, this mix is designed to impress.
Bringing Professional Results to Homeowners
Jimmy Lewis has spent years perfecting his lawn care approach, and now, with Nature’s Seed, he’s making that knowledge available to everyone. Whether you’re a weekend warrior looking to upgrade your yard or a serious lawn enthusiast, Jimmy’s Blue Ribbon Premium Grass Seed Mix provides the foundation for an exceptional lawn.
Nature’s Seed is proud to partner with Jimmy to bring this ultra-premium seed mix to the market, ensuring that everyone has access to the same high-quality grass seed that Jimmy trusts for his own lawn.
]]>We are proud to announce our partnership with some of the most innovative farms and producers on the West Coast. Our ‘California Collection’ is a special collaboration between three unique seed suppliers: Hedgerow Farms and Pacific Coast Seed supplying our Northern ecotypes and S&S Seeds supplying our Southern ecotype seeds within the state of California. Together, they bring an exclusive assortment of native and locally adapted seeds, all carefully curated to celebrate the unique biodiversity of California. This is our love letter to California and to the conservationists and farmers who have made it possible to provide seeds to everyone throughout California. No matter what their experience level may be!
A Tribute to California
California is home to a diverse range of ecosystems, from the majestic coastal cliffs to the sweeping deserts and towering mountain ranges. Our California Collection pays homage to this natural biodiversity, offering a selection of unique and rare seeds that are perfect for a wide range of projects including ecological restoration and native landscaping.
What is an Ecotype?
An ecotype is a subset of native species that is adapted to local environmental conditions. You can think of ecotypes as the “locals”. For example, a California poppy that grew up in Southern California may have an easier time growing in a drier more arid environment than a California poppy that grew up on the North Coast. When you use ecotypes in your seed projects, you are:
- Nourishing California’s iconic flora
- Sustaining the natural environment and enhancing biodiversity
- Supporting local wildlife and pollinators
- Contributing to conservation efforts
- Adapting to environmental changes
- Aiding erosion control and disaster preparedness
Hedgerow Farms: California’s Premier Native Seed Grower Since 1988
Hedgerow Farms, located in Winters, CA, is a pioneer in the native seed industry and has been dedicated to preserving California’s unique flora for over 35 years. Their contribution to the California Collection includes a stunning array of northern ecotypes from native wildflowers and grasses to legumes. From the iconic California Poppy to the delicate Blue-Eyed Grass, Hedgerow Farms’ distinctive influence will aid in recreating the natural splendor of California’s native landscapes.
Pacific Coast Seed: One-Stop Conservation Seed Serving Northern California Since 1985
Pacific Coast Seed, located in Tracy, CA, has been providing seed for erosion and sediment control, restoration, and reclamation, and in the turf and ornamental landscape industries throughout Northern California and Northwest Nevada. They have contributed their unique collection of northern ecotypes from native wildflower mixes and grasses to bioswale mixes. With over three decades in the seed industry, they are recognized as maintaining some of the largest and most diverse inventory of native seeds in California.
S&S Seeds: Experts in Native and Adapted Plants Since 1975
S&S Seeds, located in Carpinteria, CA, has been at the forefront in the use and distribution of low-water, or drought-tolerant, plants. Over the past 50 years, S&S Seeds has been a primary wholesale seed supplier to landscape contractors, government agencies, and seed distributors throughout the United States. S&S Seeds’ extensive wildland collections of native plant seed and their production fields offer more than 1000 different species of native grass, wildflowers, and shrubs for the southern ecotypes of California.
Why Choose the ‘California Collection’?
Preserve California’s Natural Plant History
By using native and adapted seeds from this collection, you are contributing to the preservation of California’s unique ecosystems.
Support Local Seed Producers, Farmers, and Wildland Collectors
When you purchase from the ‘California Collection’, you are supporting local businesses that are deeply committed to preserving and promoting the state’s natural heritage.
Create Your Own Collection
Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just learning what ecotypes are, the ‘California Collection’ makes it easy to transform your outdoor space. Anywhere from a haven for native wildlife, a pollinator garden, a restoration success, to a living piece of California history that pays homage to its native plants, animals, and people.
At Nature’s Seed, we believe in growing your own way. It’s not just about plants, it’s about connecting with nature and fostering biodiversity. The ‘California Collection’, in partnership with Hedgerow Farms, Pacific Coast Seed, and S&S Seeds, is a testament to this belief. We hope you enjoy celebrating this collection more than we enjoyed curating it. Together, we can make California’s landscapes thrive for generations to come.
]]>My name is Marinna. I am new to Nature’s Seed as a Seed Specialist. I am also an online student currently working on my Crop & Soil Science BS at Oregon State University with a concentration in agronomy and a minor in Environmental Science. My passions include seeds, soil, and plants. I have an extensive seed collection at home that I am quite proud of. In my spare time, I start crops from seed, read murder mysteries, watch horror films, do a lot of homework, and spend time in the backyard with my two dogs (North and Lady) and my partner.
I love being outside and learning more about plant species and how we can create harmonious bonds within our ecosystems. I am interested in regenerative agriculture, ecological and soil restoration, native and wildfire-resistant plants, and wetland restoration. I am new to Utah, since 2021. I am excited to learn more about native plant species and to pass on my knowledge.
I have included some of my favorite native wildflowers and grasses below. Native plants are so important to the overall health, stability, and functioning of ecosystems: contributing to the nutrient cycle, soil stabilization, water filtration, and the regulation of local microclimates. They support biodiversity and provide numerous ecological, cultural, and economic benefits. Native plants represent the genetic diversity of a region and can contain unique traits and adaptations that are crucial for conservation efforts and the future of plant breeding. By protecting native plant species, we can preserve genetic resources and ensure the resiliency and adaptability of plant populations in the face of environmental changes. Additionally, native plants provide deep root systems that improve soil structure, prevent erosion, and reduce agricultural runoff of excess nutrients and pollutants into our waterways.
AKA “Rosy Paintbrush” and “Alpine Paintbrush”. Thrives in higher elevations and is extremely drought tolerant. Requires a host plant for survival.
Native: Intermountain West
Scientific Name: Castilleja rhexiifolia
Life Form: Perennial
Height: 8”-32”
Germination Rate: Slow
Blooms: June-August
Prefers well-drained soils, extremely drought tolerant, and highly attractive to pollinators of all kinds. Can be found along roadsides, ditch banks, and open meadows. Is a host plant to the Monarch Butterfly.
Native: Western United States
Scientific Name: Asclepias speciosa
Life Form: Perennial
Height: 12”-72”
Germination Rate: Slow
Blooms: May-September
Native bunchgrass that prefers sandy, well-drained soils. Is drought tolerant, very valuable for erosion control in sandy areas, wildfire resistant, provides forage for livestock and wildlife, and can be grown without irrigation in areas that receive 8 inches of annual precipitation.
Native: Semi-Desert areas of the Intermountain West
Scientific Name: Sporobolus cryptandrus
Life Form: Warm-Season Perennial
Height: 1’-3’
Germination Rate: Slow
Seeding Rate: 2lbs./Acre
Photo ©Matt Lavin via Flickr
Native bunchgrass is an excellent component of erosion control and reclamation projects. Is long-lived and palatable forage for livestock and wildlife, drought-tolerant, wildfire resistant, adaptable to most soils, and can be grown without irrigation in areas that receive 8-10 inches of annual precipitation.
Native: Semi-Desert areas of the Intermountain West
Scientific Name: Pseudoroegneria spicata
Life Form: Cool-Season Perennial
Height: 1’-4’
Germination Rate: Normal
Seeding Rate: 10lbs./Acre
Photo ©Matt Lavin via Flickr
]]>Jimmy runs the website JimmyLewisMows.com as well as a YouTube and other social media channels. I was lucky enough to interview Jimmy and talk about his passion for lawn care.
Nature’s Seed: Can you give us a little background on how you got interested in lawns and lawncare?
Jimmy: We bought our home in 2014. It was new construction at the time, and back then having a lawn wasn’t even on my radar. My wife really wanted to put in a lawn as soon as possible, and before long we had irrigation installed and we purchased and planted our seed. After it grew in I knew I needed to start working with it – mowing, watering, fertilizing. Problem was, I didn’t even know where to start. I found myself on YouTube learning as much as I could, and applying what I learned to the best of my ability. Once I started seeing results from implementing what I was learning, I was hooked. There’s something about being able to look at something you’ve worked hard on, and knowing it looks the way it does because of your efforts. It’s addicting.
From there, I started looking for ways to document what I was learning and how the lawn was doing throughout the year. I started with pictures, and then started making videos and putting them on YouTube. Now I enjoy being a part of a global community, and I have the opportunity to share what I’ve learned and am learning with people all the time. Helping others learn and giving back to the community that way is really rewarding for me.
Nature’s Seed: What Nature’s Seed products do you use and why?
Jimmy: My lawn is Nature’s Seed Blue Ribbon blend. It’s the only seed I’ve used since initially planting, with a few over-seeding events since the initial grow-in. I prefer seed over sod because you can pretty much get what you want that’s going to work best for you, and you can see exactly what you’re getting in each bag of seed because it’s documented right on the label. I’ve been really happy with this blend. It has a beautiful color, it’s resilient and versatile – it looks good at both short and tall heights of cut (my front yard is cut around 1 inch, backyard around 2.5 inches), and it’s pretty easy to work with.
Nature’s Seed: You live in Utah which is the second driest state in the nation, and the West is facing another year of historic drought. What do you do to maximize water efficiency?
Jimmy: Water conservation is important, whether you live in the drought-stricken western part of the country or not. Having an understanding of how to properly water the lawn is key. I’m able to keep the lawn green during the summer with one inch of water per week, split up between two watering sessions 3-4 days apart. I also have a smart sprinkler controller that has a cycle-soak feature to avoid runoff when watering, and it will automatically skip watering sessions when we are lucky enough to get a decent rain during the growing season.
Because everyone has different sprinkler types and configurations, you have to take some time to figure out how long it takes your irrigation system to apply 1/2 inch of water in each of your zones. I spread out a few empty chicken cans across each zone, run my sprinklers for a full cycle, and then stick a tape measure in the can afterward. From there, I can tell whether a zone is being over or under-watered and adjust my controller settings.
Lawns also do better when they are fed well. I use fertilizer products that are rich in potassium, especially leading up to the hot summer months. Potassium helps the grass plant with moisture uptake and retention and improves the plants ability to tolerate different forms of stress.
Finally, during the peak summer months I apply a moisture managing product each month where high temps are above 85 degrees. The product I use literally saves me from needing a third watering session during the week, which given the watering restrictions I was working with last year, and will likely be dealing with again this year, I wasn’t allowed to water more than twice each week. Products like that are a staple in my strategy.
Nature’s Seed: Do you have any tips for the average homeowner who wants to improve their lawn but doesn’t know where to start?
Jimmy: Start with the basics – mowing, watering, and fertilizing.
Find time to mow your lawn often. If you’re not mowing once a week, get in the habit of mowing weekly. Once you’re in the habit, or if you’re already in the habit of mowing weekly, find one night during the week to mow again. The more you mow your lawn, the healthier it will grow. Check your lawn mower’s blade every month or so and sharpen it if needed. If after you mow you find that the tips of the grass blades are frayed, your blade needs to be sharpened. Sharpening your blade is something you can do yourself. There are tons of videos online that will show you several different ways to do it. I personally recommend an angle grinder with a 40-grit flap disc. It’s quick and easy.
Water properly. Use the chicken can strategy to dial in your sprinkler system (if you have one) to put down 1/2” of water each time you water, and set that schedule to run twice weekly, 3-4 days apart.
Don’t be afraid of fertilizer. Invest in a good quality spreader and be patient with learning to spread fertilizer on your lawn. Start with a modest setting and adjust from there. Focus on making an even application, water it in, and wait on the results. Over the course of the growing season you’ll progressively build your confidence and the fear turns into fun.
Nature’s Seed: In your opinion, what’s the biggest gimmick in lawncare?
Jimmy: Two things come to mind, especially after building an audience online. First, there are a lot of people out there who think that lawn care as a hobby is weird. And what’s more, not only is it my hobby, I’m outside working on the lawn with a couple of cameras working on my next video for my YouTube channel. While I’ll admit that part of it is a bit weird, it’s not fair to think of someone’s hobby as strange. Everyone needs an outlet. Somewhere they can go to get away from the everyday grind. I find that outside in my yard. I look forward to the work. Being able to mow the lawn is a way for me to get in the zone, clear my head, and be with my thoughts for a while. For me, it’s not weird or crazy, it’s therapy.
Second, people think there is only one way that’s best practice when it comes to lawn care, and that’s their way. If you don’t do something the way they would do it, you’re doing it wrong. That’s simply not true. Grass is resilient. There are lots of different strategies for doing things with your lawn that can prove successful. Find what works for you and what is comfortable to you.
Nature’s Seed: What weed do you hate the most?
Jimmy: Dandelion. They are resilient and easily spread with those puffballs of seeds the kids like to blow away with their wishes. Thankfully they can be easily controlled.
Nature’s Seed: What’s your favorite lawn game?
Jimmy: Golf. Keeping my lawn short in the front yard (around 1 inch) I’m able to chip golf balls across the yard. The kids like to do that, too. I’m also in the process of building a putting green in the backyard, so I’m looking forward to chipping and putting on that once it’s ready to go. I also enjoy spending time at the local courses, admiring the grass and enjoying the game. I learn a lot about lawn care from golf courses and the people who work tirelessly to maintain them.
]]>This was the question posed by our parent company back in 2010. While ecommerce was already well established by that time, many in the seed industry saw online sales as an afterthought, never to replace the face-to-face, brick-and-mortar seed buying experience. Looking back, the skepticism from that time is amusing considering nowadays you can buy anything quickly and efficiently online all while lying pantless on your bed.
A year after asking the question, Nature’s Seed was founded. I joined the team in the fall of 2011 as an intern. At that time, Nature’s Seed was run out of a small storage room our parent company had graciously provided and pieced together with hand-me-down office equipment. Like our office, our team was also bare-bones and consisted of our website developer, one part time warehouse worker, a part time seed salesman, and an intern working remotely (me). Our revenue for that entire year equaled what Nature’s Seed currently processes in a week!
Let’s just say we’ve come a long way in ten years. And while we’ve vastly improved everything about our brand, products, workflow, technology, and office equipment (they finally let us buy new chairs!), we wouldn’t have accomplished anything without you – our customers. Many of you have been with us since the very beginning and have been telling neighbors and family about us for a decade. Others have joined throughout the years and come back regularly for your seed needs. Still others are just barely discovering us, perhaps during the recent COVID quarantines. Wherever you are in your Nature’s Seed relationship, we sincerely thank you!
Looking back, we were probably asking the wrong question in 2010. Perhaps a better question would have been “what is currently missing in the lawn, wildflower, and pasture seed market?”, or “what are customers demanding that the current market is not supplying?”. When phrased that way, it’s obvious Nature’s Seed would have a bright future. We were one of the first online seed companies to provide top-rated NTEP (National Turfgrass Evaluation Program) turfgrass varieties, the same varieties found in golf courses and professional sports fields. We were also one of the first seed companies to research and develop animal-specific pasture mixes, something many of our competitors are just now beginning to copy.
Happy ten-year anniversary Nature’s Seed! And to all our customers, may you continue to grow your own way for many more decades to come. As a way to say thanks, for the entire month of April use coupon code THANKYOU10 during checkout for 10% off all orders.
My name is Micole Mayfield and I am thrilled to be the newest member of the Nature’s Seed family coming in to run Digital Marketing!
Being born and raised in Georgia, I’m a southern girl living a western life. Growing up, I thought I would someday be working on Broadway! However, after taking a communications class my freshman year of college, I found another love for content marketing. I have spent the last few years running digital marketing for restaurants, political campaigns and individual clients at a firm. I am passionate about using statistics to tell a brand’s story and have a love for plants and gardening, I am beyond excited to now be helping to tell the Nature’s Seed story!
I hope that I get a chance to interact with all y’all, digitally or in person. Just as it is Nature’s Seed’s vision to supply you with only the best quality seeds, my vision is to bring you the best quality content to help educate you on our products!
I would love to know more about you and why you love Nature’s Seed! Please email me and introduce yourself at [email protected] with your Nature’s Seed story to receive a coupon for 10% off your next purchase!
]]>Education & Experience
I graduated in 2002 from Brigham Young University with a BS in Urban and Landscape Horticulture. While I was at BYU, I pioneered the current intern system with the grounds department. I moved through several different positions and responsibilities including sprinkler repair and installation, tree and shrub pruning, turf maintenance, paver and retaining wall installation, greenhouse operations, and materials handling and recycling. By moving around, I gained a broader experience than many of my classmates and gained skills that I have used again and again in all my subsequent work.
Landscaping; a Regionally Dependent Art Form
The day I graduated I moved to Georgia to specialize in annual flower gardens. During my time there I mastered the ability to design flowerbeds and to efficiently plant up to 4,000 flowers a day with my crew. During my Georgia days I also learned how fundamentally different growing a plant could be in different climates. This difference was in more than just planting times and heat and cold tolerance. The pests and diseases were much different as well. I personally learned that landscape design is truly the last of the regionally dependent design arts.
A Focus on Sustainability
Four years later I moved back to Utah and worked primarily with trees and turf until I started my own company, Utah Sustainable Gardening, in 2010. With my own company I could focus on the details that were so often missed by larger companies. I also structured the company so that I could focus on the long term issues of soil and plant health that traditional landscaping so often ignores. Through this blog I hope to share some of those issues with you, and how to solve today’s problems by planning for a long future.
More Changes
Oh, and one more thing: writing this blog is not the only personal change I am going through. I am also moving from my apartment to a house with a nice bit of gardening space. As I develop the garden (the lot is less than a quarter-acre) I will be experimenting with Nature’s Seed products to maximize my ability to get as many different types plants in the garden as frugally as I can. While I am pretty rabid about sustainability and home food production, I am a big fan of good flowers, so this is going to be a fun project. I hope you join me as often as you can! Manana!
]]>Drought in the West
The drought in California and other parts of the West was a major topic throughout the forum. During his speech, Chief Economist Joseph Glauber repeatedly referred to the drought in California as being the “wildcard” this year as far as agricultural production is concerned. The Central Valley is getting hit particularly hard, and it’s very likely that food prices will increase as a result. With this in mind, it’s critical that we all do our part to conserve what little water is available this year. For those of us planning to establish or renovate a pasture, consider planting more drought-tolerant forage species and practicing dryland farming methods in case irrigation becomes unavailable. If you’re planning to establish a lawn, be aware that lawns will be the first to have their irrigation restricted during water shortages. You may want to consider planting buffalograss, the most drought-tolerant lawn grass available.
Consumer Trends: Grass-Fed Beef
Consumer trends were another hot topic at the forum. One trend that I found particularly interesting was the subject of grass-fed beef. This industry continues to grow and looks very promising for those thinking of entering this niche market. You might be asking, what exactly is the significance of 100 percent pasture-raised beef? While most beef cattle are raised from birth on grass, they often finish their lives eating grain. Most beef produced nowadays has spent the last 90 to 160 days in a feedlot; fattened on grain, corn, soy, and other supplements and fillers. This enables producers to grow their cattle much faster and bigger, but also has some negative side effects for both the animal and environment. On the other hand, 100 percent grass-fed cattle enjoy healthier conditions and avoid digestive complications from unnatural diets. Grass-fed meat also tends to be much leaner and lower in fat than grain-fed meat, as well as containing less saturated fat, calories, and cholesterol. It also contains higher levels of beta-carotene, vitamin C and E, and omega-3 fatty acids. With the demand for grass-fed beef increasing, there’s never been a better time to enter this market.
Getting Young People Involved in Agriculture
During the forum, the latest data from the agricultural census was released. The census showed that the average age of the American farmer continues to increase, and now sits at 58.3 years old. With the age of those involved in agriculture continuing to increase, a deep concern is developing. Who’s going to take the place of those retiring in the coming years? Throughout the forum, the question of how to get young people involved in agriculture was asked over and over again. I believe the answer lies with early involvement in the outdoors, specifically with school and home gardening activities. Gardening benefits children in several ways. First, it’s healthy. Multiple scientific studies are now beginning to show children exposed to dirt, animals, pollen and the outdoors at an early age have fewer allergies and other autoimmune diseases later in life. Second, it’s therapeutic. Gardening can help manage ADD and ADHD, and several studies suggest frequent outdoor activities can even curb depression. Children are natural gardeners, curious and eager to explore the magic of nature. By introducing gardening to children at a young age, many are sure to take an interest in the agricultural sciences. We should be doing everything possible to help our children develop a love of working with nature. America depends on the future of these young agriculturalists.
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