Spring Weed Control

If you’ve got grass in your yard, it may be dormant and brown, or if you’ve overseeded for the winter you may still be enjoying a lush green lawn. Either way, your lawn will look better this summer if you start your weed control program now. Spring is the best time for weed control, according to Turfgrass Specialist David M. Kopec of University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Summer annuals that we consider weeds like crabgrass, stinkgrass, foxtails and broadleaf weeds germinate in the spring at our low elevation.

To protect your turf from a weed invasion, you can apply one of the pre-emergence herbicides that are sold as granules or powders. They can also be found in “weed and feed” type products. It’s important to read the label and make sure that your turf is tolerant of whatever herbicides are in the product you choose. As a general guideline, the recommended time for application in the Phoenix area is around February 25 – March 5th. It’s important to time your application correctly with your irrigation so that the product soaks into the turf and does its job!

You can also use chemical pre-emergence herbicides on broadleaf weeds, and you can use products designed for weeds in your gravel areas. Most homeowners are familiar with killing existing weeds with products like Round-Up or other herbicides applied directly to the plant. If you’d rather not use potentially harmful chemicals, you can also get creative with your weed control by using salt granules or a propane torch to kill your weeds. Of course, if you’re not that adventurous, there are natural weed-killers available too. Whatever method you choose, start now before the weeds take you by surprise!

Phoenix Roof Rat Facts and Prevention

This is the time of year when citrus trees are loaded with fruit and roof rats become more visible. Roof rats generally live a minimum of 4 feet off of the ground, and travel through trees, along tops of walls, power lines and roofs. While continued testing has shown that roof rats don’t carry disease, they can be a hazard to your home.


An opening as small as the size of a nickel can give roof rats access to your home, where they can chew through wood, plastic, aluminum siding, sheet rock and soft metals. Often the rats enter homes through the attic and then travel down pipes and gnaw through drywall to get into kitchens, laundry rooms or garages.

Signs of roof rats on your property include hollowed-out citrus fruits, droppings, evidence of chewing near the roof eaves or wire covers, the sound of scratching or gnawing and actual sightings of the rats (most likely twilight or at night).

The first step in preventing roof rats from taking up residence with you and your family is to remove their food source. Roof rats enjoy citrus fruits because they provide both food and water. They will also eat pet food, bird seed and queen palm fruit in the summer. Water sources include fountains, irrigation, pet water dishes, condensation drip lines and leaky faucets or sprinkler heads.

Use stucco diamond mesh to seal vents and holes around the house – on the roof and near appliances and under sinks. Caulk all cracks as well. You can also use the services of a licensed professional to bait or trap roof rats.

Why replace your window when you can repair it?

If you continue to ignore your foggy dual pane windows or sliding glass doors because you know how expensive it’s going to be to replace them, one glass company in the Valley is providing a cost-effective solution. Left unaddressed, the water vapor between the glass panes will keep reappearing and drying, leaving a calcium buildup that will certainly ruin your view. The clouding in between the panes is caused by “solar pumping” which simply means that the heat of the sun causes expansion, putting pressure on your seal, and when temperatures cool, negative pressure results. This push and pull can cause breaches that allow air carrying moisture to pass in and out of the seal.


Window & Glass Pros have come up with a proven technique to simply remove the moisture, repair the seal and replace the glass. So, in addition to saving your windows and doors, you may also save up to 70% over replacing them. You are also saving some wear and tear on the environment.

Why add your perfectly good window glass to the almost 12 million tons of glass that Americans put into municipal waste every year? By repairing the seal and restoring your dual pane windows and doors, you extend the life of your windows at a significant savings to you, and you aren’t taxing the environment unnecessarily. You’ll also have windows and sliders that provide better R-value for insulating your home, and could potentially cut down on your energy costs. Even the smallest measures toward creating an energy efficient home can add up to potentially significant savings.

Outdoor Lighting – Make the Most of Your Property

Arizona offers up some of the most dramatic landscapes anywhere, with everything from lush tropical plantings to towering saguaros and spectacular stone water features. Many of us should get a great deal of enjoyment out of our home landscapes at night, when the family is home and temperatures are pleasant. Here are some ways to improve the outdoor lighting in your landscape, to bring out your property’s potential.

Look around your landscape for highlights that you want to feature. You can choose to up-light or down-light various plants and trees. Consider the height of plantings, trees and hardscape features when you are choosing your outdoor lighting fixtures, as well as placement. Will you be spotlighting something from a distance, or incorporating low-profile fixtures into your planting areas?

Pathways, patios and other outdoor living areas should have appropriate lighting. You’ll need to provide enough light for people to get around and see where they’re going, without overdoing it and creating glare.

When you are designing your lighting plan, don’t forget the house itself. Many homes feature unique architectural elements and beautiful exterior finishes that can be highlighted, as well as providing general lighting for entryways, driveways, etc. Lighting your home can create an elegant and inviting look that increases curb appeal. Your exterior lighting is also an important security consideration. A dark property can not only be dangerous, but allows easier access for intruders.

There are a wide variety of outdoor fixtures to choose from, as well as outdoor lighting designers who can help you create the most effective ways to enhance your property with outdoor lighting.

Insulation in Arizona?

While family and friends battle snow drifts and icy blasts winter winds across the country, Arizona residents are enjoying some of the nation’s best weather. It’s easy at this time of year to forget the scorching heat of Arizona summers, and the toll the high temperatures take on our energy bills. Your home’s insulation (or lack of it) plays a key role in your utility costs.

The R-value of insulation measures resistance to heat flow, so insulation with a higher R-value provides more effective insulating power. APS recommends R-30 ceiling insulation and R-19 wall insulation for homes in the Phoenix area. There are several types of insulation that can be installed, including loose-fill or blown-in, batts or blankets. Having the insulation properly installed is crucial to effective insulating power. Air gaps can reduce the effectiveness of insulation by over 30%, and insulation that is compressed will also underperform.

The attic is the first place to start when investigating your home’s insulation. This is an area of the home where there are often deficiencies that can be corrected for energy savings that can be substantial. This is especially true in older Arizona homes. Just 5% missing attic insulation could result in R-value dropping by as much as 50%.

Having improvements made to your home’s insulation by a quality installer can be a great investment – both as an energy savings strategy, and as an investment in the proper care and maintenance of your home that will pay off when it’s time to sell your property.

Winter Home Maintenance Reminders

Although we’re well into winter conditions here in Arizona, it’s not too late to do some simple winter maintenance checks around the house. With the recent cold temperatures, you might want to check your outdoor water sources like hose bibs. You can pick up an inexpensive insulating cover to prevent freezing, or turn off the water supply to the outside fixture, and turn the fixture on to allow any water to drain. Drain and remove hoses as well, and store them inside for the remainder of the cold weather.

Remember to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries as needed. Even if you’ve had your heater serviced in preparation for the winter, check that your vents are open and unobstructed. If you have less frequently used rooms, you can partially close the vents to save energy and focus on heating your main living areas. And remember to change those air filters frequently to keep your HVAC system running efficiently.

Check fire extinguishers to make sure they are fully charged, and turn them upside down to loosen up the dry chemicals inside. If you have any concerns about your fire extinguishers or if they are older, you can have them professionally inspected.

Another area that benefits from a winter inspection is insulation in attics and crawl spaces. Check for sagging fiberglass insulation panels, which can leave spaces where cold air can enter the home. You can fix small gaps with duct tape, but larger sagging areas should be examined for potential moisture problems.

A few simple maintenance tasks should get you through the remainder of our short winter, and keep your home in top condition.

Fireplace Safety and Maintenance Tips

Most newer homes in Arizona have gas fireplaces, which are convenient, clean and easy to operate. Like any system in your home, your gas fireplace does require some simple maintenance. Always make sure the batteries in the carbon monoxide detector are fresh. You’ll also want to make sure vents are clean and unobstructed, as well as cleaning the fan and ensuring it is working properly. From an aesthetic viewpoint, keeping the glass on the fireplace clean and rearranging the glowing embers and logs for a natural appearance makes a big difference.

There are times when calling in a professional is the best route. If you smell gas, shut off the valve to the fireplace and have it checked out by a pro. If you have problems with your pilot light going out, that’s another good time to seek professional advice. After service, remember that the technician should do a gas leak and CO test for safety.

For wood burning fireplaces, periodic chimney inspections are a good idea. You’ll want to make sure the flue is working properly, that creosote hasn’t built up and that birds or other critters haven’t taken up residence. Age, weather and fireplace use can also take a toll on your chimney.

For safety as you use your fireplace, there are a number of items you’ll want to have on hand. Install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in the room with the fireplace. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand as well. Use a screen to keep stray sparks from landing on rugs or furniture. Periodically clean the ashes out of your fireplace with a shovel and dustpan. After enjoying the warmth of your fire, don’t leave a burning fireplace unattended. Make sure your fire is completely out before closing the flue so carbon monoxide or smoke doesn’t build up in the house.