· The new line of Sta-Green® phosphorus-free fertilizers provides consumers with alternative products that deliver great results and, when combined with smart environmental practices, will enhance the positive effects of a healthy lawn on the environment.
· The new line of Sta-Green fertilizers has been formulated without phosphorus, thus encouraging turf to mine phosphorus stored in the soil. Consumers will get the same quality and great value they expect from the Sta-Green brand.
· Together with Lowe's, the maker of Sta-Green products is now offering homeowners an alternative product line that delivers great results and, when combined with smart environmental lawn care practices, helps them to reduce the impact of improper lawn maintenance practices.
· A recent Roper Green Gauge poll found that 87% of American consumers say they are "seriously concerned about the environment." It also found that a vast majority of consumers say a company's environmental practices are important in making key decisions including: the products they purchase (79%), the products/services they recommend to others (77%), where they shop (74%), where they choose to work (73%) and where they invest their money (72%).
· Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are the primary ingredients in fertilizers. They are reflected from left to right as the fertilizer "grade," such as 28-0-4 on the front of the packaging. All of the new Sta-Green phosphorus-free products will include a "0" as the center number, which indicates the phosphorus-free formula.
· Phosphorus is commonly found in soil and may be present in sufficient amounts to support the growth of established lawns, especially when mulching mowers are used and grass clippings are returned back to the lawn. Sta-Green phosphorus-free products will supply the lawn with nitrogen and potassium, while encouraging the turf to utilize available phosphorus in the soil, for beautiful and lush results.
· Surface waters such as lakes and streams can have elevated nutrient levels due to decaying plant residues, discharge from municipal waste treatment systems, residential septic systems, waterfowl and animal wastes, and runoff from off-target fertilizer applications. These surface waters are highly sensitive to phosphorus and other nutrients, so even small sources contribute to impaired water quality. Nutrient enrichment can lead to excessive algal growth, which further compounds the problem.
· Use Sta-Green phosphorus-free lawn products to complement existing soil phosphorus. They will give turf the additional primary nutrients needed for a good turf feeding and excellent results.
· Phosphorus is known as the workhorse of the Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (N-P-K) team. It promotes rooting and root branching and can be found in every plant cell and helps a plant use and transform energy. Phosphorus is taken into a plant from very low concentrations in the soil. Even though phosphorus gets bad press in some parts of the U.S., plants cannot survive without it.
· The phosphorus content of native soils varies from location to location according to past uses and the type of rock from which it was formed. Conducting a soil test is the only way to know the phosphorus level in a soil and will give the homeowner an indication of how much, if any, phosphorus needs to be applied to maintain a lush, green healthy lawn.
· Lowe's will be the first retailer to carry a national product line that is completely phosphorus free for all of your lawn care needs. Sta-Green phosphorus-free products will be available at Lowe's nationally in early January and online at www.lowes.com
· The Sta-Green phosphorus-free product line includes:
- Sta-Green® Phosphorus-Free Crab-Ex Plus® Preventer plus Fertilizer 30-0-5 - Controls crabgrass for up to four months while feeding grass up to two months
- Sta-Green® Phosphorus-Free Weed & Feed 28-0-4 - Kills weeds twice as fast as the previous formula, controls more than 175 weed types, encourages quick greening and provides nitrogen feeding for up to two months
- Sta-Green® Phosphorus-Free Southern Weed & Feed 25-0-8 - Includes Atrazine to kill more than 50 weed types while standing up to Southern heat and humidity
- Sta-Green® Phosphorus-Free Weed & Feed for Bahia 24-0-12 - Designed for St. Augustine, Centipede, Bahia, Bermuda, Zoysia, Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass and Fescue lawns. Controls a variety of weeds and provides extended feeding
- Sta-Green® Phosphorus-Free Summer Fertilizer with Spectracide® Traizicide® Insect Killer 28-0-8 - Kills a variety of ants and other insects while the summer formula feeds for up to two months, strengthens the lawn and improves its tolerance to heat, disease and drought
- Sta-Green® Phosphorus-Free Lawn Fertilizer 29-0-5 - Greens lawns quickly and feeds the lawn for up to two months with timed-release nitrogen
- Sta-Green® Phosphorus-Free Winterizer Lawn Fertilizer 22-0-14 - Helps lawns survive harsh winters and promotes early spring green-up by creating stronger, deeper root systems
- Sta-Green® Phosphorus-Free Winterizer Weed & Feed 22-0-11 - Provides a winter "coat" for the lawn with timed-release nitrogen for extended greening and kills more than 150 varieties of weeds
About Sta-Green® Products
Sta-Green® lawn care products and gardening supplies provide practical solutions for seasonal lawn and garden needs at value prices. Sta-Green products are available exclusively at Lowe's and come with a written guarantee printed on every package and label. From lawn fertilizers to insect, disease and weed control, Sta-Green products are the perfect blend of science and technology at an affordable price. The maker of Sta-Green products is the Official Lawn and Garden partner of Busch Gardens and a sponsor of the American Junior Golf Association.
About United Industries Corporation
United Industries Corporation is a subsidiary of Spectrum Brands, Inc., and is a leading supplier of lawn and garden care products and household insect and pest controls. Spectrum Brands is a global consumer products company whose merchandise is sold by the world's top 25 retailers and is available in more than one million stores in more than 120 countries around the world. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Spectrum Brands generated FY2007 net sales of approximately $2.0 billion. The company's stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SPC.