How To Become a Contractor & Solar with Harmon Solar Print

• Rosie travels back in time to his trip to college....sounds fun!
• The difference between the Colorado & Arizona Department of Transportation. (Thank you AZ!)
• Staying in an "Earthship" & a unique water-saving toilet they spotted in Denver.

Sign up for the Sanderson Ford Arizona Staycation!!!

*Jennifer reads a great letter from a recent winner!

We catch up with Dr. Sky!!!

• A "suberb conjunction of both Jupiter & Venus" is happening this weekend.
• Some biblical implications?.?
• What we're seeing and the distances from us.
• Stories from "Metoer Madness" & a few other sites to see this week.
• An Earth-like planet has been found.
• Click here to learn about cruises on the Dolly Steamboat with Dr. Sky & others.

• Rosie might get his hot rod after he & Jennifer enter the empty nest phase of their life!
• Coyote Oaties comes through again! Helping another Staycation winner enjoy their experience.
• Previewing the rest of the show and what you need to listen for!

Summer heat is winding down, so we talk with Jay Harper with Harper's Nursery & Landscaping Compnay to seee what you need to work on this week.

• Romey talks about a garden in England, the Alnwick Garden, that gives a unique education on the plants around the world.
• Talking about poisonous plants.
• Jay talks through garden prep! It's close to planting time.
• It's not quite time for potted plants. Temperatures determine start times and we're not quite there.

• With recent rain, it's prime time for weeds and bugs!
• Tricks on getting rid of bugs around your home.
• Discussing weed control methods, with regards to heat and other options for pre-emergents.
• Dealing with spurge? We talk through a few options on controlling it.

Callers:

• Matt - How does he know when pomegranate fruit is ripe?

Recommendation - It's a ways yet and usually close to halloween. Mid to late October and we don't know any real tricks, so just pick one around that time.

• Harry - He needs to trim his bottlebrush tree and wants to know the best time and method to take care of it.

Recommendation - If it's dead branches, they can be done anytime. He mentioned that he is blind, so he'll just need to snap each branch to determine which to remove. Listen for the details.

Letter From a Listener:

• Mary Lynn - She sent us a picture of a flower and no one in her neighborhood knows what it is?

Recommendation - Jay says it's a rain lilly! They come in several colors & bloom with rain and mild temperatures. It's a bulb and someone probably forgot it was there.

Caller:

• Steve - He has a fig tree that looks pretty rough in his backyard. Most of the leaves are gone and wants to know if it can be saved or if he should replant?

Recommendation - They are usually pretty resilient & like lots of water. Jay would give it a good fertilization and a good watering (through the rest of the summer and fall) It will go dormant this winter and if it comes back in the fall, he could be good to go. Otherwise, replace it before the summer.

Letter From a Listener:

• Emily - How long do you nurse a fruit tree when it starts looking rough?

Recommendation - After 60 years, it is probably time to replace it....She got plenty of life out of it.  Jay talks about adding trees as the older ones die off. That way, you'll have an easier transition once the older fruit tree dies.

Caller:

• Sue - She has agave snout weasel and is losing plants. What can she do?

Recommendation - This is the time that snout weasel's start showing their damage and usually when we see the damage, it's too late.  If you have agave, just treat all of them in June, July. Listen to be sure you have the details!

• He planted several trees around his yard and grass keeps coming in very thick around the base of the trees and he can't seem to get rid of it. What can he do?

Recommendation - He can spray it with a glyphosate product. Just be careful not to get any of the treatment on the leaves of the trees.  Use cardboard of plastic as a guard when your spraying around the base.

Callers:

• How do you get rid of mistletoe in his mesquite tree?

Recommendation - It is a parasite, so the only way to remove it is to prune it out. It attaches itself to the vascular system of the tree, so you can't poison it without potentially damaging the tree. 

• Glen - He has bark beetles doing damage to his trees and wants to know how to get rid of them?

Recommendation - They are several products, like spinosad, that he can use. It's organic and won't be dangerous to the wildlife in the tree.  We discuss bark beetles and their acitivies in general.

• Dave - What's causing his agave leaves to die?

Recommendation - It's the agave snout weasel we were talking about earlier.  The grubs eat the roots and usually when you see the results, it's too late. We would treat the ground before he plants a new one.

Reach Jay during the week at Harper's Nursery & Landscaping Company in Scottsdale!

After a long summer and record heat, we catch up on the solar industry with Dan King, owner of Harmon Solar.

• Recent actions by legislatures......which isn't much! And what it means to the solar industry.
• Costs and determining kilowatts from the utility companies and the homeowner's.
• How the solar industry, the utility compaines and homeowners work together to make the situation a win-win-win.
• Sign up to win your own Solar System of $5,000 cash!

• Rosie talks about the history of the solar industry and recent progress.
• Discussing rates....peak demand and how it applies to your rates on your bill.
• How to beat the system using peak demand that set your rates.

*Recapping the contest you can win....click the link above!

Caller:

• Chuck - He has "Green Energy" charges on his bills. Why does he (a non-solar home) have to pay for his neighbors to pay for solar energy on their homes?

Recommendation - Dan talks about this in the Phoenix market (Chuck is in Tucson) Maybe take advantage of solar at his home! Dan talks about why, even in Chuck's situation, could benefit from solar at his home.

• Rosie talks about the benefits of the subsidies we've seen in the industry.
• Leasing versus Buying a solar system for your home.

Caller:

• Richard - He just had his roof redone and wants to know if adding solar panels will effect his roof warranty?

Recommendation - It will effect the warranty and the solar company needs to work with the roofing company to work out a possible deal with both companies. It could effect the areas with panels and not the others, but sometimes they can make adjustments to make the warranty stand.

Find out if solar is right for you and contact Dan at Harmon Solar to start saving!!!

• Recapping our first hours and Rosie love "earthship homes"

Email From a Listener:

• Randall - He thought the concept of "Super Cooling" your home wouldn't work and even in Tucson (TEP customer) he saved big $$$.

• In Arizona, hiring a licensed contractor is a big deal! Rosie talks through the process.
• Testing, proof of history, background checks and proving your trade knowledge.
• Rosie talks about Phocus Insurance Services...for contractors and homeowner's!

Caller:

• Jackie - She had 3 different roofers come out and has 3 different types of under-layment options. She doesn't know what is the best option.

Recommendation - We go through the different offerings and Rosie gives his advice and to make sure she (and you) read Rosie's "How To Choose a Roofing Contractor Consumer Guide"

We talk with Ken Colburn with Data Doctors, sponsored by Carbonite!

• We discuss ransomware & the danger it poses to you.
• Warning signs and how to avoid these situations.
• Beware of copycat Facebook profiles by your friends!
• $325 million in profits from ransomware just last year.
• Preventative measures to take.
• Protection Data Doctors & Carbonite can offer.

Callers:

• Jim - (Is this the "super cooling sensei?") He saved 50% on his bill and bought 95% off-peak power!

Recommendation - (Nope, that's Steve at Advanced Home Systems) He's got it dialed in!

• Gary - He has a plastic block window in his bathroom and there is water in the block. What can he do?

Recommendation - It is an expensive fix to replace the glass block. He can call Marvel Masonry & Building Supply to get a recommendation on someone to fix it. We'd probably just turn a blind eye to it and save the money.

Caller:

• Chris - He's adjusted his water pressure to a pretty high level. Will that do any damage to the fixtures in his home?

Recommendation - Most appliace warranties will be voided with pressure over a certain level, so Rosie talks through a few options.

Join Rosie on the House every Saturday Morning!!!