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The best way to landscape your front yard on a budget is to invest in hiring a professional for hardscaping—things like upgrading walkways, redoing driveways, and installing partitions around garden beds. You can often do the softscaping yourself—think laying down mulch, caring for your lawn, removing weeds, and planting flowers and shrubs. It’s also almost always worthwhile to pay a professional for routine yard maintenance, as this dramatically improves curb appeal and delivers above 100% ROI in most cases.

There are two main times of year to apply mulch: mid to late spring and late fall. Spreading mulch in mid to late spring helps protect new seedlings as the soil warms up. It's best to wait until temperatures are steady, as mulching too early in the spring can slow down the soil's warming process and hinder plant growth. Fall mulching is also beneficial, as it insulates the soil and helps regulate its temperature when the first frosts arrive.

Xeriscaped lawns are far more varied than many gardeners initially assume. The often-pictured rocky and cacti-filled landscapes are just one option. Many wildflower-, herb-, and mulch-covered landscapes follow the same principles without straying too far from the lush and colorful landscapes we have come to know. In fact, there are numerous xeriscape ideas for customizing an energy-efficient lawn to your liking.

There are some instances when you can use extra drywall in your garden. Ideally, unused scraps of new drywall are best for amending soil without the concern of additional chemicals or mold. However, drywall with paint, mold, or potential asbestos requires specialized disposal by a professional and should be kept out of your garden.