Scotts removes phosphorus from fertilizer

ScottsMiracle-Gro will remove all phosphorus from its lawn-maintenance fertilizers sold in the U.S. by the end of next year, the company said today.

The Marysville-based lawncare- and garden-product company said it has reformulated its products and will focus on creating more "efficient and optimized" ways to use nitrogen in its lawn fertilizers.

Phosphorus is associated with algae blooms that last summer closed lakes, reservoirs and beaches in Ohio and have created "dead zones" in Lake Erie.

The move comes as states enact or consider bans on the use of lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus.

Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin have enacted or are planning restrictions on use of lawn fertilizer containing phosphorus.

The level of phosphorus in lawn fertilizer is not high, but in healthy lawns it isn't necessary, said Peter Richards, a research scientist with the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University in Tiffin.

"We have problems with too much phosphorus going into Lake Erie," Richards said. "While lawn fertilizer is not the main source, the decision by Scotts to remove it from its fertilizer is important symbolically and an important step in the right direction."

Scotts began reducing phosphorus in its lawn-fertilizer products in 2006 as a result of conversations it had with officials regarding Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. At that time, the company agreed to reduce phosphorus levels by 50 percent over three years.

But Rich Shank, Scotts' chief environmental officer, said the latest decision takes the company's commitment even further.

Scotts will keep phosphorus in its starter-fertilizer products for new lawns, because phosphorus is essential to the initial root development of grass, Shank said.

Phosphorus will also remain in ScottsMiracle-Gro's organic lawn food as it naturally occurs in the materials contained in the products, he said.

Scotts will launch a website to educate consumers on the reformulated product, to make sure "the public is comfortable with this and understands why" the company made the change, Shank said.

Shank said he's confident a similar situation won't occur with Scotts products, saying, "Consumers shouldn't have a problem using our product or notice any difference in how their lawn responds.

"We are as responsible for the environment as anyone, so if there is any way we (make changes) without affecting the efficacy of our product, then that is the direction we'll take."

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