How Often Should You Fertilize Your Plants? We Asked Garden Experts

Fall armyworms (Spodotera frugiperda) are not a welcome visitor in the Southeast. They often appear in large numbers inlate summer to early fall and make the ground appear as if it’s moving as they devour every bit of vegetation in their paths. “They will march across your lawn, just like an army,” says Clint Waltz, PhD, turfgrass extension specialist at theUniversity of Georgia. “The adult moths are not a turf issue, but they lay eggs which become voracious caterpillars that can decimate a lawn and heavily damage certain types of turfgrasses.”

Outdoor spiders are hard at work, devouring home and garden pests such as ants, flies, mosquitoes, aphids, and thrips. It’s estimated they kill 400 to 800 million metric tons of prey worldwide annually.“They’re generalist feeders,” says Angela Chuang, a postdoctoral research associate at the Citrus Research and Education Center at the University of Florida. “If they can capture it and it’s small enough for them to handle safely, they’ll eat it.”

You probably don’t think about your shoelaces until they’re falling apart, but you might want to start thinking about your shoes’ most unassuming feature. Giving your shoelaces a quick refresh once in a while keeps your shoes looking sparkly clean (and your whole outfit on point).

Extreme heat waves are stressful for almost every type of plant in your garden, from flowers and vegetables to shrubs and trees—but especially for container-grown plants.

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Whether you’re frightened or fascinated by them, snakes have important roles in your garden, eating insects and keepingmice,vole, andrabbit populations in check. They also serve as prey for other predators, such as hawks. But probably the most important thing to know is that they’renot at all interested in you.

It’s unsettling when an earwig scuttles across your floor with its fearsome-looking pinchers. But spotting one doesn’t mean you necessarily a huge problem. “Earwigs typically are occasional invaders,” says Faith Oi, PhD, entomologist and extension professor at theUniversity of Florida. “If you see one in your home, it’s lost and wandering around looking for food or shelter. They’re not normally found in large numbers indoors.”

Summertime heat is at its peak, and it's normal to worry about upkeep with your lawn. If you notice your grass is getting dry, turning a dull color instead of a lush green, or isn't growing very well, you may be watering your lawn at the wrong time.