Educating Homeowners About Water Conservation and Environmental Benefits of Healthy Turf

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company today launched an integrated campaign to educate homeowners about water conservation and the numerous environmental benefits of healthy turf. Through its new $30 million campaign, the Company will educate homeowners about the environmental benefits of lawns and introduce a fertilizer product that is a proven water saver -- Scotts(R) Turf Builder(R) Water Smart(TM).

"We know homeowners are hearing conflicting messages about lawns and the environment and now is the time for us to educate them on the benefits of lawns and water conservation," said Rich Shank, chief environmental officer, ScottsMiracle-Gro. "Healthy lawns are good for the environment and as the authority on lawn care, we take seriously our responsibility to provide people with the tools and information they need to grow healthy lawns."

Scotts has now received regulatory support in all 50 states to make its water benefit claims.

Scotts Turf Builder Water Smart fertilizer grows a healthier lawn using less water, which can save consumers thousands of gallons per year. This news could not come at a better time as consumers are increasingly looking for ways to conserve natural resources. Eighty-six percent of Americans say they are conserving water to help reduce their impact on the environment(1). In addition, the introduction of Water Smart enables Scotts to underscore why lawns are beneficial to the environment. Healthy lawns clean and cool the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and collecting dust and dirt. They reduce erosion, cushion falls and promote overall health and stress reduction in our everyday lives. Some important facts about lawns:

• Lawns cool the environment: Eight healthy front lawns have the cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning. That's enough to cool 23 average-sized homes(2).
• Lawns clean the air: Healthy lawns trap and filter an estimated 12 million tons of dust and dirt from the air annually(3).
• Lawns provide oxygen: 2,500 square feet of lawn absorbs carbon dioxide and releases enough oxygen for a family of four(3).

Scotts is also teaming with Keep America Beautiful and lawn expert and professional groundskeeper David R. Mellor this spring to encourage homeowners to take the Scotts Water Smart Pledge, and commit to incorporating a series of simple steps that maximize their lawns' water-saving benefits.

"Like many homeowners, I want to conserve water without sacrificing a lush, healthy lawn," said Mellor, head groundskeeper for professional baseball's reigning champs and author of The Lawn Bible and Picture Perfect. "The Scotts Water Smart Pledge incorporates lawn-care practices I've been using at ballparks for years to keep the lawns green and game-ready. By nourishing your lawn with Scotts Turf Builder Water Smart formula, the water the lawn receives is used more efficiently and effectively, enhancing the environmental benefits lawns offer."

In addition, Scotts has partnered with Keep America Beautiful to provide educational tips to nearly one million homeowners across the United States on the benefits of turf as well as the following tips to help homeowners grow a healthy lawn and conserve water:

• Feed Regularly -- Maintaining a healthy lawn involves regular feedings. A healthy lawn is able to absorb and use water more efficiently, and recover from drought quickly once water becomes available.
• 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.
• Conserve Water -- Take advantage of nature's sprinkler -- rain. Nutrition and rain work together to build a healthy lawn, so you can use your sprinkler less.

By taking the Scotts Water Smart Pledge at http://www.scotts.com/watersmart from April 1 to June 9, 2008, homeowners commit to taking the simple steps to grow and maintain a healthy lawn while helping to protect the environment. By adopting these water-savvy techniques, homeowners could save thousands of gallons of water every year. Beyond saving water, consumers who take the Scotts Water Smart Pledge also will earn the chance to win a $10,000 Water Smart green space for their community, built in cooperation with Keep America Beautiful.

Note

1. 2007 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey, an online survey conducted March 29, 2007, by Opinion Research Corporation among a sample of 1,066 adults comprising 499 men and 567 women 18 years of age and older.
2. TheLawnInstitute.org
3. american-lawns.com