How do I clean dirty river rocks in a water feature

Each year, thousands of Arizona residents email or call Rosie Romero’s radio show with questions about everything from preventing fires in their chimneys to getting rid of tree roots invading their sewer system. His goal is to provide answers that suit the specific lifestyle wherever someone lives in Arizona.

QUESTION: I have a river-rock water feature in my yard, and the rocks have gotten very dirty and need to be cleaned. How can I do that?

A: I think you might have to pick them up those rocks one by one and rinse or scrub them and then put them back into the water feature. That probably sounds like a lot of work. In addition to that, the next time it rains and then dirty water washes back into the “river,” the rocks will get dirty again. You could also try to power wash them.

But the easiest thing might be buying a fresh pile of river rock to put on top of the old ones.

Q: I have a 30-year-old mesquite that recently started growing a root above ground. It’s only about a foot long right now, but it’s starting to cross the sidewalk. Can I just take a hula hoe and flatten it out? Or will that damage the tree somehow?

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A: Taking one root off a tree shouldn’t hurt it. I would go ahead and chop it off.

Q: If it’s 80 degrees outside, is it warm enough to coat and seal my roof?

A: That should be warm enough. If you’re doing this job yourself, make sure that your roof is very clean and completely dry before you do it. Any repairs that may be needed for the basic roofing material should be done prior to applying the new coating.

Q: I have an historic home built in the 1930s, and I’m wondering if it’s time to replace the wiring in my house? I’ve had a few incidents recently when I’ve had to replace fuses as well as problems with my dryer. I’ve been in the house since 1980, and I haven’t had to rewire it yet.

A: Yes, you probably need to have some work done. But before you go to the expense of totally rewiring your home, have a licensed, qualified electrician make a thorough inspection of your fuse box, your wiring and the overall condition of all the electrical distribution systems in your house.