Scotts Miracle-Gro Encourages Officials To Consider Home Landscapes "The Original Green Infrastructure"

At a recent U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) water council meeting in Washington, ScottsMiracle-Gro vice president of environmental affairs Mark Slavens told attendees that science shows residential lawns and landscapes serve as some of the most effective tools to reduce storm water runoff, protect against erosion and nutrient loss and increase groundwater recharge. He said the company stands ready to work with officials to help raise awareness about the myriad benefits found in the environments around homes and in urban areas.

At a recent U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) water council meeting in Washington, ScottsMiracle-Gro vice president of environmental affairs Mark Slavens told attendees that science shows residential lawns and landscapes serve as some of the most effective tools to reduce storm water runoff, protect against erosion and nutrient loss and increase groundwater recharge. He said the company stands ready to work with officials to help raise awareness about the myriad benefits found in the environments around homes and in urban areas.

"We think it's critical to not only provide water-friendly products to consumers, but to also work with stakeholders to find science-based solutions to water quality issues," Slavens said.  "We have a solid track record of collaborating to promote sustainable lawn and garden care practices, and, very importantly, using our products in a way that protects our vital waterways."

Slavens, who holds a doctorate degree in turf science from Cornell, also told the group that many of ScottsMiracle-Gro's recent innovations in the lawn and garden category have been focused on promoting clean and adequate water supplies.

"Whether it's developing region-specific grass seed, developing landscape mulches and soils that use water more efficiently, or making good on our commitment to remove phosphorus from our market-leading TurfBuilder brand lawn food products, we are always focused on protecting and preserving vital natural resources," Slavens added.

"Mayors across the U.S. are working daily to protect and preserve their communities' waters," said Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who also chairs the USCM's water council.  "We appreciate the collaboration and commitment of industry leaders like Scotts Miracle-Gro on water issues and we look forward to continuing our work together."

ScottsMiracle-Gro's Slavens also pointed to several recent water-driven initiatives of the company, including:

Slavens concluded: "We've made good progress in many areas, but we can always continue to do better, which is why we appreciate the opportunity to share our insights and hear the feedback of our stakeholders, especially mayors, who many times are their communities' water quality stewards."

About The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

With more than $2.8 billion in worldwide sales, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. 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. In the U.S., we operate Scotts LawnService®, the second largest residential lawn care service business.  In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol®, Pathclear®, Evergreen®, Levington®, Miracle-Gro®, KB®, Fertiligene® and Substral®. For additional information, visit us at www.scotts.com.