Outdoors

Q: What can I do to prevent or correct the brown edges of my houseplants?

Imagine a fruit whose seeds have been passed down through the ages from the hands of Pliny, Charlemagne, Marco Polo and Columbus. A plant so desired that it was mentioned in the Bible by Hebrews led by Moses and depicted on wall paintings discovered among volcanic ruins near Pompeii.

My neighbors backwashed their pool and it flowed into my yard. The grass and several of my plants have died. What can I do remedy the soil contamination?

Before Americans created the pedestrian peanut butter and jelly sandwich, the peanut led an exotic life. Traced back to Peru and Brazil, the peanut was cultivated throughout South America and as far north as Mexico.

Q: I hate to throw my yard trash away. Can it be converted to compost?

The plant: It’s no surprise to learn that this cheery yellow-blooming perennial is a member of Asteraceae or the sunflower family. Trixis comes from the Greek word trixos meaning “three-fold,” referring to the three-cleft outer corolla lip of the flower.

There will be no mercy for Lynn Twitchell and her beloved roses this year. When the Gilbert resident arrives at the Mesa-East Valley Rose Society’s 51st annual Rose & Arrangement show Nov. 17 , she will no longer be a novice.

Q: What should I look for when hiring a lawn maintenance company? Do they fertilize my plants, fix irrigation emitters and heads? Are they true arborists, and can I trust them to properly trim and prune my shrubs and trees?

Q: What should my fertilizing and irrigation schedule be for my fruit trees during the cool season?

Gil Gillenwater just returned from his annual trip hiking from the south rim of the Grand Canyon to the north rim, and his backpack and other gear are still strewn about the master bedroom of his Scottsdale home.

With the fall gardening season in full swing, gardeners will soon have an abundance of fresh herbs ready for harvest.

When Matt Cody, president and founder of Cachet Homes, arrives home from a busy day at the office, he comes in through the back door.

As we settle into fall gardening season, it’s a good idea to check your irrigation system to make sure it’s functioning properly and set up to deliver the right amount of water to your plants and trees.

Trumpet creeper has been called “rambunctious” and “a thug” by home gardeners far and wide, but we desert gardeners adore plants that survive and even thrive through our brutal summers.

As the fall gardening season approaches, you may want to brush up on your planting and maintenance know-how or seek inspiration for your flower beds and landscaping.

Looking for an afternoon of family fun? Try your backyard. Yard games are a simple, exciting way to entertain. And when the weather starts to cool down, it’s the perfect time to get outdoors and play.

Less is always more in landscape lighting. Amped floodlights that blind your neighbors (and make your house visible from the sky) are out. Subtle illumination is in.

Fall is like a second spring for East Valley gardeners who look forward to planting vegetables, fruits and herbs as temperatures begin to cool.

I moved into my house about a year ago, and at the time my real estate agent suggested I have the home inspected again just before my one-year warranty expired.

Multifunction is the name of the game in outdoor storage. A backyard shed can’t be just a backyard shed. A storage chest should be strong enough (and elegant enough) to sit on.