The Grass is Always Greener? Not Without a Garden Intervention!

Scotts Canada helps Canadians achieve lush-looking landscapes after survey reveals gaps in garden care know-how

TORONTO, March 13, 2013 /CNW/ - As snow shovels and salt make way for spring bulbs and sod, Canadians' quest for lush lawns and gardens begins.  Yet for all the watering, weeding, mulching and mowing that takes place throughout the spring and summer, a new survey by Scotts Canada has found that many Canadians simply don't know how to help their lawns and gardens reach their top potential.

The most wilting evidence?  Three-quarters of Canadians (74 per cent) say they don't regularly feed their plants, while almost a quarter (24 per cent) don't think fertilizing their lawns is necessary.  And when it comes to those relentless weeds?  One in 10 feel helpless in their battle against them.

It's Time for a Garden Intervention!
According to the survey, feeding plants is simply not top of mind for many Canadian gardeners.  Why?  More than a third (34 per cent) say they simply don't have time to feed their plants or they forget to feed them altogether.

"Fertilizing is a key step to maintain the health of garden plants - without it, plants will underperform.  That's because plants grow by consuming nutrients from the soil at a rate faster than the nutrients can be replaced naturally," said Glenn Martin, Marketing Director at Scotts Canada.  "Plant foods like Miracle-Gro® help replenish lost nutrients in the soil and can help garden plants grow bigger, stronger and healthier than unfed plants."

For the time-strapped, a lush looking garden is just a shake away with Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® All Purpose Plant Food. This formulation offers the ultimate convenience - in mere minutes.  One application feeds plants for the entire season and can be used on in-ground and container gardens to feed flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs. No more excuses necessary!

Show Your Lawn a Little TLC
The survey also found that lawns are also lacking when it comes to proper care.  In fact, 13 per cent of Canadians who fertilize their lawns aren't confident they're doing it properly, while seven per cent don't feed their lawn because they say they don't have time.

"What many people don't know is that healthy lawns that are fertilized regularly are able to develop deep root systems that can withstand weeds and common stresses like heat, drought and pests," said Martin. "Lawns lose nutrients not only as they grow but also every time the grass is cut, so regular feedings are essential and can actually save you the time and effort in the end."

Products like Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food simply need to be applied every other month throughout the growing season for noticeable results - and using the right tools like Scotts® spreaders ensure a quick and even application.

Wipe out Weeds
Weeds are a prickly subject for Canadians.  In fact, the survey found that while 1 in 5 can't stand seeing them in their gardens, lawns and driveways, nearly half (44 per cent) are still pulling them by hand.

Another way to control weeds is to use a lawn weed control product.  Scotts EcoSense® Weed B Gon® gets right inside the cell structure of weeds, which causes them to dry up, turn black, shrivel and die.  "Ready-to-use weed control sprays like Scotts EcoSense® are permitted for use in Ontario as well as in municipalities with bans or use restrictions and can help tackle against these offenders, saving time and some back-breaking work!" said Martin.

To control weeds on hard surfaces, Scotts EcoSense® PathClear™ controls them in a matter of hours.

For more information, including how-to videos and tips, visit www.scotts.ca.

About Scotts Canada
Scotts Canada is a subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE:SMG), the world's leading provider of branded consumer products for home lawn and garden care. Scotts' lineup features Canada's favourite lawncare brands, including: Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, Scotts Turf Builder®, Scotts EcoSense®, Home Defense™ and Morning Melodies Wild Bird Food. With a global investment in research and development and innovation in addition to industry leading stewardship initiatives and consumer education, Scotts is committed to developing and enhancing the lawn and garden care practices in Canada. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Scotts Canada provides lawn and garden enthusiasts choices that invite people to ... Grow the World You Want ™. www.scotts.ca

SOURCE: Scotts Canada Ltd.

Amanda Lazarovitz
Edelman
[email protected]
416-849-8912