Restructuring - Restructuring (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended														3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Distribution [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Distribution [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Distribution [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Corporate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Corporate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Lawn and Garden [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Lawn and Garden [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Lawn and Garden [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Engineered Products [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Engineered Products [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Engineered Products [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Severance and Non-Cancelable Lease Costs [Member] Distribution [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Severance and Non-Cancelable Lease Costs [Member] Distribution [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Severance and Non-Cancelable Lease Costs [Member] Engineered Products [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property [Member] Distribution [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property [Member] Distribution [Member] facility	Dec. 31, 2011 Non-Cancelable Lease Obligations [Member] Engineered Products [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Severance [Member] Distribution [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Severance [Member] Corporate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Severance [Member] Lawn and Garden [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Severance [Member] Lawn and Garden [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Mold Remidiation [Member] Engineered Products [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Facilities Write-Down [Member] Lawn and Garden [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Rigging, Freight and Other Costs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Assets Held-for-sale [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	$ 2,730,000	$ 3,471,000	$ 2,736,000	$ 727,000	$ 2,060,000	$ 571,000	$ 0	$ 127,000	$ 487,000	$ 687,000	$ 359,000	$ 1,198,000	$ 724,000	$ 944,000	$ 700,000	$ 2,100,000	$ 1,198,000			$ 300,000	$ 700,000	$ 318,000	$ 400,000	$ 487,000	$ 400,000	$ 300,000	$ 2,736,000
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment	1,085,000	875,000	733,000															800,000
Restructuring Charges, Number of Facilities Sold																			4
Property, plant and equipment classfied as held for sale		5,700,000
Assets Held-for-sale, at Carrying Value			4,400,000
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	$ 3,086,000	$ 1,089,000	$ 5,213,000																									$ 5,100,000