Landscaping your home can be a daunting task. There is a considerable amount of maintenance and responsibility for all those new plants and trees. That means using more water and more work. Follow these easy steps and learn how you can use less water, cut down on the garden work and save on your home energy bill!

Thanks to VideoJug: How To Landscape Green

Step 1: Go Native
Cut down on your maintenance and the amount of water you use by simply choosing plants that are native to your area. You don’t need to live in Ohio to enjoy Cleveland sage. This stuff survives with minimal water and can grow to be more than eight feet wide!

Step 2: Deciduous
Here’s a crazy idea. Plant a tree outside your home and it will help regulate the temperature inside. A deciduous tree loses it’s leaves in the winter and blooms in the Spring, adding shade to your home and keeping it cool in the Summer months and letting the sunshine through to warm your home in the winter.

Plant a deciduous tree like the Western Sycamore and it will dress up your garden and help you save some money on your energy bill! Check out some deciduous trees and shrubs here

Step 3: Fertilize It
Instead of using dangerous petroleum based or sewage sludge fertilizers, take a shovel full of compost, use a sifter and sprinkle some fresh compost around the base of your plants and trees. In addition to all the organic nutrients, the compost is high in moisture and will help cut down on the amount of water you use.