Lawns, Gardens and the Environment

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• Lawns, Gardens and the Environment
• Media Web Conference

Thursday, April 21, 2005130 p.m. 230 p.m.
Eastern
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Speakers

• Bob LaGasse, Executive DirectorGarden Writers
  Association
• Rich Martinez, Chief Environmental OfficerThe
  Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
• Bruce Butterfield, Research DirectorNational
  Gardening Association
• Dr. Kim Tripp, DirectorThe New York Botanical
  Garden
• Dr. Terril Nell, ChairmanUniversity of Florida,
  Environmental Horticulture Dept.

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• Rich Martinez
• Chief Environmental Officer,
• The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

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In implementing our environmental stewardship
strategy, our market research group explored four
questions

• 1. How much do homeowners believe their own
  actions can improve the environment
• 2. What is their willingness to change their lawn
  and garden activities to improve the environment
• 3. How do consumers use lawn and garden products
• 4. Do consumers understand the possible impact of
  some of their actions

Source ScottsMiracle-Gro survey of 1,235 U.S.
households Spring 2005
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Behavior can make a difference

• 73 of homeowners agreed that their individual
  behavior can make a difference in maintaining a
  healthy environment
• However, only 25 of homeowners said they
  proactively take personal action to ensure a
  safer environment. This number did not vary
  significantly by age or gender

Source ScottsMiracle-Gro survey of 1,235 U.S.
households Spring 2005
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Willingness to change

• When we asked if they would be willing to change
  their lawn and garden activities to improve the
  environment, only 3 of homeowners said no
• 42 said they would definitely be willing to
  adjust their behavior and nearly half (48) said
  they would consider doing so

Source ScottsMiracle-Gro survey of 1,235 U.S.
households Spring 2005
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Ways consumers use lawn and garden products

• Of those who use fertilizer, only 52 of
  homeowners said they always sweep up excess
  fertilizer off the sidewalk or street after they
  apply it to their lawns
• Among those who mow their own lawn, 37 said they
  never clean up grass clippings from the street
• And 23 said they never think about the impact
  that their lawn and garden activities can have on
  the environment

Source ScottsMiracle-Gro survey of 1,235 U.S.
households Spring 2005
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Understanding runoff

• Only 48 of homeowners in our survey were aware
  that runoff from rainfall flows directly in
  rivers, lakes and streams
• Nearly a quarter of respondents thought storm
  water went to a treatment facility before it was
  sent to surface water, and a similar number of
  people simply didnt know

Source ScottsMiracle-Gro survey of 1,235 U.S.
households Spring 2005
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• Bruce Butterfield
• Research Director,
• National Gardening Association

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50-70 Follow these environmentally friendlylawn
garden practices
Source National Gardening Association,2004
U.S. Environmental Lawn and Garden Scorecard
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30-49 Follow these environmentally friendlylawn
garden practices
Source National Gardening Association,2004
U.S. Environmental Lawn and Garden Scorecard
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0-29 Follow these environmentally friendlylawn
garden practices
Source National Gardening Association,2004
U.S. Environmental Lawn and Garden Scorecard
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• Dr. Kim Tripp
• Director,
• The New York Botanical Garden

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Integrated pest management
An approach to managing plant insect and disease
problems that integrates five tools into a
comprehensive, environmentally friendly strategy
for maintaining healthy gardens and lawns
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Integrated pest management tools

• Optimize plant health and vigor
• Make detailed, regular observations of plants -
  always checking for signs of insect and disease
  damage
• Use preventative measures
• Use biological controls
• Conservative use of the least harmful, home
  gardener appropriate pesticides only when
  absolutely necessary

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• Dr. Terril Nell
• Chairman,University of Florida, Environmental
  Horticulture Dept.

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Embrace environmental landscape practices that do
the following

• Build healthy lawns, plants and trees
• Absorb and use applied nutrients
• Reduce sediment loss and runoff
• Build a sustainable management program

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Build healthy lawns, plants and trees

• Apply fertilizer in the spring, summer and fall
  at recommended rates
• Water plants with no more than ½ inch of water at
  a time
• Use a low phosphorous fertilizer

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Absorb and use nutrients

• Turfgrass absorbs fertilizer nutrients and
  pesticides a natural filter. Reduces runoff
  into streams, lakes and rivers
• Properly applied nutrients are used by the
  turfgrass to grow
• Care must be used to apply fertilizers to lawn,
  plants and trees, not sidewalks and driveways

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Reduce sediment loss

• Soil and debris runoff pollutes our streams,
  lakes and rivers
• A healthy sod reduces soil erosion by 94-99
• Sodded areas reduced runoff 28-46
• Lawns provide a natural way to reduce erosion

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Build a sustainable landscape management program

• Allow clippings to remain on the lawn
• Avoid leaving clippings, leaves or fertilizer on
  walks, driveways or streets
• Calibrate and monitor your irrigation system
• Control weeds to build a healthy lawn

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Summary

• Homeowners care about the environment, however,
  behavior proves a need for more education
• A few key tips
• Use the right cultural practices and varieties to
  ensure natural plant vigor
• Apply fertilizer and water at recommended rates
• Sweep up grass clippings to return nutrients to
  the soil
• Sweep fertilizer off pavement to keep out of
  water sources
• Choose the right products for the job and spot
  treat problem areas with a ready-made product
  that you dont have to mix yourself

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QA

• To get in queue to ask a question, you can raise
  your hand by clicking on the icon located on the
  right hand side of your computer screen
• When we announce your name, we will take your
  phone off of mute and it will be your turn to
  speak
• We ask that you limit yourself to one question
  and one follow up question to ensure that the
  greatest number of people have the opportunity to
  ask their questions

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• Lawns, Gardens and the Environment
• Media Web Conference

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For More Information

• To schedule an interview with one of todays
  speakers, please call our media hotline at
  312-240-2876
• To review todays presentations, visit the Web
  sites for The Scott Miracle-Gro Company, the
  National Gardening Association and the Garden
  Writers Association