Block walls, patio covers, pools, outdoor kitchens and grading can all need city approval, and the rules differ across the East Valley, so ask your building department before you build.
Brittlebush is a silver-leaved desert native that needs full sun, fast drainage and little water, and this guide covers planting, watering, pruning and troubleshooting for East Valley yards.
Eight cool-season leafy greens suit Queen Creek salad gardens, and this guide covers planting dates, soil, watering, bolting, and harvest so you can pick fresh leaves from October to April.
Bring pets inside, stand tall, make noise, and remove the food that keeps coyotes coming back, then call Game and Fish if an animal seems sick or bold.
Eight low-water container plants for Arizona patios, with pot sizes, soil mixes and summer watering intervals that keep roots cool and cut down on daily hose time.
Whiteflies, spider mites, agave weevils, pack rats and four more pests trouble East Valley yards, and most respond first to water, careful timing and better watering habits.
Desert-modern garden design pairs clean lines and local stone with low-water plants, and East Valley homeowners are choosing it for lower water use and easier upkeep.
March is a good time to prune many Arizona natives in the East Valley, and this guide covers eight of them, how much to remove and what to skip.
Prune red, Mexican and yellow bird of paradise from late February through March, after frost danger passes, and learn how much to cut and how to care for it.
March is when Arizona citrus trees need their main feeding, more frequent deep watering, light cleanup pruning and a close look at new growth for pests.
Start baiting in late February or March, fix irrigation leaks, and band your citrus trunks to cut ants off from aphids before colonies peak in April and May.
Eight small trees suit Arizona front yards in April, with mature sizes, water needs, clear drawbacks and a planting and watering plan for the first summer.
