earth friendly gardening A special look at innovative ways to help your customers garden green GIE Media

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1 earth friendly gardening A special look at innovative ways to help your customers garden green I

2 earth harvest organics Your complete organic solution Easy-to-use Earth Harvest products can tackle practically any gardening challenge the Pros in the field. ICT Organics develops and markets organic products from sustainable resources that displace toxic fertilizers and pesticides. Available nationally, we are a market leader in organic products for landscaping, colleges, sports turf, golf courses, municipalities and now retail. We supply 90,000+ landscapers, 17,000 golf courses, 775,000 sports fields, 85 million households and their distributors that make up 30 million plus acres of managed turf and landscape in the U.S. Based on our technology we are able to build fertile soil that feeds the plant rather than feed the plant directly ICT Organics began in 2007 with chemicals. are now proud to introduce to the with a single product: A powerful and cost-effective organic methods that bypass natural cycles use hose-end formulations. Lawn and landscape care consumer retail market in easy-to- liquid fertilizer marketed to to directly feed the plants with EPA/USDA/NOP Compliant. professionals only. The professional line expanded into organic fungicides, herbicide, pesticides and soil conditioners that displace the toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticides currently on the market. This entire Pro line has been simplified, bringing the power of professional products to your retail clients. Simple, powerfully effective and easy to use. Why Earth Harvest? Earth Harvest is the first full-line, chemicals upset the soil food web and lead to a weak root system and plant, making the turfgrass landscape and garden more susceptible to insects, disease and drought. Once we begin a program that supports and encourages beneficials in the soil like nitrogen-fixing bacteria and phosphorous-mining fungi, root mass and penetration into the soil dramatically increase, which improves drought resistance and overall plant health. As these symbiotic ICT Organics offers the only complete product line that is fully USDA NOP compliant and uses EPA Section 25b Exempt ingredients. This means all our products are safe for kids and pets, help protect precious groundwater, and give your customers the peace of mind that they are not only using the most effective lawn and garden products available, but that they are keeping to their green principles at the same time. relationships organic-compliant set of products progress, disease Easy To Buy. We offer a single in the consumer segment all resistance, soil structure and fertility improve and chemical inputs can cover all your customers needs: an- product line that has products to are EPA section 25-b exempt, yet economical and proven effective in be eliminated altogether. nual weed control, pest and disease real world trials conducted in major We strive to use sustainable control, plus soil conditioning and university research plots and with practices at ICT Organics our Glu- fertility products. Quick shipping, ten-8 product is a byproduct of the cornstarch industry, our NPP fungicide is a byproduct of the seafood industry, Essential-1 uses simple plant essential oils, like garlic and cedar, to repel and kill pest insects that destroy plants and turf, and our fertilizer products are made from a rich ferment of kelp, fish, humate and molasses. Go With The Pros. No other manufacturer of organic lawn and garden products has the credentials of ICT Organics, one of the top names in the professional lawn and landscape industry. These are not new products with no track record, but field-proven performers that we generous terms and solid product support make it easy to manage your inventory for consistent sell through. Easy To Sell. Eye-catching, information-rich packaging draws customer interest and builds brand loyalty for repeat sales through the season, and these products produce profits spring, summer and fall, with excellent margins. Meanwhile, comprehensive POS materials answer FAQs to reduce your customer service costs. It s all here: a complete organic lineup, excellent margins, consistent year-long sell through. n ICT Organics Earth Harvest is the first full-line, organiccompliant set of products in the consumer segment. April 2011 Garden center S3

3 foxfarm soil and fertilizer company Feed the soil, feed the plants Microbrewed organic formulations fuel gardening success FoxFarm Soil and Fertilizer during the manufacturing process Company, based in Northern California, is a family FoxFarm has been a bioneer, to ensure the best quality. run and operated business leading the way in organics before that has been providing premium, it was the norm. Recently, FoxFarm Microbrewed Organic soils and introduced its newest line, the Bush fertilizers for over 20 years. An independent and traditional-markup are for use in outdoor gardening as Doctor products! These products only manufacturer, FoxFarm is well as indoor growing. dedicated to enhancing the retailer Bushdoctor Sledgehammer is and end-use gardener experience an Organic Salt Flush which is an by providing products that not only important tool in your garden to feed the plant, but the soil as well. rid yourself of harmful salt buildup, FoxFarm only uses the finest ingredients from the earth gardens. Bushdoctor MicrobeBrew especially in lawns and established and the sea to create blends that is an organic liquid-suspension are concentrated and brewing microbial inoculant that contains with microbial active organisms. 37 species of beneficial microbes Such organic ingredients include: and bacterias that allow for a earthworm castings, fossilized bat concentrated colony which will guano, mycorrhizae, humic acid, enhance overall plant and soil shrimp meal, crab meal, oyster health. It also contains organic shell lime, kelp meal, composted nutrition specially formulated for forest humus, Canadian peat, blood meal, alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal, and many more. FoxFarm believes in quality over quantity, so we never use waste items or filler products like construction debris, human waste, poultry manures, low-end salts, and other low grade ingredients. Each bag and bottle is put through a rigorous testing process that occurs up to every 15 minutes the mycorrhizae and bacterias so that they are ready to grow! Finally, Bushdoctor Kangaroots is an organic rooting stimulant that will grow both primary and secondary root structures for use not only on new plantings, but also established gardens. Kangaroots contains an enhanced microbe package along with organic nutrition that is in a simple form for roots to feed on, which will increase root mass substantially. The healthier the roots, the better the fruits! Using all three with our current program will not only increase flower and fruit set, increase root mass, but create a soil system that is alive, which will aid a plant in fending off disease and insect breakouts. FoxFarm also provides a comprehensive feeding schedule for better results. FoxFarm has been providing a green way to garden by using recyclable containers and bags, as well as using green manufacturing processes where possible. The FoxFarm team believes in taking the hard part out of selling soils and fertilizers for the retailer by creating award-winning packaging that acts as a silent salesman, knowledgeable point-of-purchase materials, website with a blog we save for great information about our retailers, as well as an enhanced sales and customer service staff to provide support and success. We consider every retailer and end user part of the FoxFarm family! n FoxFarm- Combining the best of technology with the goodness of nature FoxFarm. Using all three Bushdoctor products with Foxfarm s current program will increase flower and fruit set, as well as root mass. But it also goes further, creating a soil system that is alive, which will aid a plant in fending off disease and insect breakouts. S4 Garden center April 2011

4 overdevest nurseries Doing the right thing Sustainability is more than just a word it s a way of life At Overdevest Nurseries, L.P., sustainability is more than just a word it s a way of life, for our sake and yours! From the conservation practices we embrace, the energy we conserve, the employment policies we follow, to the biodegradable packaging we utilize. By doing the right thing, we provide you, and your customers, the peace of mind that comes with plants grown and marketed in a way that respects our environment, our employees, our clients, and the principles of our nation. Let us help you capture the interest of the eco-minded and the imagination of the next generation. Join us in stepping toward a greener tomorrow! n Top image: A significant volume of water is conserved by capturing irrigation and storm runoff and recycling it via a tail-water recovery system. Bottom left image: Maria Hernandez, potting supervisor, knows that quality is determined at every step of the production cycle especially the beginning. She and her fellow employees take pride in their work to make sure you and your customers get the best possible plants with less waste along the way. Bottom right image: State-of-the-art energy-saving practices are utilized, including computer-controlled, open-air greenhouses which ventilate using convection rather than energy-intensive exhaust fans. S6 Garden center April 2011

5 natural industries The fungus fighters! Actinovate and Actino-Iron build a healthier lawn & garden with regular maintenance A wetter than normal spring season in many parts of the country, especially the Northeast and West Coast, has landscape professionals bracing for an onslaught of damaging fungal diseases. Plant diseases such as powdery mildew, black spot, rust and grey mold thrive in cool, wet conditions. Other fungal diseases such as take-all patch, turf dollarspot and brown patch also plague lawns and turf-grass playing fields when conditions are wetter than normal. Fungal diseases are one of the biggest challenges to anyone who grows plants from suburban landscapers and backyard gardeners to commercial farmers. With thousands of species known to cause disease, fungi and fungal-like organ- Natural Industries organic fungicide products can fight brownpatch disease and produce a healthy green lawn. tor for Natural Industries, maker of biological fungicides. Though our products control dozens of fungal diseases, I suggest a better solution by applying the fungicides as a preventative program prior to the onset of any diseases. Natural Industries introduced isms cause more harm than any Actinovate for Lawn & Garden plants, perennials, shrubs, trees, other group of plant pests. Fungicide as an alternative to fruits, herbs and vegetables with a But fungal diseases can be chemical treatments. Actinovate, difficult to treat once the disease which is OMRI-Listed for use in spreads. The best disease control is organic gardening, effectively suppresses as well as controls a wide to build a healthier lawn and garden with regular maintenance of fungicides and other plant protection diseases caused by pathogens such range of root rots and damping-off products. as Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, Most homeowners come into a Rhizoctonia, Verticillium and other garden center because they already root decay fungi. need a fungicide to stop some nastylooking fungus from spreading, said spray for leaf and foliar diseases such Actinovate can also be used as a Boomer Cardinale, marketing direc- as powdery mildew, downy mildew, Left photo: The new 10- pound bag of Actino-Iron from Natural Industries is specially formulated for lawn spreaders. Right photo: Natural Industries Actinovate Fungicide fights fungal diseases in the lawn and garden without chemicals. (Photos by Maigen Sawyer for Natural Industries) black spot, Botrytis, Alternaria and others. Actinovate contains a patented beneficial microorganism (Streptomyces lydicus strain WYEC 108) in a water-soluble powder. When mixed with water, Actinovate can be applied on lawns, annuals, bedding hose-end sprayer, pump sprayer or in a watering can. Natural Industries also produces Actino-Iron, a granular soil additive combining the Actinovate microbe with iron and humic acid. Added to soil, compost or other growing media, Actino-Iron protects plant roots from disease-causing fungi including damping off, black rot, brownpatch, root rot and more. Tests by numerous researchers and universities show that adding Actino-Iron to the soil stimulates plant greening and promotes longterm plant health. Actino-Iron can also be broadcast as a top dressing to any established indoor and outdoor plants, including trees, flowers, vegetables and lawns. n For best results You should use Actinovate every two to four weeks throughout the growing season to suppress fungal diseases, said Boomer Cardinale, marketing director for Natural Industries. Actinovate works well with insecticides, fertilizers and even other biologicals like mycorrhizae and organic nutrients. S8 Garden center April 2011

6 worm power Happy Earth (worm) Day! Worm compost as a soil amendment greatly enhances a growing environment Every day seems like Earth Day as gardeners increasingly reach for environmentally-friendly ways to feed their flowers and vegetables. In fact, the demand for all-natural fertilizers and pest control products has ballooned over the past decade. Market researcher Freedonia Group has Left photo: Worm Power and Worm Power Shower make a great team! Use estimated 10 percent annual growth Worm Power in potting mix and when for the organic fertilizer market, transplanting, and then fertilize with liquid Worm Power Shower for a full season twice the estimated growth for all of organic plant care. Right photo: At lawn and garden goods. Elzinga & Hoeksema Greenhouses, Worm One booming area within the organic fertilizer market is worm composting, or vermicomposting, into professional-grade, certified which uses earthworms to create organic fertilizer. The odorless, rich, natural fertilizer. Research has crumbly worm compost is loaded established that worm compost, with beneficial microorganisms and when added as a soil amendment, is rich in both primary nutrients increases soil fertility, improves (NPK) and micronutrients. plant nutrient uptake, enhances soil Worm Power s process-controlled structure, and boosts soil s water- production environment is key holding capacity. It even helps to suppress soil pathogens in some cases. One major producer of vermicompost is Worm Power, based in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. Worm Power, which shares its company name with its flagship worm compost fertilizer, was founded in 2003 and has just expanded to become the largest vermicomposting facility in the Western Hemisphere. There, millions of earthworms produce Worm Power fertilizer in a controlled indoor setting. The worms convert composted dairy manure from the nearby Coyne Family Dairy Farm Power is used both in potting media and as a top dressing for these certified organic pepper transplants. The transplants here are ready for sale in decomposable pots. to its success, according to Tom Herlihy, president and co-founder of Worm Power. This stuff is hard to make, Herlihy said. Many worm composts are made from variable inputs and processed with inconsistent methods, resulting in variable nutrient and microbial composition. In contrast, Worm Power is created through a patented, processcontrolled method that ensures a uniform end product. Moisture, temperature, aeration and feedstocks are strictly controlled. Finished Worm Power fertilizer offers balanced, slow-release nutrients and abundant plant-essential microbes. The activity of these microbes makes nutrients more available to plants, helping them thrive, even in demanding conditions. It s nature s original fertilizer, straight from the worms, Herlihy said. Consumer opinions indicate that the market for high-quality organic fertilizer is poised for growth, said Solveig Hanson, organic product manager at Harris Seeds. Purchasing trends show that home gardeners and landscapers want to select products that contribute to sustainable resource use and environmental preservation, Penny Stankiewicz, a home gardener from Brooklyn, said she successfully used Worm Power in her condo garden, on everything from herbs and trees to shrubs and roses. She even used the rich worm compost to start a lawn from seed. After using Worm Power for the past three years, Stankiewicz said, I am definitely a faithful fan. n Selling tips: April: Encourage your customers to add Worm Power to their seed-starting mixes (at a 5-10 percent rate) for improved germination and growth. Promote Worm Power as a simple organic fertilizer for indoor plants. May: Kid and pet-safe Worm Power in 1-pound, 3-pound or 15-pound bags is ideal for adding natural fertility to the soil during planting or transplanting. June: Promote odor-free Worm Power Shower for use with deck and patio containers. Easy-to-use brew bags turn water into an organic, non-burning, highly effective, slow-release fertilizer. S10 Garden center April 2011