Do You Really Want a Lawn? Print

Romey joins us from the Arizona Community Tree Council's Annual Tree Climbing Championships!

• They're down at Esteban Park for the weekend.
• John with Integrity Tree Service and The Tree Amigos are on-site too!
• Talking through all the events happening.

We welcome Darren Julian, Urban Wildlife Specialist with the Arizona Game & Fish Department.

• We discuss an upcoming event, the Tres Rios Nature Festival. What it is and when you can attend.
• Details on the restoration of the area during the last few years.
• Why this is a "family event" and why you should attend the festival.
• Plenty of experts will be on hand to talk you through all the wildlife you'll see.
• Learn about the always fun and popular "Recycled Materials Fashion Show"
• Darren talks about what his daily routine is in his position.
• All the wildlife we can see in the Phoenix area and when bears ended up all over the valley!

• Rosie & Jen talk about the Fountain Hills Art Festival happening this weekend! Pella Windows & Doors will be there!

Sign Up For The Sanderson Ford Arizona Staycation!!!

• Jen reads a nice letter from Lori, our latest winner! She loved her Cerreta Candy and stay at the Hacienda Del Sol.
• Make sure to stay at our lodging partners all across Arizona.
• Rosie has a bunch of new DIY videos!

He's back! Greg Peterson with The Urban Farm is here to take your questions. They're live from the Arizona Community Tree Council's Annual Tree Climbing Championship!

• We talk about the cool weather and how frost affects your citrus trees.
• The proper way to protect your citrus trees from frost. (No plastic)
• Killing your citrus. Avoid gravel, lawns and drip systems. Listen to why!
• Proper watering for citrus.
• Tree wells purpose and the proper diameter around the tree.
• The incredible amount of trees in the small area at Greg's home.

Caller:

• Laura - She put in a ficus tree last year and was told not to fertilize it right away. Can she do it now?

Recommendation - Yes and Greg recommends fertilizer from Hickman Family Farms and he talks about some other options, including BioFlora Pruducts.

Best Practices for a succesful citrus tree:

• Put basins around the tree. Learn how and why.
• Dealing with a grass lawn around the trees.
• Using mulch for citrus and in other places around your yard.

Callers:

• Laura - She has rosemary plants that she wants to replant. They are about 20 years old. Will she be able to do it succefully?

Recommendation - Greg says "replanting is always an experiment" and he describes what to do. Dig a big hole to leave the root ball intact. We describe what to put in the hole to supplement the soil. 

• Fred - He has 4 fruit trees and only the lemon is thriving. Lots of fruit, but it's not going straight up and are short.

Recommendation - It could be an issue with our native soils and the way he planted. We'll cover it in the next segment......

• Greg and Romey talk Aquaponics.
• We talk about creating the right soil mixture for your citrus. It includes 60 percent organic matter and 40 percent native soil, plus a bunch of other chemicals I hadn't heard of....
• Worm Castings are a great additive and we discuss in depth.
• Greg's mission and more classes you can take from him.
• Keeping birds out! Don't use traditional bird netting. It can kill the birds and you'll need to cut it out of your tree. Greg loves using tulle instead. He describes how to use it and why he loves it.
• Some of our favorite citrus varieties. (trovita oranges, cara cara navels, gold nugget mandorins)
• How long you have to wait for fruit.......3 years. Be patient!
• Shaping plants and feeding annually.

Caller:

• Kim - The bark is peeling off her citrus and eventually dying. What can she do?

Recommendation - She needs to fertilize and supplement the soils. Basically, create a healthy atmosphere around the plants. Listen as Greg talks her through what she can do to add healthy components.

• Greg's "Pup Up Nursery" What, when and where.
• "Bare-roots"

Thanks to Greg with The Urban Farm for joining us today! Listen for his hour every month.

• Coming up with your Kitchen Remodeling Budget.
• Using the cost of the cabinets to estimate your overall cost.
• Rosie uses a recent story to help illustrate the way this plays out.
• Here's the Cost Vs. Value Report Rosie talks about to give average costs and returns on investment. (It's the Kelly Blue Book for home remodeling)

Caller:

• Nancy - She had her popcorn ceilings removed, new carpets installed and some other work done about a year ago. She had her vents cleaned, but the dust is a problem throughout her home.

Recommendation - We find out that she didnt' have the right company out to clean her ducts. They simply vacuumed the ducts, but did not take apart the AC unit to clean the unit itself. This HAS to be done to be effective. We'll hook her up with a Rosie-certified expert.

Our topic in the newsletter talks about reasons FOR a lawn and reasons NOT to have a lawn:

• Why Rosie loves it...the kids, the dogs and just being able to feel real grass under your feet!
• Why some DO NOT like a lawn....it's expensive and hard to maintain.
• Rosie shares a story about a young family and their decision to go with a lawn or synthetic turf.
• The improvments have been significant when it comes to a sythetic lawn.

Caller:

• Ed - He bought his home about 16 years ago and the single hung windows are extremely hard to open and wants some advice on making the operation easier. 

Recommendation - Rosie is guessing that he has foam that expanded too far and ended up binding the frame of the window. Listen as Rosie tries to talk him through what to do and how to investigate.

Caller:

• Ken - All the tools in his shed are rusting. It's insulated with fiberglass insulation. Would that be the reason for the moisture?

Recommendation - We find out it's been an ongoing issue since they moved in. It shouldn't be the insulation that's causing the rust. Rosie has the same issue and how to oil and maintain the tools for proper storage.

We welcome Dan King with Harmon Solar to talk about recent changes to the solar industry:

• The corporation commission made changes to the value of your solar power generated.
• The deadline to sign up is July 1st and Dan talks through how that works.
• Learn more and contact Harmon Solar for a consultation.

Caller:

• Karen - The previous homeowners put an Arizona room addition on and she's having to vent the dryer because the original room is not on the outside walls. Can she vent straight up or what should she do?

Recommendation - She will have problems, because she is part of a homeowner's association and coud have warranty issues. Rosie talks about a "water vent" she could use to combat the lint and heat entering her home. He describes how it works.

Caller:

• Lloyd - He wants our opinion on using aeroseal in his duct system.

Recommendation - The early results were not impressive and it cost too much money for the investment. That has changed! The technology and equipment and application all improved. Done correctly, it will seal it up to about 97 percent. That's about as good as it can get. We love it now!

• We bring Romey back to the broadcast to talk about all the events happening at the rodeo this weekend.

Caller:

• John - He had is roof remodeled and vaulted. Now he has spots that are bubbling and he doesn't know what to do.

Recommendation - Rosie has a few suspicions and will answer during the break.

We're here with Jack Eversole with Kinetico Water Systems. Make sure you're drinking clean, healthy water and don't fall for scams!

• Dealing with myths in their industry.
• How Romey building a home got Rosie to install a water treatment system at his home.
• Having goals will help you determine which system is right for you.
• Discussing water evaporation.
• Getting safe, good tasting water is one thing, but our hard water in Arizona can wreak havoc on all the plastic/rubber parts in appliances.
• If you're concerned your water treatment methods aren't doing what they really should, check with Dave Perry the Arizona Water Quality Association. They do not endorse specific brands and are experts in all the different systems. 

• Dealing with water treatment system salesmen who use scare tactics to get you to purchase from them.
• Most times we'd be completely skeptical of a scare tactic, but stories like those coming out of Flint, Michigan have us changing our tune some.
• Listing all of the concerns homeowner's have about water.
• Mike & Rosie talk about all the benefits of their K-5 Sytems.

Text From a Listener:

• I'm on well water....what do I do?

Recommendation - 1st,  they need to get the water tested. It won't have chlorine, but once it's tested and you'll know what you need to combat in your own water source.

• They tell me a water system will pay for itself. Is that "fake news?"

Recommendation - NO! Hard water damages appliances, plumbing and you'll save on soaps, lotions, etc and clothes will last a lot longer.

• More discussions on the process reliable systems use and the results you'll see at your home.
• Putting new systems in homes with older plumbing.
• Cleaning up hard water stains.

• Can you give a general cost for a whole home system?

Recommendation - Mike talks about how hard it is to do that because there is so many factors that go into choosing the right system for your family and lifestyle.

• Salt and the myths surrounding the scare tactics bad water treatment companies use.

If you're in Southern Arizona and like what you heard, give Kinetico Water Systems a call!

Join Rosie On The House every Saturday morning!!!