Going “Green” With Non-Toxic Lawn Products (NAPSA)—As concern grows about the use of pesticides and herbicides in yards and gardens, manufacturers are responding with a new generation of less toxic lawn care products. If you have children or pets, these products should be of particular interest to you. While historically, green products have been less effective and/or slower working than their traditional counterparts, that is no longer the case. Phosphate-free fertilizers lead the list in popularity, as many communities now forbid the use of any phosphate on lawns. There are also several insecticides available which use soap to kill a wide range of bugs. One company makes a weed and crabgrass pre-emergent herbicide made from simple corn gluten. Perhaps the most interesting product of all is a new non-selective herbicide formula that is deadly to weeds, yet is made entirely of ingredients that are anything but deadly. Called AllDown Green Chemistry Herbicide, it contains a mix of components including vinegar, garlic and other ingredients. While it soundslike it belongs on a salad, it can kill weeds within hours, especially when applied on warm, sunnydays. It works well to kill unwanted vegetation around patios, along driveways, fences, walls and in mulch landscaping beds where weeds and grass have begun to appear. Many homeowners whoaretrying to “go organic” on their lawns can also use it to kill individual weeds by “spot” spraying. Since AllDown kills on contact, spot treating simply requires that the user get as close to the weed as possible, spraying very carefully to A new generation of lawn care products works well without toxic chemicals. avoid hitting grass or other desirable vegetation near the weed. Tony Kirsch, owner of Summerset Products, the Minnesota-based company that produces AllDown, is himself the ownerof a small hobby farm which heis currently converting to an organic operation. According to Kirsch, the product wasoriginally designed for use on organic farms, but is getting a lot of attention from environmentally-conscious consumers who want to cut out the use of toxic chemicals in and aroundtheir homes. In addition to being used by consumers, many governmental entities are being required to use products like AllDown around schools, parks, and other public places. For consumers, AllDown is available in 32 oz. and one-gallon containers designed for home and garden use. It is also available in five-gallon cases, 55-gallon drums, and 275-gallon bulk “totes” for use on organic farms, orchards, and vineyards. AllDown is thefirst her- bicide to have earned an OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute)listing. For more information, call (800) 820-4817 or visit www.summerset products.com.
