Landscaping makes your yard aesthetically pleasing, but it can also put a damper on your bank account. Many of us can spend hundreds of dollars on making our lawns look lovely, but there are ways to cut down on some of the costs of landscaping. Try a few of the following tips, and see how much green you can save by going a bit more green with your landscaping.

1. Buy Used Tools
If you are just starting your landscaping journey or need to replace some old landscaping tools, consider buying gently-used tools instead of new ones. Re-stock during yard sale season or check out your local thrift stores to see what kinds of gently-used landscaping tools they have in stock.

2. Convert Waste to Compost
Save yourself some money by using household waste to create your own compost. Old coffee grounds, excess pieces of fruits and vegetables, and egg shells make great green materials for composting while dried leaves, straw, and torn-up newspaper are three of the best brown materials. Avoid using diseased old plants, cat or dog feces, or dairy products.

3. Leave Loose Clippings Alone
In addition to using household waste for compost, you can leave old grass clippings in your yard after you mow. These clippings break down quickly and return nutrients to the soil, so you won't have to lay down as much fertilizer.

4. Weed Out the Weeds
Weeds are invasive and tend to hog nutrients and water that plants need to grow and thrive. Remain proactive with your weeding since weeds will siphon off of your fertilizer for their nutrients.

5. Invest in Organic Mulch
Want to spend less money on fertilizer? Try using organic mulch. It will break down over time and put nutrients into the soil. It also helps to keep weeds from getting the nutrients your plants need for growth.

6. Reuse Your Newspaper
If you have too much newspaper to put into a compost heap, keep some un-shredded newspaper and place about two dozen layers over your garden bed. Soak these sheets with water and anchor them down with some soil or small stones. This keeps you from having to spend money on landscaping fabric.

7. Get Some Good Wood Chips
Check in with some local tree trimming companies. Many of them will have plenty of wood chips on hand that they're willing to sell for cheap.

8. Plant Slow-growing Trees
Trees that grow quickly can be easy victims for storm damage and diseases. While you won't get shade and other benefits as quickly, planting slower-growing trees will ensure a better return on your investment since they tend to be a lot sturdier and healthier.

9. Construct Pathways From Old Construction Materials
Want to cut costs on decorating your lawn and garden with pricey stones? Check in with some local construction companies and see if they have any excess debris that might make for a good stone pathway through your yard. If you ask the company's owner for permission, they might just load you up on materials for cheap.

10. Be a Prudent Pruner
Not only do overgrown plants, shrubs, and trees make your yard look unpleasant, but they can be costly to replace. Be a prudent pruner by knowing when and how to prune different types of flowers, plants, trees, and shrubs.

By simply adapting a few of your landscaping practices, you can free up your budget and be able to brag to your neighbors about how "green" your yard really is.

After living in apartments and condos your entire life, you recently purchased a single family home in the suburbs. Because the cozy house sits on a substantial piece of property, you need to learn how to correctly care for a lawn. You want to make your lawn the envy of your neighbors and passers-by. However, you don’t wish to do anything that would harm the environment. If you can relate to this scenario, consider adhering to the following eco-friendly lawn care tips.

Use Organic Fertilizer
To keep your lawn healthy and green, you’ll need to fertilize it regularly. If saving the planet is your priority, use an organic fertilizer that doesn’t contain phosphorus. Before applying fertilizer to your lawn, read the directions on the package carefully. Follow the instructions completely. Resist the temptation to apply too much fertilizer to your property. Don’t fertilize your lawn when rain is expected within the next 24 hours. Doing so might cause the fertilizer to wash away. Even worse, it may seep into groundwater.

Utilize Water Efficiently
To conserve the environment, only water your lawn when it really needs it. Whenever you do water your grass, strive to do so with rainwater. Direct rain from downspouts and gutters into your yard or into rain barrels. Micro-drip irrigation systems, rain gauges, and other types of water conservation tools can help you with this endeavor. Keeping rainwater on your property helps to prevent pollutants from entering waterways.

Opt for Environmentally Friendly Grasses
Do you want to replace the grass in your yard? Opt for environmentally friendly alternatives such as buffalo grass or seashore paspalum. Both of these grasses will require less:

• Fertilizer

• Water

• Mowing

Avoid the Urge to Cut Grass Too Short
If you’re like many people, you might not have much time to mow the lawn due to your many work, family, and social responsibilities. If you value your time, you may try to cut your grass as short as possible every time you take the lawn mower out of the garage. However, long grass is stronger than short grass. Keeping your grass tall helps to:

• Shade your soil

• Prevent weed germination

• Facilitate the absorption of rainfall

• Stimulate deeper root growth

As a result, less erosion and runoff will likely occur.

During the warm spring and summer months, you and those you love might enjoy making fond memories in your backyard. To keep your lawn in top-notch shape while protecting the environment, consider following the aforementioned tips.