Rosie On The House

Our garden expert Jay Harper has some tips as monsoon season can bring some garden challenges besides much needed rain.  Consider being pro-active on planning your fall garden to plant what you like to eat.  We discuss some low water plants that are and are not heat tolerant.  Plus garden preparation with gradual introduction of compost.  

Bob Ross of Rosie Certified Lightning Busters explains how this system installed at your utility box can stop damaging electrical surges before they get in the home.  Plus lightning strike protection all at a reasonable cost.  Listener questions on new flooring, evap coolers and air conditioners, mini-splits and insulating block homes

Its a fact of life.  We all age.  But with purposeful planning, we have great information to live your life as you age independently.  Assessing your living area for multi-generations to staying in your home, the good news is we have tons of resources now that can help us succeed longer in that independent mode we have come to value and love.  The goal is living with dignity in place.

ISA Certified Arborist Sarah Maitland and Horticulturist Arborist Rebecca Senior discuss the Tree Of The Month:  The Canary Island Date Palm.  Beautiful and interesting difference between the male and female palm.  Summer monsoon has brought out the Palo Verde Beetles.  Proper tree trimming to withstand monsoon storm winds.  What it takes to be a Master Gardner and more!

Discussion of cabinet lighting, solar to power home electronics, mistakes during home inspections.  Joanna Lawson and Sefora Onye continue with their story of leaving tyrannical regimes in their home country to make it to America.  Plus their takeaways about what it means to be an American!  

A Fourth Of July Special:  Two of Rosie On The House staff members tell their story of escaping their home country risking everything to come to America.  Joanna Lawson's parents escaped Poland's martial law.  Sefora Onye escaped communist rule in Romania.  Plus mapping out shade zones for cool spots in your space.  And a listener who designed a wine cellar to look like a mine shaft!

Arizona produces its share of watermelons and other melons for summer eating.  Kami Weddle is the Director of Food Safety And Quality for Rousseau Farming Company.  She discusses the process of growing melons, leafy greens and other vegetables from the farm to your table.  Joined by the Arizona Farm Bureau's Julie Murphree.  

Checking your roof before the monsoon rains fall.  Most Asked Question Of The Week on the pros and cons of cool deck, acrylic deck and pavers.  Weekly To Do on Summer Shade with a pergola structure.  And a Rosie On The House Staycation winner talks about their trip to Prescott.

Randy Cole of Fox Valley Electric explains how a properly designed home energy system using solar, generator and batteries can give you uninterrupted power when the utility electricity goes down.  Plus can offset your power bill to Zero Net!  We explain how these three power source can make a complete home power solution. 

Farmer Greg say water harvesting is more that just collecting rainwater and a tank.  Its a deep dive into creating a system.  Where the water source is coming from and going to.  Collecting and distribution plumbing.  Tank, filter and pump.  Directing where you want the water to go.  And designing the right system for your needs.  It can be simple and inexpensive!  And reduce your regular water consumption.

Most Asked Question Of The Week:  What sized grab bars are best for the bathroom?  Weekly To Do with Deckover!  Retiring a pool, put a deck over it and repurpose your outdoor space.  And questions on floating a new floor, gutter install against stucco, mini-splits and more!

A roundtable discussion of Arizona's electric grid with Salt River Project (SRP) and Arizona Public Service (APS).  After the fires in California last summer and the Texas Deep Freeze this year, can our power grid face similar challenges during the summer desert heat?  The planning and challenges both utilities face every summer makes our grid very different from those events.  From making electricity, distribution and management, its a very efficient system. 

Jay Harper discusses watering thru hot, extreme heat and the drought.  Tips on being water savvy, placing where its needed and avoid overwatering that can lead to root rot.  Evaluating plants by replacing with native plants.  Keeping the ground moist longer with the advantages of soil probes.  Likely reason saguaro blooms were on the sides of the cactus.  Plus Jay's 'tuna can' trick for proper lawn watering.

Monsoon Season is June 15th-September 30th.  We discuss some preparation tips to be ready inside and out.  How to avoid wasting water with a hot water recirculating pump.  Listener questions on a fire retardant for a home near a wildfire area, a cork roof coating and more!

There are many types of roofs in Arizona. How do you know which type you have? Do you know their individual strengths? What are their weaknesses and how to mitigate them?  Tyler Johnson of Johnson Roofing discusses the components of each type of roofing right down to the smallest details.  From asphalt singles to concrete tile, flat roofs, rolled and even metal.  The right roof well maintained will pay dividends for years.

John Eisenhower and Sarah Maitland discuss a 'thorny' subject.  The Palo Brea tree!  Angular branch structure, beautiful spring yellow blooms and a nice shade tree in the right place.  Discussion of tree care in preparation for excessive heat and monsoon season.  Plus listener questions on proper watering, root rot, advantages of shade cloth and ground cooling.

We discuss our crazy housing market.  Why we don't endorse home warranties and suggest other options.  The proper misting system to cool your space as much as 30 degrees.  The Most Asked Question Of The Week:  How long should a paint brush last?  And we help a listener who's contractor hasn't showed up to finish a home stucco project.

From movable glass walls to pivoting doors, Sal Sucato of Rosie Certified DunRite Windows And Doors talks about the latest innovations to open up the outside inside your home.  Explains the Low-E window factor and how it can keep your home energy efficient and comfortable.  Reasons why replacing windows on your own is not a good idea.  Plus and education on frames and glass.

Arizona Farm Bureau's Julie Murphree is joined by Tim Peterson of Arizona Grass Raised Beef.  Tim discusses his ranch operations that raise, USDA plant process and sell their grass fed and finished delicious beef.  How his ranches benefit the environment thru regenerative agriculture.  And lots more beef talk that will make you hungry!

For Memorial Day Weekend, we list the places to pay your respects for the fallen who served our country proud.  David Byrne of Green ID discusses a Home Energy Audit.  Building science based on the numbers of the tests performed and consideration of your lifestyle. Those factors combined with the experience of the energy auditor will reveal ideal ways to reduce energy bills, fix hot rooms, and improve air quality.  And homeowner questions on Super Cooling, mounting a flagpole on a stucco home, and a drywell repair issue.