The lawn and garden company is trying to keep health insurance costs down by promoting healthy lifestyles for its employees.

Its chairman and chief executive, James Hagedorn, says the company shouldn't have to shoulder health risks for employees who smoke. It pays for 75 percent of employees' health insurance.

The Ohio-based company has six-thousand employees. It says it can fire smokers legally in 21 states.

Workers who smoke can get free counseling, nicotine patches and classes on quitting.

A spokesman says the company hasn't yet decided how it will enforce the smoking ban.