Gov't review of pesticides may hit L&G products

The EPA has ordered a new review of a slew of weed killers, some of which (including a widespread one, Atrazine) are used in lawn and garden products. For the science of the issue, check out Chemistry World's report. For two different opinions, there's EPA revisits atrazine - finally and Alarmists unfairly target crucial agricultural tool.

Home Depot to help New Englanders spread it thick

Home Depot will be carrying organic fertilizer in 64 stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and New York this coming spring. The product is made by Converted Organics. According to the press release,

Converted Organics produces organic liquid and solid fertilizers and soil amendment products through the Company's proprietary High Temperature Liquid Composting (HTLC) process. The HTLC system is a proven, state-of-the-art microbial digestion technology that processes various biodegradable food waste products into liquid and solid organic-based fertilizer.

But I find myself a little too squeamish to ponder "biodegradable food waste products" for very long.

New soaker hose saves water

Dramm's new ColorStorm premium soaker hose features thicker walls -- and that, according to the maker, prevents wasteful sprays of water. And of course, the whole idea of a watering hose is that driblets of water go right where they are needed, unlike traditional profligate sprinkler systems. The hose itself is made of recycled materials.

The most eco-friendly barbecue fuel

Here's a fun article in Slate on whether gas or charcoal grills are better for the environment. Money quote:

If you're concerned solely with the carbon dioxide that wafts off your grill, then gas is the easy choice. But if you step back and consider the whole production cycle, then certain types of charcoal may well be the greener cooking fuel. The real trick, as is so often the case, is to select a product that's been created conscientiously—a tough assignment, given how little information manufacturers typically provide.

Hat tip: My lovely wife.

Creating the urban jungle

Rooftop gardens are a nifty (and increasingly popular) way to put empty urban spaces to good use, but this is not a simple DIY project. As Audrey Tempelsman at the Dwell Blog explains, you have to be careful about weight load, drainage, soil mix, and plants grown. Check out her post for more detail and great links.

No business like mow business

There's nothing greener than muscle power, as this article on push mowers makes clear.

Web site pushes eco-friendly bird control

Bird-X has launched a new version of its Web site -- bird-x.com -- to offer info on bird control and to sell its eco-friendly bird control products. The site offers links to articles and humane bird control solutions.

Columnist: 'Make decks with certified or composite wood'

A columnist in the Vancouver Sun, amusingly named Kelly Deck, is counseling homeowners seeking green options to make their decks from FSC-certified or composite lumber. Also urged: avoid unnecessary travel and plant vegetable gardens.

Grass that's less thirsty

Pennington Seed's new SmartSeed product requires up to 30 percent less water than traditional grasses. The company is not saying you won't have to water your lawn, though -- you'll just have to water it less. So this is still not a final answer when communities ban all lawn-watering during extended droughts.