Nine Out of Ten Households Believe It's Important to Maintain Their Landscapes in a Sustainable Way

National Gardening Association study demonstrates that homeowners need education on environmental stewardship practices

Contacts:
Bruce Butterfield
National Gardening Association
(800) 538-7476, ext. 113
bruceb@garden.org

Keri Butler
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
(937) 644-7410
keri.butler@scotts.com

South Burlington, VT (May 20, 2008) – Nine out of 10 households believe it's important to maintain their landscapes in a way that benefits the environment. However, only half (53 percent) of all households said they are knowledgeable about how to maintain lawns and gardens in an environmental friendly way, according to the National Gardening Association's (NGA) 2008 Environmental Lawn and Garden Survey.

Environmentally sound lawn and garden care involves appropriate maintenance practices, selecting the proper product for the situation, on-target application in the correct amount, and only watering landscapes when needed.

Key 2008 NGA Environmental Lawn and Garden Survey highlights include:

  • Nine out of 10 households said it's important to manage their lawns and gardens in an environmentally friendly way
  • Only half (53 percent) of all households say they are knowledgeable about how to maintain their home lawn or garden using good environmental stewardship practices
  • Thirty percent of households admit they are 'not at all' or 'not very' knowledgeable about how to care for their landscape in a way that benefits the environment

″This year's research reinforces an increased need for homeowner education about simple, actionable ways they can be a good environmental steward at home while cultivating a healthy lawn or garden,″ said Bruce Butterfield, research director at the National Gardening Association. ″We conducted this study to better understand lawn and garden care trends and consumer attitudes, and industry leaders take notice.″

Meeting the need for homeowner education
This spring The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, in partnership with Keep America Beautiful, is educating millions of homeowners across the county about how watering, feeding, and lawns and gardens can work together to maximize the environmental benefits of green spaces. This includes sharing easy ways they can maintain a healthy lawn and beautiful garden and conserve water.

″As the leader in our industry, it's our job to educate homeowners on sustainable lawn and garden practices,″ said Rich Shank, chief environmental officer at ScottsMiracle-Gro. ″Good stewardship is a priority at Scotts and we believe that simple changes will result in a positive impact on the environment.″

ScottsMiracle-Gro offers low-water use lawn and garden care tips, including:

  • Feed Regularly – Maintaining a healthy lawn or beautiful garden involves regular feedings. A healthy lawn is able to absorb and use water more efficiently, and recover from drought quickly once water becomes available. Plants must receive nutrients to produce foliage, flowers and fruit.
  • Water Wisely – Rely on rainfall for watering lawns and gardens as much as possible. Watch for signs of lack of water, such as dry soil or wilting, before watering.
  • Mow High – Set your mower to its highest setting. Longer grass blades promote deeper roots that help retain moisture.
  • Leave Grass Clippings on the Lawn – Recycled grass clippings return organic matter and nutrients to the soil. It's an easy way to save clean-up time and improve your soil quality.
  • Keep Fertilizer on the Lawn – Sweep fertilizer and grass clippings off driveways, sidewalks and curbs and back onto your lawn. This protects rivers, lakes and streams by keeping nutrients on the lawn.
  • Select the Right Plants – Choose easy-to-grow plants and lawn types that are well-adapted or native to your region. Avoid plants with known pest problems.

To learn about ScottsMiracle-Gro's homeowner education campaign and tips visit: http://www.scottswatersmart.com/water_smart_pledge/

About Scotts Miracle-Gro
With more than $2.7 billion in worldwide sales and more than 6,000 associates, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Scotts Company LLC, is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care, with products for professional horticulture as well. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. The Company also owns Smith & Hawken®, a leading brand of garden-inspired products that includes pottery, watering equipment, gardening tools, outdoor furniture and live goods. Additionally, the Company owns Morning Song®, the leading brand in the wild bird food category. In Europe, Scotts' brands include Weedol®, Pathclear®, Evergreen®, Levington®, Miracle-Gro®, KB®, Fertiligene® and Substral®. For additional information, visit us at www.scotts.com.

About the National Gardening Association
The National Gardening Association (NGA) founded in 1973, is a national nonprofit leader in plant-based education, respected for its award-winning Web sites and newsletters, grants and curricula for youth gardens, and research for the lawn and garden industry. NGA's mission is to advance the personal, community, and educational benefits of gardening by supporting gardeners and teachers with information and resources. To learn more, please visit www.garden.org and www.kidsgardening.org.