Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
An American multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer lawn, garden, pest-control, and indoor-horticulture products.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is an American lawn and garden products company headquartered in Marysville, Ohio. Its origins trace to 1868, when Orlando M. Scott began selling seed for agricultural use. The business later expanded into grass seed for homeowners and helped establish the modern retail lawn-care category by shipping packaged grass seed directly to stores in 1924. The company grew from a seed specialist into a broad consumer gardening business through acquisitions, brand development, and partnerships in lawn care, soil, fertilizer, pest control, plant nutrition, and indoor growing. The company’s principal United States brands include Scotts, Miracle-Gro, and Ortho. Scotts is associated primarily with grass seed, lawn fertilizer, weed control, and related lawn-care systems. Miracle-Gro focuses on plant food, garden fertilizers, soils, and products for flowers, vegetables, and houseplants. Ortho covers consumer pest-control and weed-control products. The company has also marketed Roundup consumer herbicides in the United States and selected international markets under arrangements with Monsanto, later part of Bayer. Scotts changed ownership and corporate form several times. ITT acquired the formerly private O.M. Scott & Sons Company in 1971. The business returned to independent ownership through a leveraged buyout in 1986 and became publicly traded in 1992. It merged with Miracle-Gro Products in 1995, creating the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. The combined company subsequently expanded through acquisitions including horticultural substrates, lawn-service operations, specialty gardening brands, hydroponics suppliers, lighting businesses, and connected irrigation technology. A major strategic development in the 2010s was the creation and expansion of Hawthorne Gardening Company, a specialty division serving indoor and hydroponic growers. Scotts entered this area through acquisitions such as General Hydroponics, Vermicrop Organics, Can-Filters, Sunlight Supply, AeroGrow, and Luxx Lighting. Hawthorne was intended to give the company exposure to controlled-environment agriculture and cannabis-related cultivation markets, although the company later pursued portfolio changes involving the division. Scotts has also divested activities that were less central to its consumer-gardening strategy. It sold its wild-bird-food business, transferred European and Australian operations and brands to Exponent Private Equity, and exited its minority investment in TruGreen. The company has experimented with digital and lifestyle-oriented products, including Lunarly, a subscription service developed with BuzzFeed that combined houseplants and wellness-themed items. The company has faced regulatory and environmental controversies. In 2012, it pleaded guilty and paid criminal and civil penalties relating to pesticide-treated bird seed and alleged violations of federal pesticide law. Its genetically modified grass research also resulted in a 2007 United States Department of Agriculture fine after modified creeping-bentgrass DNA was detected beyond test areas. In the United Kingdom, its peat extraction activities became the subject of a conservation dispute involving protected peat bogs. These matters have contributed to scrutiny of the environmental and regulatory effects of lawn, garden, and horticultural products. Scotts Miracle-Gro remains a major branded supplier to home gardeners and lawn owners, with products distributed through mass merchants, home-improvement retailers, garden centers, e-commerce channels, and other outlets. Its business combines established consumer brands with specialized horticultural equipment and supplies, while its geographic and portfolio mix has changed through acquisitions, divestitures, and restructuring. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is an American multinational supplier of consumer lawn, garden, pest-control, and indoor-growing products. Headquartered in Marysville, Ohio, the company traces its origins to 1868, when Orlando M. Scott began selling seed to the American agricultural market. It later developed a homeowner-focused lawn-seed business and became one of the best-known names in residential turf care and gardening. The company operates through a portfolio that includes Scotts lawn products, Miracle-Gro plant nutrition and gardening products, Ortho pest-control products, and other brands and businesses serving home growers. In the United States, Scotts and Miracle-Gro are its most visible consumer brands, while Ortho supplies products for controlling insects, weeds, and other garden pests. The company has also distributed Roundup consumer herbicides in the United States and selected international markets under arrangements with Monsanto, now part of Bayer. Scotts expanded beyond conventional lawn and garden products through acquisitions and partnerships. Its historical transactions included horticultural-media companies, seed and plant-breeding businesses, European garden brands, lawn-service operations, and specialty gardening companies. In the 2010s, the company established Hawthorne Gardening Company as a platform for hydroponic equipment, lighting, nutrients, environmental controls, and other indoor-growing products. Hawthorne acquisitions included General Hydroponics, Vermicrop Organics, Sunlight Supply, Can-Filters, AeroGrow, and Luxx Lighting. The business also explored digitally connected irrigation and consumer-oriented subscription services. The company's history has included significant regulatory and environmental controversies. It pleaded guilty and paid criminal penalties relating to pesticide-treated bird seed sold from 2005 to 2008, and it separately resolved violations involving pesticide registration requirements. Scotts also faced regulatory action after genetically modified creeping bentgrass spread beyond experimental sites. In the United Kingdom, its peat extraction activities generated a prolonged dispute with conservation groups and public authorities over the protection of peatlands. Scotts Miracle-Gro remains primarily associated with consumer lawn and garden care, but its portfolio has changed over time through divestitures, acquisitions, licensing arrangements, and strategic repositioning. Its operations have included both branded products sold through retail channels and specialized businesses aimed at professional or indoor growers. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SMG. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is an American multinational supplier of consumer lawn, garden, pest-control, and indoor-growing products, headquartered in Marysville, Ohio. Its origins trace to 1868, when Orlando M. Scott began selling seed to the American agricultural market. The business later developed a homeowner-focused lawn-seed business and, in 1924, became the first company described in the reference material to ship grass seed directly to retail stores rather than relying solely on mail order, helping establish the modern retail lawn-care category. Scotts Miracle-Gro remains a major branded supplier to home gardeners and lawn owners, distributing products through mass retailers, home-improvement retailers, garden centers, e-commerce channels, and other outlets. Its business combines established consumer brands with specialty horticultural equipment and supplies, while its geographic and product mix has changed through acquisitions, divestitures, and restructuring. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SMG.
History
Orlando M. Scott established the company’s predecessor in 1868 as a premium seed business serving American agriculture. During the early twentieth century, the business broadened into grass seed for homeowners. In 1924, it became the first company described in the reference material to ship grass seed directly to retail stores; before that change, its products were sold through mail order. By 1940, sales had reached $1 million and the company employed 66 associates. The privately held O.M. Scott & Sons Company was incorporated in 1914. ITT acquired the business in 1971, bringing it into a large international conglomerate. In 1986, a leveraged buyout restored the company’s independence. Scotts went public in 1992, with an initial offering price of $19 per share, and acquired Republic Tool & Manufacturing Company that year. It added Grace-Sierra Horticultural Products in 1993 and merged with Miracle-Gro Products in 1995, forming the modern Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. The company pursued an acquisition-led expansion in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Transactions and agreements involved Miracle Care Garden, Emerald Green Lawn Service, Levington Horticulture, Sanford Scientific, Rhône-Poulenc Jardin, Shamrock peat products, Substral, Smith & Hawken, and the consumer Roundup and Ortho businesses. The company also entered a collaboration with Monsanto concerning consumer herbicide marketing and distribution. Scotts acquired the Morning Song bird-food brand in 2005, but later sold its wild-bird-food line to Global Harvest Foods in 2014. In service operations, Scotts Lawn Service was combined with ServiceMaster’s TruGreen business in 2015. Scotts later sold its minority stake in TruGreen in 2019. The company also developed a technology and specialty-gardening portfolio. It acquired General Hydroponics and Vermicrop Organics in 2015 and operated these activities through Hawthorne Gardening Company. Blossom, a connected sprinkler manufacturer, was acquired in 2016; Scotts also purchased a minority interest in Bonnie Plants that year. Can-Filters was added in 2017, followed by the announced Sunlight Supply transaction in 2018, AeroGrow in 2020, and Luxx Lighting in 2022. Scotts sold its European and Australian operations and brands to Exponent Private Equity in 2017. The divestiture altered the company’s international footprint and followed other portfolio decisions designed to focus the business on selected consumer and specialty-horticulture activities. The company also experimented with new forms of consumer engagement, including the Lunarly subscription service developed with BuzzFeed in 2018. The service used houseplants and wellness merchandise to present gardening as a lifestyle activity for younger consumers. The business has faced significant regulatory and environmental issues. Between 2005 and 2008, it sold millions of units of bird seed treated with pesticides. Company experts reportedly raised concerns about the risks, but sales continued until 2008. In 2012, the company pleaded guilty and paid criminal penalties; related civil and environmental settlements brought the total regulatory consequences to more than $6 million in penalties plus funding for environmental projects. In 2008, the company also acknowledged conduct involving falsified pesticide registration numbers. Scotts’ genetically modified grass research created another regulatory controversy. In 2007, the USDA fined the company after genetically modified creeping-bentgrass DNA was found in related plants and native grasses as far as 21 kilometers from testing locations. Earlier, in the United Kingdom, Scotts’ peat extraction operations were challenged by conservation organizations and government bodies. Protected-area designations affecting peat bogs in Yorkshire and Cumbria threatened extraction rights; the dispute ultimately involved a reported £17 million compensation payment by the UK government. The company has also been politically visible. During the 2012 United States presidential election, it endorsed Republican candidate Mitt Romney. More recently referenced materials describe a supply-chain transformation that reduced inventory and consolidated distribution facilities, followed by a planned expansion of the company’s Kinaxis partnership in 2026. The same material describes a planned sale of Hawthorne Gardening to Vireo Growth in 2026. Because these events are dated beyond the company’s established historical record in the supplied reference, their completion and current status require verification. Scotts Miracle-Gro began in 1868, when Orlando M. Scott established a seed business serving the United States agricultural market. During the early twentieth century, the company expanded into grass seed for household lawns. In 1924, it became the first company to ship grass seed directly to retail stores; before that change, its products were sold through mail order. By 1940, sales had reached one million dollars and the company employed 66 people. The business was incorporated as O.M. Scott & Sons Company in 1914. In 1971, the privately held company was acquired by ITT, a diversified international conglomerate. Scotts returned to independent ownership in 1986 through a leveraged buyout. It became publicly traded in 1992, offering shares at $19 per share. The company then pursued expansion through acquisitions, including Republic Tool & Manufacturing, Grace-Sierra Horticultural Products, and other horticultural businesses. In 1995, Scotts merged with Miracle-Gro Products, Inc., creating the foundation of the modern Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. The combination joined Scotts' strength in lawn products with Miracle-Gro's plant-food and gardening franchise. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the company acquired or developed a broad collection of horticultural and consumer brands, including Miracle Care, Levington, Substral, Smith & Hawken, Morning Song, and businesses associated with European garden products. It also obtained marketing and distribution rights for Monsanto's consumer Roundup products in several markets and acquired the Ortho lawn-and-garden business. Scotts expanded into service and technology businesses as well. Scotts Lawn Service developed from the acquisition of Emerald Green Lawn Service and was later combined with ServiceMaster's TruGreen operation. The company sold its interest in TruGreen in 2019. It acquired connected-irrigation company Blossom in 2016 and took a minority stake in Bonnie Plants the same year. The company sold its European and Australian operations and brands to Exponent Private Equity in 2017, reflecting a greater concentration on North America and selected strategic businesses. A major later strategy was the development of Hawthorne Gardening Company, which focused on hydroponics and indoor growing. Scotts acquired General Hydroponics and Vermicrop Organics in 2015, followed by Can-Filters, Sunlight Supply, AeroGrow, and Luxx Lighting in subsequent years. These transactions broadened the company from conventional lawn and garden retail into nutrients, hydroponic systems, air filtration, horticultural lighting, and automated indoor cultivation. The company also experimented with new consumer engagement models, including Lunarly, a plant and wellness subscription service developed with BuzzFeed in 2018. The company has faced environmental and regulatory criticism. Between 2005 and 2008, it sold millions of units of bird seed coated with pesticides that were hazardous to birds and fish. In 2012, Scotts pleaded guilty and paid criminal fines, while a separate settlement addressed additional pesticide-registration violations and environmental remediation. Its genetically modified grass research also resulted in a 2007 USDA fine after modified creeping bentgrass was found beyond test sites. In the United Kingdom, conservation organizations and public authorities opposed the company's peat extraction from protected or proposed protected bogs; the dispute ended with government compensation associated with the loss of extraction rights. Scotts Miracle-Gro continues to market consumer lawn and garden products through major retail channels, while maintaining specialized activities in indoor growing and horticultural technology. Its principal public-facing brands remain Scotts, Miracle-Gro, and Ortho.
- 2022
Luxx Lighting acquisition
[1]The company acquires horticultural lighting maker Luxx Lighting.
- 2020
AeroGrow acquisition
[1]Scotts acquires AeroGrow International, a maker of indoor hydroponic growing systems.
- 2015
Expansion into hydroponics
[1]General Hydroponics and Vermicrop Organics are acquired for the Hawthorne specialty-gardening business.
- 1995
Merger with Miracle-Gro
[1]Scotts merges with Miracle-Gro Products, creating The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.
- 1992
Initial public offering
[1]Scotts becomes publicly traded with an initial offering price of $19 per share, and acquires Republic Tool & Manufacturing Company that year.
- 1986
Return to independent ownership
[1]Scotts became independent again through a leveraged buyout. A leveraged buyout separates Scotts from ITT and restores its independence.
- 1971
ITT acquisition
[1]ITT acquires the privately held O.M. Scott & Sons business.
- 1924
Grass seed enters retail stores
[1]Scotts begins shipping grass seed directly to stores rather than relying solely on mail-order distribution, becoming the first company described in the reference material to do so.
- 1924
Direct-to-store grass-seed distribution introduced
[1]Scotts became the first company to ship grass seed directly to retail stores rather than relying exclusively on mail order.
- 1914
O.M. Scott & Sons is incorporated
[1]The predecessor company is formally incorporated as O.M. Scott & Sons Company.
Products and positioning
A leading consumer lawn-and-garden company combining mass-market lawn care, plant nutrition, pest control, growing media, and specialized indoor-growing technologies, positioned around accessible products for home growers and lawn owners.
Lawn care
Scotts
The Scotts brand is the company’s core lawn-care franchise. Its range includes grass seed, lawn fertilizers, weed-control products, and related treatment systems intended for homeowners maintaining residential turf. The brand is sold through mass retail, home-improvement, garden, and online channels. The Scotts brand covers residential lawn-care products such as grass seed, lawn fertilizer, weed control, and related turf-maintenance treatments. It is the company's principal consumer lawn brand and is sold primarily through retail channels.
Garden plant nutrition
Miracle-Gro
Miracle-Gro is a consumer gardening brand centered on plant food, fertilizers, soils, and products for flowers, vegetables, ornamental plants, and houseplants. It extends the company beyond turf care into everyday gardening and indoor plant care. Miracle-Gro supplies plant foods, fertilizers, soils, and gardening products for indoor and outdoor growers. The brand is positioned around helping household gardeners grow ornamental plants, vegetables, flowers, and other cultivated plants.
Pest and weed control
Ortho
Ortho supplies consumer-oriented insecticides, weed killers, and other pest-control products for lawns, gardens, and household outdoor spaces. The brand forms an important part of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s crop-protection and garden-maintenance portfolio. Ortho provides consumer products for controlling insects, weeds, and other garden and household pests. Its portfolio extends Scotts Miracle-Gro beyond lawn nutrition into plant-protection and pest-management applications.
Hydroponics and indoor horticulture · 2015
Hawthorne Gardening Company
Hawthorne is the company’s specialty indoor-growing platform. Its portfolio has included hydroponic nutrients, growing media, ventilation and filtration equipment, horticultural lighting, and other supplies used in controlled-environment cultivation, including cannabis-related growing markets. Hawthorne is the company's specialized indoor-growing platform. Through acquisitions and associated brands, it has offered hydroponic nutrients, growing systems, horticultural lighting, ventilation, filtration, and environmental-control equipment for controlled cultivation.
Indoor gardening equipment · 2020
AeroGarden
AeroGarden produces compact indoor hydroponic growing systems designed for herbs, vegetables, and ornamental plants. Scotts acquired AeroGrow in 2020, adding a consumer-facing indoor-growing platform to its broader horticultural equipment portfolio.
Herbicides
Roundup consumer products
Scotts has marketed and distributed consumer Roundup herbicide products in the United States and selected international markets under agreements originally associated with Monsanto.
Controversies
2012
Pesticide-treated bird seed case
Scotts pleaded guilty after selling bird seed treated with pesticides that were known to pose serious risks to birds and fish. The products were sold from 2005 through 2008, despite internal warnings described in the reference material.
2012
FIFRA violations and environmental settlement
The company was fined and required to perform community service for criminal violations of federal pesticide law. It also agreed to additional penalties and environmental projects in a related settlement.
2007
Genetically modified grass escape
The USDA fined Scotts after DNA from genetically modified creeping bentgrass was detected in related plants and native grasses outside the company's test sites, as far as 21 kilometers away.
2001
United Kingdom peat-bog dispute
Scotts' peat extraction activities in northern England were challenged by conservation bodies and government authorities after peat-bog areas in Yorkshire and Cumbria were considered for protected status. The dispute ended with a reported £17 million government compensation payment for the loss of extraction rights. Scotts faced opposition from conservation groups and government bodies over peat extraction in northern England. Protected-area designations ultimately ended the company's ability to extract peat from the affected sites, with compensation paid by the UK government.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Lunarly
United States
Scotts collaborated with BuzzFeed's Product Labs and agency partners to create a subscription service containing houseplants, crystals, and other wellness-oriented items tied to the lunar calendar. The initiative presented gardening as a lifestyle and self-care activity and was aimed particularly at younger consumers, especially millennial women. Scotts collaborated with BuzzFeed and agency partners on a subscription service that combined houseplants, crystals, and wellness products organized around the lunar calendar. The initiative sought to attract younger consumers, particularly millennial women, to gardening.
Outcome. The boxes reportedly sold out repeatedly and generated more than $1 million in incremental sales by May 2019, according to the supplied reference.
- 2012Mitt Romney presidential endorsement
United States
During the 2012 United States presidential election, the company endorsed Republican candidate Mitt Romney, making the company politically visible during the election period.
Outcome. The endorsement made the company politically visible during the election period.
Brand decisions
2022
Acquire Luxx LightingM&ABackground
Hawthorne continued expanding its controlled-environment agriculture equipment range.
Action taken
Scotts acquired horticultural lighting maker Luxx Lighting.
Aftermath
The acquisition increased Hawthorne’s presence in specialized grow-lighting equipment.
2020
Acquire AeroGrowM&ABackground
Scotts wanted to strengthen its consumer indoor-gardening and hydroponics offering. The company continued building its indoor-growing portfolio and sought consumer-facing hydroponic technology.
Action taken
Scotts acquired AeroGrow International, maker of indoor hydroponic growing systems.
Aftermath
AeroGarden added a recognizable home indoor-growing platform to the company’s portfolio. The transaction expanded Hawthorne's exposure to countertop and home indoor-growing products.
2018
Announce Sunlight Supply acquisitionM&ABackground
Scotts intended to expand Hawthorne’s distribution and product capabilities in hydroponic cultivation.
Action taken
The company announced a planned $450 million cash-and-stock acquisition of Sunlight Supply.
Aftermath
The transaction further broadened Hawthorne’s specialty-growing supply business.
Announced transaction value. $450 million (2018 announcement)
2018
Lunarly subscription launchProduct launchBackground
Scotts wanted to make gardening more relevant to younger consumers and experiment with direct-to-consumer products.
Action taken
The company launched Lunarly with BuzzFeed, offering plants and wellness-themed products through a lunar-calendar subscription concept.
Aftermath
The service received mixed reviews but reportedly sold out repeatedly and produced incremental sales.
2017
Divest European and Australian operationsM&ABackground
Scotts reorganized its international portfolio and placed greater emphasis on North American consumer products and selected growth businesses.
Action taken
The company sold its European and Australian operations and brands to Exponent Private Equity.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced the company’s direct ownership of those regional operations.
2015
Build the Hawthorne hydroponics platformStrategyBackground
Scotts pursued growth in indoor horticulture and cultivation markets, including the emerging cannabis-growing sector.
Action taken
The company acquired General Hydroponics and Vermicrop Organics and placed the activities under Hawthorne Gardening Company.
Aftermath
Hawthorne became the company’s principal specialty-horticulture and hydroponics platform.
2015
Creation of a hydroponics and indoor-growing platformStrategyBackground
The company identified controlled-environment cultivation and hydroponics as an expansion area beyond traditional lawn and garden retail.
Action taken
Scotts acquired General Hydroponics and Vermicrop Organics and organized the activities under Hawthorne Gardening Company.
Aftermath
Hawthorne became a platform for additional acquisitions in lighting, filtration, hydroponic supply, and indoor growing systems.
1995
Merge with Miracle-Gro ProductsM&ABackground
Scotts sought to combine its lawn-seed and lawn-care heritage with Miracle-Gro’s consumer gardening and plant-nutrition business.
Action taken
The companies merged to form the Scotts Miracle-Gro organization.
Aftermath
The transaction created a broader branded platform spanning lawns, gardens, plant food, and related products. The transaction created a broader consumer lawn-and-garden portfolio centered on the Scotts and Miracle-Gro brands.
Recent events
ScottsMiracle-Gro completes acquisition of Black Kow[4]
Reported:
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company announced that it completed its acquisition of the Black Kow brand from Organics Management, bringing Black Kow into its Gardens portfolio.
MWD Logistics receives Scotts Miracle-Gro Service Excellence Award[5]
Reported:
MWD Logistics was named a recipient of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Service Excellence Award, recognizing supplier performance against metrics provided by Scotts Miracle-Gro.
ScottsMiracle-Gro reports third-quarter financial results[6]
Reported:
ScottsMiracle-Gro reported third-quarter results for the period ended June 27, 2020, including a 28% increase in company-wide sales to $1.49 billion.
Sources6 sources
- 1Scotts Miracle-Gro Companyen.wikipedia.org
- 2The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company official websitescottsmiraclegro.com
- 3The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company official websitescotts.com
- 4ScottsMiracle-Gro完成对Black Kow的收购manilatimes.net
- 5MWD Logistics获Scotts Miracle-Gro服务卓越奖richlandsource.com
- 6ScottsMiracle-Gro公布第三季度财务业绩finance.yahoo.com
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