Business Spotlight – Southside Turf Solutions
On the white board that hangs in Mathew Kelly’s closet, it reads, “Belief in your abilities, even when there’s no proof of them in your current reality, points to greatness, and is the prerequisite to any type of success.”
It’s more than a quote — it’s the mindset that pushed him to launch Southside Turf Solutions in January 2026.
Kelly didn’t set out to build a career in lawn care. After leaving the Marine Corps in 2018, he took a job with a local lawn company simply to earn a paycheck. When the business changed hands, however, the new owner leaned heavily on Kelly, trusting him to run day-to-day operations because he was the most seasoned employee on the team.
With every new responsibility, his interest deepened. He began evaluating lawns, creating customized treatment plans, and helping customers understand exactly what their yards needed to thrive. And then he saw the results — lush, healthy lawns that reflected his care and expertise.
That’s when passion took root.
Today, Kelly’s work is defined by one core value: exceptional customer service. He hears it again and again from clients who tell him, “My lawn looks better than ever thanks to you!” Those words fuel him.
“I love hearing how I made someone’s day — or entire season — because I improved their lawn,” says Kelly, who enjoys the challenge of developing a plan to improve a lawn that’s been struggling for some time. His objective, of course, is to fix the problem, but he’s honest in his assessment.
“If I think it’s going to take three of four years to get a yard in good condition, I’m not going to promise you that I can turn it around in a year,” Kelly says. “These things can take patience and time.”
For instance, poor soil conditions, persistent fungal disease, drainage problems, and weed invasions can all impact a lawn’s ability to thrive. Customers appreciate Kelly’s candor because there are plenty of lawn care companies who make empty pledges or do things for the wrong reasons. For instance, the optimal time to put down pre-emergent herbicide is when soil temperatures reach 50-55 degrees, which is in late March or early April.
“I’ve seen companies putting down pre-emergent in the last week of February,” Kelly says. “They do it because if they waited until mid to lateMarch, they’d fall behind. They’re doing what’s best for them—not their customers. I won’t do that. I refuse to sacrifice quality.”
That commitment to doing things the right way — not the fast way — runs deep for Kelly, a 2014 Center Grove graduate who has spent the past eight years coaching wrestling. He previously coached at the high school level, where several of his athletes went on to compete at the U.S. Open Wrestling Championship in Vegas. These days, he works primarily with 6 to 12 year-olds.
For several years, Kelly contemplated the notion of opening his own lawn care company because he essentially was already doing it. At his previous job, he was the one who arrived at 6 a.m. each morning to check phone messages and delegate jobs to the other employees. With his experience, he realized he could handily navigate running his own business.
A small voice in his head told him to wait another year. But his wife’s voice was louder — and far more convincing.
“What are you waiting for?” she asked.
The same encouragement he gives his wrestlers — believe in yourself, trust your preparation, and take the shot — became the push he needed to launch Southside Turf Solutions.
“A part of me worried I wouldn’t enjoy the work once all the responsibilities were on my shoulders,” he admits. “But learning the ins and outs of running my own business has actually been the most fun part.”
Southside Turf Solutions focuses on what Kelly does best: fertilization, weed control, fall aeration, and seeding.
“I don’t do 5,000 things,” he says. “But I’m very good at what I do.”
He’s still a little stunned that he found the courage to start something new — but his wife isn’t surprised at all.
“She blindly believes in everything I do, even when I’m not sure there’s anything to believe in,” he says.
Despite the self-doubt that creeps in from time to time, Kelly has always carried a quiet confidence. He even calls himself a “motivational nerd,” which explains the quote written on his whiteboard.
“I had absolutely no proof that I could run a business successfully, but I always believed it,” he says. “There’s always going to be a new challenge, but believing you can overcome anything is how you become successful.”
Now, he’s ready to bring that belief — and his expertise — to your lawn. If you live in Center Grove, Greenwood, Franklin, Whiteland, Greenfield, Brownsburg, or Plainfield, Kelly would love to work with you.
For more information, call 317-286-1636 or visit Facebook at Southside Turf Solutions.
