Laptop browsing My Fine Yard on top of a residential lawn.

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.

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