About Soils Alive

The Story of Soils Alive

Early in his career, Michael Bosco embraced the ideals of providing safe and effective services for his customers. He grew up playing an integral role in a family-owned structural pest control business in the Dallas area. Later, Michael’s interests grew to include the science behind soil and plant health and organic agricultural practices. He expanded his service offerings to customers to include lawn and landscape fertilization programs.

Upon earning a degree in plant and soil science in the mid-1990s and sensing a change in the needs of lawn care customers, Michael became interested in safer methods and alternatives to chemical fertilization. In 1996, he began converting all his chemical fertilization programs to organic. The change was met with steady and growing interest among customers. With the new-found popularity of his unique organic services and application offerings, an idea was born; in 1997, Michael began operating under the name Soils Alive, LLC, embracing and practicing lawn care and treatment through all-organic methods and practices.

More than a decade later, Soils Alive has grown dramatically, gaining a devoted following among customers through its industry-leading organic applications, the guaranteed results of its Soil-building Program, and its commitment to the satisfaction of all Soils Alive customers. Soils Alive continues to lead the industry in the advancement of organic and all-natural fertilization methods and applications. The company has expanded beyond the Dallas/Fort Worth area to include operations in Houston and Austin, Texas.

Soils Alive embraces the idea that a healthy lawn comes from healthy soil that is alive and dense with the organisms and nutrients that nature intended. Feeding the soil with natural and safe, nutrient-dense applications will give one’s lawn and landscape the best defense it needs to stay green, stave off the effects of drought, and fight common insect and disease issues often encountered in chemically treated lawns.

Soils Alive — Lawn care, organically.

Our Team

Dallas-Fort Worth

Michael Bosco, Soils Alive Founder

Michael Bosco began his career in the service business with Rid-All Pest Control, Inc., owned and operated by the Bosco family. Along with structural pest control, he offered lawn fertilization progams for his clients. While in college at Tarleton State University, Michael became interested in soil science and organic agricultural practices. After graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in plant and soil science, he converted all his chemical fertilization programs to organic and began offering organic pest and fertilization programs. In 1997, Michael founded Soils Alive, LLC, and began to build a company that could deliver the best organic fertilization program and personalized service in the industry.

Justin Cernoch, Dallas/Fort Worth General Manager

A lifelong friend of the Bosco family, Justin Cernoch has worked in the organics/green industry for more than a decade and has eight years of management experience. When Michael wanted to expand Soils Alive in 1999, he asked Justin to come aboard. Since then, Justin has become Soils Alive's general manager and oversees all customer accounts. He is also a licensed certified applicator in all categories of lawn and ornamental maintenance by the Structural Pest Control Board of Texas. Justin enjoys his daily interactions with clients and helping them diagnose and treat landscape issues. An avid outdoorsman, Justin lives with his wife and daughter in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas.

Denis Duffy, Organic Application Specialist

Denis Duffy has more than 30 years of experience in the green industry. He spent the first seven years of his career as a park maintenance supervisor. For another seven years, he was a commercial plant grower with two years in plant research and development. For the last 16 years, Denis has involved himself in all phases of fertilization applications and management. Most recently, he completed a three-year term on the Dallas County/Texas A&M University Coop Horticulture and Master Gardeners Advisory committees. Denis joined Soils Alive in 2005.

Joe Crump, Organic Application Specialist

Joe Crump grew up in McKinney, Texas, where he spent 18 years working in his family's wholesale greenhouse and garden center business. The business specialized in the production of seasonal color, short day crops, and poinsettia production. Joe, who joined Soils Alive in 2009, is happy to be a part of the team. In his spare time, he enjoys teaching children tae kwon do, fishing, and spending time with family, friends, and his Great Pyrenees, Gus.

Chad Hertel, Organic Application Specialist

A Dallas native and graduate of Richardson High School, Chad's interest in organic gardening brought him to the Soils Alive team in February 2009. He recently received his apprentice Structural Pest Control license and is studying for the technician exam. In his spare time, Chad enjoys working on cars and spending time with friends and family.

Teresa Rowell, Dallas/Fort Worth Office Manager

Soils Alive Office Manager Teresa Rowell has enjoyed a career as a key contributor to a wholesale business in Dallas/Fort Worth for many years. She also brings with her green industry experience, having previously worked with the Texas Department of Agriculture as well as owning her own greenhouse and plant retail business. Teresa is enjoying her role as office manager of Soils Alive and working in an environmentally friendly atmosphere that values family.