Scotts® Introduces 50% Slow Release Nitrogen Lawn Fertilizer for all Floridians to Help Protect Local Waterways
October 19 2016 - 10:30AM
Recognizing the importance of protecting the environment,
particularly protecting Florida’s water resources, Scotts today
announced it has introduced new 50 percent slow-release nitrogen
lawn food products throughout the entire state of Florida.
This unique-to-Florida lawn fertilizer will help consumers play
a role in protecting the state’s critical water resources. In
properly caring for the lawns around their homes, these spaces can
act as barriers to counteract the many sources of urban nutrient
runoff. The product innovation builds on Scotts’ nationwide
phosphorus-free lawn maintenance fertilizer initiative completed in
2013 as well as a multi-year Smarter Solutions for Cleaner
Waterways initiative that began in 2014 and culminates this
year.
“As leaders in lawn and garden, we have an on-going commitment
to innovation that helps gardeners nurture plant life in ways that
work in harmony with the world around them,” said Jim Hagedorn,
Chairman and CEO of parent company ScottsMiracle-Gro, who is a
resident of Florida. “Florida’s water bodies make our state a
truly amazing place and we view it as our responsibility to help
Floridians be confident that they are doing their part to protect
our most valuable natural resources. We began a three-year program
in 2014 that dedicated support for groups conducting research,
restoration and greenspace projects around many of the state’s most
sensitive water bodies and will expand this work with environmental
leaders across the state beyond 2016.”
More than five years ago, Scotts made the groundbreaking
announcement that it would remove phosphorus from all its lawn
maintenance products nationwide in order to improve the
environmental impact of its lawn care products. This
innovation lead to a 10,000 ton reduction in phosphorus use
nationwide, leading to an approximate 500 ton reduction annually in
Florida. The introduction of 50 percent slow-release nitrogen
products to the entire state of Florida signals a new milestone in
the Company’s national “Water Positive Landscapes” initiative aimed
at protecting waterways by providing homeowners with actionable
ways to responsibly use water when working in their lawns and
gardens.
“Water quality remains a concern throughout Florida as algae
blooms increasingly threaten the health of Florida’s water bodies,”
said Josh Peoples, Vice President and General Manager of Scotts
brand products. “We have taken this step to continue our
pursuit to provide consumers the best products for their lawns so
that they can that positively impact the environment around
them.”
“We have watched ScottsMiracle-Gro prove they are committed to
being part of the solution in restoring water bodies like the
Everglades by removing phosphorus from their products years
ago and, now, in taking another important step to help residents
across Florida improve their nitrogen footprint when working in
their own yards. The Everglades Foundation applauds Scotts’ ongoing
efforts to implement nutrient solutions in our state,” said Eric
Eikenberg, CEO of the Everglades Foundation.
Benefitting Florida’s Unique Environment
This will be the first 50 percent slow release nitrogen product
that uses Scotts’ patented All-In-One Particle® technology for even
feeding across lawns. When nutrients, such as nitrogen, are slowly
released over an extended period of time, it enables lawns to stay
consistently healthy and properly serve as a barrier to runoff
particularly during heavy rains, such as the ones that occur during
Florida’s summers.
More than $8 million and five years were invested into the
research necessary to develop a reliable slow release nitrogen
technology, uniquely designed with Florida’s climate, sandy soil
composition and year-round gardening in mind.
“There is simply no question about whether or not the level of
nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, in our waterways
is contributing to the problems we are seeing in the Indian River
Lagoon and other water bodies,” said Dr. Edith “Edie” Widder,
Founder of the Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA).
“Providing Floridians with a means for reducing their environmental
footprint will go a long way to restoring the health of these
delicate and precious ecosystems.”
Furthering the Commitment to Innovation and
Environmental Stewardship
In June, ScottsMiracle-Gro announced a nationwide Water Positive
Landscapes initiative, which is equipping homeowners with
educational and actionable resources to help them use water
responsibly in their lawns and gardens. The initiative is also
focusing on product innovation, such as 50 percent slow release
nitrogen, and continued research on the intersection between lawn
care and gardening and water stewardship.
This latest water protection initiative follows the Company’s
"Florida Smarter Solutions for Cleaner Waterways” initiative that
sponsored in-state water quality research, habitat restoration,
consumer education and green infrastructure improvements.
ScottsMiracle-Gro funded an independent research project by the
Ocean Research & Conservation Association to determine the
sources of pollution in the Indian River Lagoon. The results of
this research will help create solutions to improve the lagoon’s
water and wildlife, and also create a model that can be replicated
for other polluted waterways.
Through its partnership with Tampa Bay Watch, more than 20 acres
of salt marsh plants will be restored in Tampa Bay. Grants to
community gardens, farms and greenspaces throughout Florida have
protected more than 47,600 square feet of land.
“As a partner in the ScottsMiracle-Gro ‘Florida Smarter
Solutions for Cleaner Waterways’ initiative and a participant in
the ‘Water Positive National Partner Network’, we have seen,
first-hand, their willingness to listen to stakeholders and work
with nontraditional allies to identify solutions,” said Peter
Clark, President of Tampa Bay Watch. “Scotts is being responsive to
Florida’s water quality issues as proven by their significant
investment in research and restoration projects throughout the
state.”
About ScottsMiracle-Gro
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is passionate about helping
people of all ages express themselves on their own piece of the
Earth. With approximately $3 billion in sales, the 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 2016, the Company ranked in Forbes 100 Most
Reputable Companies in America for the second year in a row. To
learn more about the Company and our initiatives, visit us at
www.scottsmiraclegro.com
Contacts:
Molly Jennings; (561) 681-7683
molly.jennings@scotts.com
Jennifer Fennell; (850) 222-3767
jennifer@coremessage.com
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