ScottsMiracle-Gro Enters Year Three of GRO1000, Company's Commitment to Support Community Gardens and Green Spaces Across the U.S.

MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Jan. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Now in its third year, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG) proudly announces its continuing support of greenscape development with the availability of the 2013 GRO1000 Grassroots Grants.

The grants are part of the larger GRO1000 Gardens and Green Spaces Program, which is ScottsMiracle-Gro's commitment to create over 1,000 community gardens and green spaces by 2018, the company's 150^th anniversary. The grants are awarded to non-profit organizations nationwide.

"Gardens bring something very special to our communities," said Jim King, ScottsMiracle-Gro's Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs. "From edible gardens that help feed the hungry, to beautification projects that improve neighborhood safety, we're humbled to help bring these positive benefits to communities everywhere."

The application for the 2013 GRO1000 Grassroots Grants is available online at: www.GroGood.com/GiveBackToGro/Gro1000/Grassroots. The deadline for application submission is February 18, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The grants, which range from $500 to $1,500, are awarded based on community need and impact, scope and long-term sustainability of the project. School districts, universities, government entities, and 501(c)(3) public charity organization are all eligible to apply.

Two hundred forty-eight gardens and green spaces across the U.S., Canada and Europe have been impacted by GRO1000 Grassroots Grants, including 4^th Street Farms in Columbus, Ohio.

"With the support of the GRO1000 Grassroots Grant Award, 4^th Street Farms transformed a vacant lot in an urban transitional neighborhood into a vibrant garden, with a portion of its harvest donated to the community," said Evelyn Van Til of 4^th Street Farms. "We've gotten to know more of our neighbors and they us, as we provide a gathering place for the community. Crime has dropped, and we are making a difference."

On January 17, ScottsMiracle-Gro and its partner the U.S. Conference of Mayors will announce the winners of its annual GRO1000 Showcase Grants, which are awarded to cities for the installation of innovative edible gardens, public gardens and green space development within their communities.

Additional partners for the GRO1000 program include Plant A Row for the Hungry, Garden Writers Association, National Gardening Association, and Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

For more information on GRO1000 visit www.GroGood.com/GiveBackToGro/Gro1000.

About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately $3 billion in worldwide sales, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Scotts Company LLC, is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care, with products for professional horticulture as well. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In the U.S., we operate Scotts LawnService®, the second largest residential lawn care service business. Visit us at www.scotts.com.

SOURCE The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company