SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO CO

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrantþ

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant¨

Check the appropriate box:

¨ Preliminary Proxy Statement

¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

þ Definitive Proxy Statement

¨ Definitive Additional Materials

¨ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

Proxy Statement for 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

14111 Scottslawn Road

Marysville, Ohio 43041

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (the “Company”) that the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 9:00 A.M., Eastern Time. The Annual Meeting is a virtual meeting of shareholders which means that you are able to participate in the Annual Meeting, and vote and submit your questions during the Annual Meeting via live webcast by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/SMG2026. Because the Annual Meeting is virtual and being conducted electronically, shareholders may not attend the Annual Meeting in person.

The Annual Meeting is being held for the following purposes:

1. To elect four directors, each to serve for a three-year term expiring at the 2029 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

2. To conduct an advisory vote on the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

3. To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.

4. To approve an amendment and restatement of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Long-Term Incentive Plan to, among other things, increase the maximum number of common shares available for grant to participants.

5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice of Annual Meeting describes each of these items in detail. The Company has not received notice of any other matters that may be properly presented at the Annual Meeting.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on Monday, December 1, 2025, the date established by the Company’s Board of Directors as the record date, are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

On or about December 17, 2025, the Company is first mailing to shareholders either: (1) a copy of the accompanying Proxy Statement, a form of proxy and the Company’s 2025 Annual Report; or (2) a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, which indicates how to access the Company’s proxy materials and 2025 Annual Report on the Internet.

Your vote is very important. Please vote as soon as possible.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

JAMES HAGEDORN

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

December 17, 2025

Proxy Statement for

Annual Meeting of Shareholders of

TABLE OF CONTENTS