After five years of writing a gardening column, six practices still are those most gardeners should follow.

The unusually wet start to August means our area might get a bumper-crop of caterpillars and other fall pests.

Warm-season grasses such as bermuda and St. Augustine should be fertilized during August to promote health roots for the winter.

Eastern lubber grasshoppers and cicada killers make a midsummer appearance.

Recent rains have been welcome, but the extra moisture can encourage growth in numbers of plant pests.

Gray leaft spot and fall webworms can destory plants and trees.

Hot weather and insects take a toll on tomato plants.

Plants can best endure hot, dry weather if the soil is properly prepared before planting, and correctly watered after.

This time of year, questions arise about pruning and about chinch bugs.

Gardeners often forget about adding herbs to their landscapes, but the plants are easy to grow and beneficial.

For plants are to thrive in the clay soil of the area, then much needs to be done to plant them properly.

Keeping snakes away from yards often is a matter of reducing habitat for them and their prey.

Warm weather and watering practices can worsen problems such as powdery mildew and large patch.

Gardeners can plan each year on return visits from such garden pests as the Japanese beetle or sqash borer.

Insect and disease problems can cause trouble for gardeners growing tomatoes.