As Americans have become more concerned about the use of pesticides and herbicides in their yards, manufacturers have responded with a whole new generation of less toxic lawn care products. If you have children or pets that run around on your property, these products may be of particular interest to you.

While historically, so-called "green" products have been less effective and/or slower working than their traditional counterparts that is no longer the case.

Phosphate-free fertilizers lead the list in popularity, as many communities now forbid the use of any phosphate in lawn fertilizers. There are also several insecticides available, which use soap to kill a wide range of bugs. One company markets a weed and crabgrass pre-emergent herbicide made from simple corn gluten.

Perhaps the most interesting product of all is a new non-selective herbicide formula that is deadly to weeds, yet is made entirely of ingredients that are anything but deadly.

Called AllDown Green Chemistry Herbicide®, it contains a mix of components including vinegar, garlic and other ingredients. While it sounds like it belongs on a salad, it can kill weeds within hours, especially when applied on warm, sunny days.

AllDown works well to kill unwanted vegetation around patios, along driveways, fences, walls and in mulch landscaping beds where weeds and grass have begun to appear. Many homeowners who are trying to "go organic" on their lawns also use it to kill individual weeds by "spot" spraying. Since AllDown kills on contact, spot treating simply requires that the user get as close to the weed as possible, spraying very carefully to avoid hitting grass or other desirable vegetation near the weed.

Maureen Whaley, a lawn and garden enthusiast in Minneapolis claims that AllDown, in combination with other environmentally friendly lawn care products, has enabled her to "go green" and yet still have one of the best looking yards in the neighborhood. "We go barefoot again, and I no longer worry about our kids and dog rolling around in the grass," she says.

In addition to consumers like Ms. Whaley, many governmental entities are being required to use products like AllDown around schools, parks, and other public places.

For consumers, AllDown is available from www.alldownherbicide.com in one-gallon containers, 2.5 Gallon Container and is designed for home and garden use. It is also available in larger bulk quantities by calling 888-823-7404.