Myth Check
Lawn and garden advice is everywhere, and most of it contradicts itself. We went straight to the researchers, professors, and agronomists behind the science and asked them to set the record straight, in their own words. No jargon, no guesswork — just real experts weighing in on the myths homeowners hear the most.
Credentialed Experts & Honest Answers
Every myth here goes straight to a real expert — a professor, researcher, or extension specialist who works with the science daily. Instead of a formal citation, you get their honest, personal take: what’s true, what’s oversimplified, and what it means for your yard.
Is Kentucky Bluegrass Always the Best Grass for a High-Traffic Lawn
Expert Name: Adam Thoms
Expert Title: Associate Professor – Turfgrass Management and Sports Turf
Expert Institution: Iowa State University
Is a Rock-Hard Lawn Safe for Kids to Play On
Expert Name: Adam Thoms
Expert Title: Associate Professor – Turfgrass Management and Sports Turf
Expert Institution: Iowa State University
Is a Soil Test Worth It Before You Fertilize Your Lawn or Garden
Expert Name: Gregory M. Olson
Expert Title: Laboratory Coordinator, Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Laboratory
Expert Institution: LSU AgCenter
Do Sugar, Aspirin or a Penny Make Cut Flowers Last Longer
Expert Name: James DelPrince
Expert Title: Associate Extension Professor
Expert Institution: Mississippi State University
Does a Healthy-Looking New Tree Mean It Was Planted at the Right Depth
Expert Name: Laura Deeter
Expert Title: Professor of Practice, Horticulture and Crop Science
Expert Institution: The Ohio State University
Is Neem Oil Really Safe for Bees and Other Pollinators
Expert Name: Andrew M. Sutherland
Expert Title: Urban IPM Advisor for the San Francisco Bay Area
Expert Institution: University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM)
Should You Mow Your Lawn on a Fixed Weekly Schedule
Expert Name: AJ Lindsey
Expert Title: Assistant Professor, Turfgrass Management
Expert Institution: Kansas State University
Is a Dying Lawn Patch Chinch Bug Damage or Drought Stress
Expert Name: Terri Billeisen
Expert Title: Assistant Extension Professor, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
Expert Institution: North Carolina State University
Does Lawn Equipment Spread Fungal Disease From Yard to Yard
Expert Name: Jim Kerns
Expert Title: Professor and Extension Specialist, Turfgrass Pathology
Expert Institution: North Carolina State University
Does Releasing Store-Bought Ladybugs Control Aphids
Expert Name: Shaku Nair
Expert Title: Associate in Extension, Turf & Horticultural Entomology/Community IPM
Expert Institution: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (Arizona Pest Management Center, Maricopa County)
Does Pressure Washing Kill Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses
Expert Name: Gregory Parra
Expert Title: Staff Scientist, USDA (personal communication)
What Makes a Plant Truly Low-Maintenance
Expert Name: Lucy Bradley
Expert Title: Professor and Extension Specialist, Consumer & Community Horticulture
Expert Institution: North Carolina State University
Does Epsom Salt Help Roses and Other Flowering Plants Bloom Better
Expert Name: Clain Jones
Expert Title: Professor and Extension Soil Fertility Specialist
Expert Institution: Montana State University
Is Mowing Wet Grass as Harmful as People Assume
Expert Name: Grady Miller
Expert Title: ENVU Distinguished Professor of Sustainability & Extension Specialist
Expert Institution: North Carolina State University
How Often to Fertilize a Lawn
Expert Name: Ed Nangle
Expert Title: Assistant Professor, Turfgrass Physiology and Plant Health
Expert Institution: The Ohio State University
Milky Spore for Lawn Grub Control
Expert Name: Albrecht Koppenhöfer
Expert Title: Professor & Extension Specialist of Entomology
Expert Institution: Rutgers University
Fall Mowing Height for Cool-Season Lawns
Expert Name: David Gardner
Expert Title: Professor, Turfgrass Science
Expert Institution: The Ohio State University