Growing and Mowing and Bears, Oh My!

MOORESVILLE, N.C., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- During the cold, frosty months Mike, your friendly neighborhood bear, has been fast asleep in hibernation -- dreaming of waking up to a garden with all of the bear necessities for a relaxing, welcoming and beautiful yard. This spring, don't just grin and bear a tired lawn. Use the following tips from Lowe's to turn your yard into a personal oasis.

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Be Smarter than the Average Bear

Get your claws on the best gardening, lawn and landscaping and nursery information by visiting Lowes.com/Learn2Grow , a new online tool from Lowe's and Learn2Grow that brings gardening to a whole new level. The Web site, for gardening pros and cubs alike, offers personalization options, an online garden journal, fun projects, regional content and a great community for all your growing needs.

Don't Growl

Nothing would make a bear grumpier than heading out of the den only to stumble upon unsightly crabgrass. Crabgrass is best controlled before it has a chance to germinate. Stomp it out with the Sta-Green(R) Phosphorus-Free CrabEx with Fertilizer (Item #216465, $13.97) and to control other lawn weeds use Sta-Green(R) Phosphorus-Free Weed and Feed (Item #216506, $10.48). While phosphorus is a major nutrient already present in your soil that makes turf healthy, excess amounts can contribute to water quality issues.

Flower Power

You don't have to be as busy as a bear in a beehive to have a lush, colorful garden. Plant easy-to-grow flowers such as Wave Petunias that create a beautiful blanket of flowers, Gerbera Daisy is a picture perfect flowering plant with very large blooms, Impatiens are an all time favorite for shady locations. All of these plants and many more are available in several flower colors. Plant them in the Fiskars All-Natural Planter (Item #291478, $3.99) to be extra eco-conscious or make a beautiful garden arrangement for your favorite mama bear or hostess.

Mow Lawn, Mow Problems

Don't fuss if you let your lawn get grizzly over the winter months. It's time to break out the mower, but first you must prepare it for the season. Make sure you are using sharp blades; dull ones will tear your grass and turn it brown, which may be cute on baby bears but not on your lawn. For optimal performance, don't forget to clean the spark plugs, lubricate all moving parts and use the appropriate fuel mixture. Then, get behind the Troy-Bilt XP Series Self-Propelled Mower (Item #102563, $389) and mow your way to a manicured yard.

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2007 sales of $48.3 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,525 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.