"I have a serious problem with creeping charlies," said the Thorold city councillor while overlooking his backyard from inside his gazebo last Thursday.

The evergreen loostrife vine with coin shaped leaves has slowly spread inch by inch across Charron's lawn over the past few summers until the thick patch of leaves completely overtook his yard this year.

"It needs surgery," he said.

Charron was taking advice from Smart Gardening Advisor Juanita Dionne, who made a visit to Charron's house last week to give him a lesson in environmentally friendly lawn and garden practices.

"If she came here five years ago I wouldn't have to pull up my entire lawn," he joked.

Dionne said the creeping charlie problem is caused by grubs underneath the lawn that were making the vines spread.

"The grubs eat the roots of grass and weeds take over," said Dionne.

Dionne is one of the horticulturists in the Niagara Region's Smart Gardening program that makes friendly visits to the homes of residents for a free lawn and garden assessment.

It is part of a pilot program launched this spring in an effort to make Niagara residents environmentally smart gardeners.

The program's Smart Gardening advisors come to the home for a friendly 45-minute visit and are able to provide advice on all aspects of gardening, such as how to get rid of pests without using pesticides, reduce your water use and save money or use the correct plants and grow a healthy lawn.

"We can cater to each individual homeowner's needs," explains Dionne, "I was able to tell Mike had a grub problem right away."

The visits are a mix of a garden tour and include a question-and-answer session and suggestions about how to green your gardening habits.

The program also aims to educate how to change old gardening habits, such as watering too much, using pesticides, mowing the grass too short or how to use a rain barrel or compost properly.

Dionne said that even those with a green thumb are encouraged to participate in the program.

"No matter how experienced a gardener you are there's always more information to learn from someone else's gardening experience. You are never done learning."

The visit also includes a free information package full of pamphlets and information on gardening, a water effective landscaping DVD and a household guide to water conservation.

Thorold residents are encouraged to call and make an appointment because the city has paid its share to fund the region's pilot program, which could be lost if more residents don't take advantage of it. The region plans to track the results of the program through a before and after surveys. To book an appointment call 1-888-809-2584.