In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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April 4, 2008

Did you know......

In 2006, 81 million U.S. households participated in lawn and garden activities.

Each year U.S. homeowners use about one million tons of fertilizer.

The average DIY homeowner apples fertilizer to the lawn 1.6 times a year.

The millions of acres of lawns in the U.S. absorb 5% of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and collect about 12 million tons of dust, dirt, and smoke, which is trapped partly by the leaves and absorbed into the soil.

About 39% of gardeners use only conventional products; 5% use organic products only; 35% use a combination of both.

Homeowners are expected to spend $9.1 billion in packaged lawn and garden consumables in 2010.

Source: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

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