Spring is Here - Spending Money on Dirt!

For many “Spring” arrives in different ways. For some it’s the time change, others it’s the Azaleas starting to bloom… for me I’m just weird, I know it’s “Spring” from TV commercials.

In the just the past week I’ve seen or heard the audio rumbling through our home commercials for Lowe’s and Home Depot. But the one that always gets my attention is the Miracle Gro commercials. The reason why that piques my interest comes from some obscure fact that sticks in my brain.

A few years ago it was report that “Miracle Gro” spent 1 million per week during the season to promote their products. That season starts during the “Spring.” Do they make the best potting soil, media or dirt? You’ll have to decide, but there must be money in it. The Miracle Gro fertilizer commercial has not come across the radar yet but will soon I’m sure.

Spring is also in the air because of the weeds starting to grow. That means the “Round-Up” commercials with homeowners spraying have started. You’ll soon see them. The problem I have with the commercial is not the use of “round-up” it’s been a great product I use. However, you should always play it safe with some safety eyewear and gloves. Kill the weeds but keep the chemicals off and away from your body. That goes for the Spectrcide commercials and products also. But having someone applying these products in a Hazmat suit would not sell them as well.

It’s safe to say you probably won’t see many commercials on landscape rocks, outdoor landscape lighting for safety purposes or outdoor wireless speakers for your backyard landscape on TV. So next time you’re at the local garden center looking at the flowers, dirt and chemicals give them a look also - since Spring is here - cuz the TV told us so!

The Wasteful - Is It You?

No matter how “Green” we may think we are a survey conducted by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence found that Americans have little taste for conservation - that’s the conservation of water.

The survey looked at the attitudes and the activities of 105 million US consumer households. The finding showed that one out of three households had ZERO plans to conserve water in their gardens or yards for the upcoming season.

One in four or approximately 21 million plan on using the least efficient way to water plants or irrigate! They plan to water by hand. Here’s 10 Tips to Improve your Irrigation

Anytime the economy turns people may not have the same money to travel but look to stay home and make improvements around the house. The survey showed the same thing.

Plans for major landscape upgrades to not only improve the look but landscaping can also improve the property values of a home. Tops on the landscape upgrade include renovating the patio landscaping or deck, installing water gardens and building sheds. Don’t forget improving the watering system with installing irrigation.

Almost half plan to grow some garden vegetables but 1/3 did not think very much about fertilizer needs. One in five plan on going the natural or organic route.

This speaks volumes to me. Plants are a way of life for many of us, but as consumers we have a long way to go in the basics - that being watering plants indoors and out along with using safe natural controls for pest to make our environment safer.

What are your plant plans for the summer. Is an updated patio in your future or even a garden?