lawn care

We Do the Math: Will an Electric Mower Trim Lawn Care Costs?

Dr Penny Pincher — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 08:30:11 +0000

When the recoil starter on my old walk-behind gas lawn mower broke again this spring, I decided not to spend time and money repairing it, even though I had just changed the oil and replaced the spark plug and air filter. In fact, I decided the best way to avoid problems with the recoil starter in the future was to replace it with a mower that does not have a spark plug, motor oil, air filter, gas tank, or starter!

My new lawn mower is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery instead of gasoline. Running my lawn mower on electricity means I can avoid some of the hassles of maintaining a gas engine, such as:

Trips to the gas station to fill the gas can
Oil, air filter, and spark plug changes
Pulling the cord and adjusting the choke to get it to start

While there are clear potential benefits of switching to an electric lawn mower, can you also save money? Let's look at the total cost of ownership for gas versus electric walk-behind mowers to see if switching to electric could save you money. (See also: Here's How Much Getting the Greenest Lawn Will Cost You)

Gasoline vs. electric push mower

If you want to replace your gas push mower with an electric push mower, you have two options: a corded electric mower or a cordless electric mower.

Corded electric mowers

You can get a corded electric mower that plugs into an extension cord. Using this can be feasible if you have a small yard that is within reach of an extension cord. Corded electric mowers are the cheapest option for electric mowers in terms of initial cost, and you never need to worry about replacing batteries.

Cordless electric mowers

If you have a larger yard, or if you don't want to mess around with an extension cord, you can get a cordless electric mower. These use rechargeable electric batteries — typically lithium batteries. If you have a larger yard, you may need more than one battery to mow the whole yard in one go. Rechargeable batteries typically have a life expectancy of around five years.

Initial cost

There's a wide variety of push mowers available with different features and levels of capability. Depending on the model you choose, you can find a corded electric mower for about the same price or even less than some gas push mowers. By contrast, a cordless electric model can run $100 or more over the price of a similar gas model. For the purposes of comparison, I've chosen examples of machines with similar capability that could mow a typical medium-sized yard.

Poulan Pro 21-Inch Hi-Wheel Gas Push Mower: $235
Greenworks 12 Amp 20-Inch Corded Electric Push Mower: $179
Black & Decker 60V Max 20‑Inch Cordless Electric Push Mower: $315

Operating costs

The main cost to operate a push mower is fuel — either an average $2.30 per gallon for gas or around 11 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity to run a corded electric mower or to charge the battery. This works out to a fuel cost of about:

Gas push mower: $1.50 per half-acre
Corded electric push mower: $0.50 per half-acre
Cordless electric push mower: $0.10 per half-acre

Let's say you mow your half-acre yard once per week for four months, or 16 times per year. The annual cost works out to:

Gas push mower: $24.00
Corded electric push mower: $8.00
Cordless electric push mower: $1.60

Now, let's say you own your mower for 10 years. The total fuel cost over 10 years works out to be:

Gas push mower: $240.00
Corded electric push mower: $80.00
Cordless electric push mower: $16.00

Maintenance costs

Of course, batteries don't last forever. Let's assume you'll need to replace your rechargeable battery after the first five years, once during the 10-year life of the mower, at a cost of $75.

A gas mower will need regular maintenance that electric mowers do not require. Let's assume you change the oil once per year, and change the spark plug and air filter every other year for an average maintenance cost of $15 per year.

All of the lawn mowers will need to have the blade sharpened or replaced periodically, and let's assume that costs $20 every other year, or $10 per year on average.

10-year total cost of ownership

Here is an estimate of the total cost of ownership of a push mower for 10 years.

Gas push mower: $725

$235 initial purchase + $240 gas + $150 engine maintenance + $100 blade sharpening/replacement = $725

Corded electric push mower: $359

$179 initial purchase + $80 electricity + $100 blade sharpening/replacement = $359

Cordless electric push mower: $506

$315 initial purchase + $16 electricity + $75 battery replacement + $100 blade sharpening/replacement = $506

With either a corded electric push mower or a cordless electric push mower, you will save a significant amount on gasoline and routine maintenance each year. There is a periodic cost to replace batteries as they wear out for cordless models, but the savings on gasoline and engine maintenance outweighs this expense over the life of the mower.

Depending on the model you choose and the size of your yard, a cordless electric push mower can save you money compared with a gas powered push mower. And a corded electric push mower will save you money over both of the other types of mowers.

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This article is from Dr Penny Pincher of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Here's How Much Getting the Greenest Lawn Will Cost You

Aaron Crowe — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 09:00:14 +0000

In the American view of what a front yard should look like, a green lawn is up there with a white picket fence and an American flag.

The ideal home has its costs, with a green lawn being more expensive than some rocks and a few plants. And that's before you factor in maintenance and other costs to keep a grass lush and alive.

Whether you start with grass seed, put down sod, or install a synthetic lawn, a green lawn can be an expensive way to increase curb appeal. Based on a yard size of 2,000 square feet, here's a breakdown of those three methods, starting with the cheapest.

Seed

There are a few ways to start a lawn by planting grass seed. Without going into all of the details on how to prepare a lawn for seeding, this can still be a labor-intensive job and may be something you want to hire a professional for. Prep work can include removing dead materials and weeds, adding at least four inches of fresh topsoil or tilling the existing ground, and making the ground level.

If you're going to do it yourself, you can buy a 50-pound bag of Kentucky bluegrass seed for about $100, or a three-pound bag for about $15. Depending on where you live, two three-pound bags may be enough to start a new lawn on 2,000 square feet.

Total Cost: $30

Another method of seeding is broadcast seeding, where dry grass seed is spread on prepared ground, watered thoroughly, and covered with straw. With $30 in seeds and about $45 for three bales of hay, you're in business.

Total Cost: $75

A more costly method is hydroseeding, also called hydraulic mulch seeding. A slightly thickened mixture of seeds, mulch, and other material is pumped from a tank onto the ground. Little prep work is required.

Hydroseeding costs six cents to 20 cents per square foot, or $120 to $400 for 2,000 square feet. This is just for the seeding and doesn't include labor or other costs that go with it, such as water from your home. The slurry mixture of hydroseeding includes fertilizer, green dye, and a tackifying agent to help keep everything where it needs to be.

Expect the equipment and professional labor of hydroseeding to cost two to four times the cost of the seed. Since you're unlikely to own the equipment for this process, plan on hiring a professional for $240 to $1,600.

Total Cost: Up to $2,000

Sod

Laying sod yourself can save half the cost of a professional, though your back may not thank you for the savings. The prep work can be difficult by itself, but add in the tasks of unloading rolls of sod from a truck and laying them down in neat patterns and you'll be busy for an entire day.

Sod costs eight cents to 30 cents per square foot, putting our 2,000-square-foot lawn at $160 to $600.

Delivery can range from free to half the total cost of the sod. You may also need to buy or rent tools such as a rake, rototiller, and lawn roller, and seeds for spot seeding after the sod is installed. Assuming you own all of the supplies or can borrow them from someone for free, your total cost is as much as $600 if you do all of the work. If you hire a professional, the sod will cost 14 cents to 60 cents per square foot, or $280 to $1,200.

The shape of your yard will affect the labor costs. A flat, square area is easier and cheaper to lay sod than a curved area with slopes. Expect labor to cost at least twice as much as doing it yourself, pushing a $600 job into a $1,200 one.

Total Cost: $1,200 or more

Synthetic

Synthetic, artificial grass can look like the real thing, and can save you a lot of money in the long run because it doesn't need water. A 12x6' patch of fake grass costs about $100, meaning that about 2,000 square feet would cost about $2,800. And that's a deal.

Home Depot sells a top-of-the-line synthetic grass for about $4 per square foot, or $8,000 for our 2,000 square feet. The turf usually comes in 15-foot widths and installation requires a lot of steps, such as adding a seam between sections. Expect professional installation to cost double what the synthetic grass costs alone.

Total Cost: $16,000

Ready to Work?

If you're willing to do the work yourself, seeding can be the least expensive route to a new, green lawn. For a few bags of seed and a lot of prep work, the seed might catch and you'll have a new lawn. If you want to avoid all of the work and costs of installation and ongoing upkeep of a green lawn, save your pennies and have synthetic grass installed. It may even look better than real grass, though your bank account won't.

How do you keep your landscape the envy of the neighborhood?

This article is from Aaron Crowe of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Things You Should NOT Do to Your Yard This Fall

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 17:00:06 +0000

The air is starting to chill and the leaves are starting to fall. Pools are coming down, and plans for how to prepare the yard for winter are being made. There is never enough time, it seems, to get everything in order for the new season, but it isn't the occasion to take shortcuts; in fact, skipping out on the proper way to handle your yard and garden could cause big damage come spring. (See also: 7 Ways to Improve the Life of Your Lawn Mower)

Avoid killing your outdoor space for good with these common mistakes.

1. Cut Your Grass Too Short

Depending on the species of grass you have growing in your yard, a buzz cut can kill the lush carpet covering your lawn and cause high-dollar damages, too. In fact, zoysia grass is not recommended to be cut down to less than two inches high, especially in the fall before it goes dormant. Leaving a little more length on your blades isn't really an eyesore, and it will help preserve your lawn in the long run.

2. Just Do a Once-Over

When mowing, aerating, or reseeding your lawn for the winter, be sure you do it once, and then go over it again diagonally. This will prevent your yard from having "lines" that will appear unattractive come spring.

3. Stop Watering

Unless it has reached freezing temps in your area of the country, continue to water as you normally would. Shrubs, fruit trees, and hedges are especially dependent on water this time of year, as they are getting what they need before they go dormant. Failing to water could cause significant damage to your precious plants.

4. Use the Wrong Fertilizer

If it's still warm enough to use fertilizer, opt for an easy-to-apply spray instead of a granular product. The small pieces of granular fertilizer can sit on your yard for months, failing to dissolve in to-dry conditions. You may end up with a burnt lawn if this happens.

5. Forget to Mulch

As long as the ground hasn't frozen, you still have time to apply mulch around your trees and on top of garden plants such as asparagus and rhubarb. Use the right kind of mulch for the plant, and be certain that you aren't spreading dangerous pests or fungus by moving recycled materials from a diseased plant to a healthy one.

6. Skip Raking

It is so much work, but it is so vital to a healthy yard! Layers of snow over layers of leaves can lead to mold and fungus damage. Plus, it makes it ridiculously difficult for that first mowing next year.

7. Spray Weed Killer When It's Cold

While the fall is the ideal time to get one last weed killing in, you do not want to do this in areas where it is not consistently above 60 degrees. So, southern folks are probably safe; here in Nebraska, we are past that point, already.

8. Leave Spring Planting Until the Spring

If you want beautiful spring bulbs, now is the time to put them in. Tulips, lilies, and even garden "roots" such as asparagus can go in now for a head start on next year. While getting behind on flowering plants isn't the end of the world, waiting an extra six months for asparagus is a big deal (especially since they need two full years to mature before the first harvest.) This is also a great time to plant new trees and shrubs.

9. Forget to Shop

Stores are clearing out all of their spring and summer gardening supplies right now! Stop in to get things you know you'll need like pots, soil, seeds, tools, and more. With savings of up to 90%, it's foolish to wait. Don't forget to check your local dollar store, too!

10. Overlook Pests

Do your apple trees have orange spots on the leaves? Did your fruit all end up with worms in it? Many of the pests that plague the family orchard and yard need to have an aggressive plan to stop them, and fall is the perfect time to take notes of what you see so that you can be proactive next year. Take pictures of any damage done to your yard and garden now, so that you can research the damage and purchase the right tools next year. Many issues, such as fungus and codling moths (the bugs that makes "wormy" apples) need to have sprays applied to trees in the early spring before symptoms appear. Taking notice now is the only way to get ahead of these problems.

Taking care of your lawn and garden the right way will depend on location, choices in greenery, and personal style. Being diligent about this last stage of the year can allow you to take a break during the winter before another season of yard work in the spring!

What are you doing (or have already done) to prepare your yard for winter? Please share in comments!

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This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

14 Ways to Make Your Yard Look Awesome for Under $100

Tim Lemke — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 17:00:06 +0000

Owning a home can be a lot of work, and it can be costly, especially when you have a sizable property. But there are some basic things you can do to keep your yard looking awesome without spending a ton of cash.

Here are 14 things you can do to keep your yard in tip-top shape while spending less than $100.

1. Plant Stuff

A good-looking yard is full of life. Plant some shrubs in your front yard, perhaps even a couple tall bushes to frame your doorway. Buy some different types of flowers and plant them in spots that get good sunlight, and water them frequently. (Consider planting perennials, like roses and mums, which can bloom for multiple seasons.) To get started, you'll want to invest in some decent soil, which can be purchased relatively cheaply at your local home improvement store.

2. Trim Stuff

It's great to have trees, bushes, and plants to give life to your yard, but things can get overgrown if you don't keep an eye on them. Trim any tree branches that are close to your house or over your neighbor's yard. Keep your hedges at a nice, consistent height. Cut away any vines creeping over your fences. You can handle most trimming work with a decent pair of long clippers and a band saw. Cordless, rechargeable hedge trimmers can also be useful and are often available for under $100.

3. Pull Weeds

If you have plants, you will have weeds. And weeds are your enemy. Luckily, they are easy to spot, and usually easily pulled out of flower beds. Use RoundUp or a similar product to kill any weeds in stubborn areas, like along the cracks in your sidewalk and driveway.

4. Rake

Get those leaves up! Leaves on the yard can look pretty for a while, but after a short time they start to block any sun from reaching your grass. A couple good days of raking will do the trick, but you could also blow those leaves away with a gas or battery powered blower.

5. Lay Down Mulch

Putting some mulch in your gardens serves several purposes. A thick layer of mulch makes it harder for weeds to grow, and also protects plant roots from getting scorched by the sun in the summer. Moreover, a good, dark mulch can help make the color from flowers petals really pop. You can get a bag of mulch for just a few bucks, so it's one of the best investments for your yard. Tip: Always buy a bag or two more than you think you might need.

6. Edge

To make things look extra-nice, you'll want to sharpen things up by creating a hard edge between your lawn and garden beds, and along any sidewalks or driveways. You can do this by hand in small areas using a trowel, but it's also worth investing less than $100 in a cordless or gas-powered edger. (Some edgers have replaceable heads that allow you to turn the machine into a weed-wacker or other tool.)

7. Put Up Some Lattice

Some white crisscross lattice can be a good way to cover up unsightly areas. At my house, we had lattice installed near the outdoor steps to my basement, and it has the added effect of preventing small kids from falling over into the stairwell. Vinyl lattice is virtually maintenance-free, and can be purchased for less than $1 per square foot.

8. Power Wash Your House

What's the point of sprucing up your yard if the house looks filthy? After enduring heavy rain, intense sun and other assaults, the exterior of your house is bound to get dirty. Vinyl siding might get stained or discolored, brick and stone walls look dingy, and the roof looks grimey. You can blast your house clean by investing in a good gas-powered washer. It's possible to buy one for under $100, or you could rent one a couple times a year to keep your house looking spiffy.

9. Paint

Look around your house for any faded or peeling spots, and get to work with a few gallons of paint. This won't set you back much, and it's a job most people can do themselves. Pay special attention to things like front doors, window ledges, deck railings, and shutters.

10. Tend to Your Lawn

It's easy to just mow the lawn and forget about it, but if you want one of the nicest yards in the neighborhood, you'll have to do some extra work. Each fall, you'll want to spend some time thatching out any dead stuff — there are special rakes you can buy at a low price, or even machines to rent. Once that's done, lay down new seed. This may mean you'll have to buy or rent a spreader, but those are usually available for under $100. Bags of seed will run you about $50 each. Water your lawn and feed it fertilizer in the spring. This will ensure your lawn comes up nice, healthy and green.

11. Get an Old Bench

It's amazing how something like a bench can transform a space in someone's yard. It's not too hard to procure an old bench from yard sales and antique shops, and you can spruce it up by sanding out any rough edges and giving it a new paint job. Place the bench under a tree or next to a flower bed to create an awesome sense of place.

12. Get a Birdbath

A birdbath has a similar effect as a bench. They look great when placed next to trees, and it's fun to see how they can attract various species of birds. You can buy a solid birdbath for under $50 at many stores.

13. Build a Firepit

It's really fun to sit out back and enjoy the warmth of a fire on a cool night, and a firepit can be a great accent to any yard. Top-of-the-line firepits can be expensive to install, but you can easily make one yourself using some flat stones and cement or mortar on a gravel surface. (Here's one person who claims to have built a firepit for only $8.)

14. Dig a Pond

This can be a wonderful addition to any garden, and they aren't too difficult to construct. You can get a small polyethylene liner for less than $100. Just dig and install. (Okay, it's not quite that easy. But it's not a big chore, either.) Over time, you can add some surrounding flowers, lilypads, and fish. You may even attract some frogs and turtles. Those with bigger budgets may want to consider a fountain or waterfall.

How do you keep your yard looking great, for cheap? Please share in comments!

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This article is from Tim Lemke of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Save Money and Water With These 6 Clever Landscaping Hacks

Kentin Waits — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 10:24:30 +0000

Warm months always bring out a bit of the gardener in every homeowner. The grays and browns of winter transform into the vibrant greens of summer and coax even the most die-hard homebody outside. If you've noticed that your little slice of heaven could use some TLC but don't want to spend a mint, here are a few budget-friendly landscaping ideas. (See also: 10 Gardening Lessons Learned the Hard Way)

1. Plant for Your Region

Plants do best in their native climates. To protect your landscaping investment, consider your region or climate zone as you choose your trees, shrubbery, flowers, and other vegetation. A handy zone map can help you stay on track with your selections and ensure that everything you plant matures and thrives year after year.

2. Go for Low H2O

Everyone loves the look of a lush lawn, but few of us enjoy the accompanying water bill. To keep your landscaping project on budget, don't forget about the long-term maintenance costs. Landscape for your region and climate, and select plant varieties that do well without a lot of extra water. It's not only good for your wallet; it's good for the planet. (See also: The 6 Best Lawn Mowers)

3. Buy in Bulk

Superstores make buying all sorts of landscaping supplies extremely simple and convenient, but that convenience comes at a premium price. Individual bags of mulch, pea gravel, and sod can add up quickly. Large landscaping supply companies can often drop off supplies by the truckload at much lower overall price. Don't need a whole truckload? Split it with your neighbors. Another option for less expensive materials may be as close as city hall — some municipalities offer free mulch as long as you're willing to haul it away.

4. Reuse and Repurpose

The salvage business is booming, but there are still treasures out there just waiting to be found and repurposed. Check out estate sales, auctions, thrift stores, and even the curbside on trash day. Shallow planters can be given new life as birdbaths, old fences and columns can become decorative accents and trellises, farm tables can be transformed into potting stands, and old stumps or blocks of stone can become garden benches.

Get inspired by thumbing through outdoor design or gardening magazines, and challenge yourself to recreate your favorite ideas on a budget. This piece from Sunset magazine inspired me.

The reuse idea can carry over into your plantings too. Is a neighbor's backyard being overtaken by bamboo? Offer to help cut them back in exchange for a few starts that you can add to your own yard. Ask friends and family to keep you in mind if they're removing old bushes, small trees, or replacing perennials. Weave these donated items into your larger design plan to save big bucks on buying new.

5. Turn Your Yard Into an Edible Garden

Over the past several years, there's been a quietly growing movement that aims to completely change the way we think about our lawns.

The lawn-to-garden movement advocates that homeowners transition their yards from passive highly-manicured displays into dynamic food- producing spaces. The movement is driven in part by a local food sensibility that encourages folks to know where their food is grown and spurn produce that has to be imported. It's also motivated by simple frugality and self-reliance — by the idea that we can each take a more active role in our food production and lessen our dependence on big agri-business.

For landscapers on a budget, what better way to be paid back for our labors than to use our lawns to source food? From tomatoes to herbs and from cucumbers to radishes, your lawn has the potential to save you money and put food on the table. Explore how to turn part of your lawn into a fresh, local, and organic produce stand. If your city or community has strict zoning laws or covenants that prohibit such activity, chat with your neighbors and see what changes can be made through the power of organized action. For a comprehensive guide on the lawn-to-garden movement, check out Fritz Haeg's seminal book on the topic, Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn.

6. Get That Green Thumb Dirty

Sure, you may not have a backhoe sitting around in the garage, but there are landscaping projects that you can do yourself. Digging, hauling, planting, pruning, and even some light construction work can help you save big on landscaping contractor costs. Consider hosting a landscaping party and enlisting a few (brawny) friends to help out on a Saturday afternoon. Cold beer and warm pizza go a long way toward motivating and repaying your helpful crew.

Regardless of the scope of your project, landscaping doesn't have to break the bank. With some careful planning, creativity, and help from friends and family, your yard can go from drab to fab in just a few weeks. And now is the perfect time to put those green thumbs to the test — just don't forget the sunscreen!

What are your favorite budget landscaping ideas?

This article is from Kentin Waits of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

50+ Ways to Save Water

Max Wong — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:36:34 +0000

You know you live in a First World country when you have the luxury of flushing your toilet with drinking water.

Even though most Americans don’t spend a good part of their day worrying about accessing fresh water, water in this country is growing scarcer and more expensive with each passing year. Even if you live in a rainy climate, you can do the planet and your pocket book a favor by conserving water. (See also: Save Hundreds by Getting Yourself Out of Hot Water)

In the Kitchen

To avoid wasting water from a running tap, collect it in a bottle or Brita pitcher and chill it in the refrigerator for drinking. Or, while waiting for the water to warm up, use the water to rinse dirty dishes, water the plants, or wash produce.

Instead of using the garbage disposal, compost your fruit and vegetable scraps. (In turn, adding compost to your yard will help the soil retain moisture).

Only use the dishwasher when you have a full load. Instead of pre-rinsing dishes in the sink, use the rinse and hold setting on your dishwasher.

If you can afford to get an energy star dishwasher, do it. The best dishwashers and washing machines only use four gallons of water per load. Less water than you’d use hand-washing. (See also: The 5 Best Dishwashers)

If you are hand-washing dishes, use the least amount of detergent possible to reduce the amount of water you then have to use to rinse the dishes.

Steam or microwave veggies instead of boiling them. If your recipe calls for boiling vegetables, only use enough water to cover them, and put a lid on your saucepan. Use the water leftover from boiling vegetables as a basis for homemade stock.

Make one-pot meals. Fewer dishes means less water for washing up.

Defrost food in the refrigerator overnight instead of using hot running water. (This is the best food-safe method). If you are in a rush, thaw your food in the microwave.

In the Bathroom

Don’t let the water run while you are brushing your teeth or soaping up your hands.

Instead of rinsing it in running water, clean your razor by swishing it in a cup of water.

Install a low-flow shower head and/or an aerator.

Make sure to insulate your hot water pipes. This avoids wasting water by cutting down the time it takes for hot water to flow through and saves energy.

Turn down your hot water thermostat. In addition to protecting you from being scalded by accident, adding cold water to cool down extremely hot water wastes energy and water.

Take shorter showers. Set a timer so you don’t cheat. Turn off the tap while shaving, soaping up, or waiting for conditioner to do its thing.

Use a bucket to collect water while waiting for the water to heat up. Use this water to force flush your toilet, shave your legs, or mop the floor.

Bathe your kids together or reuse your bathwater to wash your kids. Or reuse the kids’ bathwater to wash your dog. Or...you get the picture.

If you can’t afford a low-flow toilet, put a brick to your toilet tank until you can afford to add a dual flush system or a flow restrictor to your existing toilet. Also, check to make sure that your tank isn’t leaking. To check for leaks, add some food coloring to the tank water. If your tank is leaking, you’ll see the dye in the toilet bowl before you flush.

Flush your toilet less often. If this sounds disgusting to you, know that in drought areas of Australia, the government is encouraging men to pee in the garden to conserve water. Avoid using the toilet to dispose of hair, bugs, goldfish, or other random waste items that can be composted or thrown in the trash instead.

In the Laundry

Use the least amount of detergent that you can. In addition to making your clothes last longer, your washer will not have to work as hard to wash all the soap out. If your clothes still smell soapy when they come out of the wash, you are using too much detergent.

Only run full loads of laundry. If you have a small household, consider sharing laundry duty with your friends or neighbors to ensure every load is a full load.

In the Yard

Check the weather forecast. If it’s going to rain in the next four days, let nature water your plants for you.

Use a broom to sweep walkways and driveways instead of hosing them down with water.

Use leftover bath water to water non-food plants, wash the car, or clean the siding.

Plant drought-resistant ornamental plants.

Use the Square Foot Garden system or permaculture methods of under-planting and inter-planting tall vegetables with shorter vegetables to self-mulch. In addition to growing a tremendous amount of food in a small space, you’ll also save on water.

Don’t water your garden at high noon, in addition to losing more water to evaporation, you run the risk of burning your plants. (Water beads act like little magnifying glasses). Water in the morning or in the evening when it’s cooler.

Add soil amendments like compost to your soil that will help it retain water. Mulch your garden to keep water from evaporating quickly.

Water the base of your plants using a watering can, a soaker hose, or a drip system instead of watering the tops of the plants with a sprinkler or hose.

Install a rain water tank or divert water from your gutters into the garden instead of into the storm drains.

Replace your lawn with low-water plants.

If your neighborhood covenant requires you to maintain a lawn, install a low-water grass variety. Deep soak your lawn once a week to encourage deep root growth instead of watering for less time more often. Also, make sure that your lawn needs to be watered before turning on the hose. If the grass springs back after you step on it, you don’t need to water.

Taller grass holds more water than short grass so wait a bit between mows. Short lawns will burn because they don’t have leaf protection. Don’t mow your lawn to less than one inch in height. (See also: The 6 Best Lawn Mowers)

Aerate your lawn in the summer to help it absorb more water quickly.

When planting a garden, try to group plants by their watering needs. Also, sparsely planted areas are more difficult to water efficiently. Try to plant in the spring or autumn when it’s cooler.

Avoid buying outdoor toys that require constantly running water.

How much water do you save every year by conserving water? How many dollars do you save? Please share your favorite water saving tips in the comments section.

This article is from Max Wong of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

3 Ways to Prevent Brown Lawn Spots From Dog Urine

Elizabeth Lang — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:24:08 +0000

We have two dogs — a male Black Lab/Golden Retriever mix and a female Shepard/Husky mix. They are wonderful dogs, but unfortunately, the female marks all over our yard. (See also: 10 DIY Dog Toys You Can Make for Pennies)

It was never a big issue, as we didn’t care too much about how our backyard looked. But this year, after a huge portion of the yard turned to mud, we decided to plant some sod. In about a 200 square foot area we turned over the soil, evened it out, and laid down new, gorgeous sod from our local nursery. It was a lot of work (though surprisingly cheap — all of the sod cost about $30), and the grass was so perfect you just wanted to lay down in it and take a nap.

Unfortunately, our Shepard/Husky decided this new sod would also be her new potty place. Suddenly, there were yellow and brown spots covering the new green grass. I did some internet searching and found forums filled with hundreds of tips (and a lot of debates) about how to remove dog urine from the yard or how to prevent the dog’s urine from turning the grass brown. Here are the three best ways we’ve found to prevent the dog urine from killing the grass.

1. Most Effective Short-Term Solution — Water

The most effective short-term solution to prevent the dog urine from killing the yard is to immediately water the spot where the dog peed. I usually run the hose for about 10 seconds over the spot. The water dilutes the urine and keeps the grass from turning brown. I call this a short-term solution because, at least in our house, it’s not very realistic to assume that we will watch where the dog goes to the bathroom and then go outside and water every time she does. Plus, it’s a waste of water. However, if you have new grass or just have a dog visiting, this may be the best solution.

2. Best and Cheapest Long-Term Solution — Spot Training

Assuming you’re not going to water every time your dog urinates on the yard, the best method is to train your dog to only go to the bathroom in one part of the yard. This takes time and commitment. It requires you to take your dog outside to a particular spot, wait for it to go, and then give it a treat and praise. If you have a new puppy, I would highly recommend you train it to only use one area of the yard. A small portion of your yard will still die, but you still keep the rest of the yard looking relatively nice.

3. The Lazy Man Method — Tomato Juice

If you’re too lazy to treat the spot with water or train your dog to always go in the same area, I recommend tomato juice. My vet gave me this tip. You just feed your dog a bit of tomato juice with each meal by mixing it in with its food. (Depending on the size of your dog, you may want to experiment. We use about a quarter cup with our eighty-pound dog.)

Our vet said there are two schools of thought about why the tomato juice works. The first is that the tomato juice neutralizes the pH. I don’t understand the science behind it, so if you disagree with the pH theory, the other theory is the dilution theory. Some say that tomato juice works to prevent brown spots from urine is because of the salt in the tomato juice. The salt makes the dog thirsty, so she drinks more water and naturally dilutes her own urine.

I would recommend spot training your dog as the best long-term solution. But if you can’t train your dog, the tomato juice is a great alternative.

Do you have a dog that has killed the grass by urinating on it? If so, do you know of other ways to prevent spots?

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This article is from Elizabeth Lang of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Ways to Improve the Life of Your Lawn Mower

Annie Mueller — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:24:05 +0000

When I first got married, I couldn't have told you the difference between a carburetor and an air filter. That's one of the things I love most about marriage, actually — how educational it is. My husband is a small-engine mechanic with multiple certifications and shop manager at the family business, Arco Lawn Equipment. I never knew how much there was to know about lawn mowers, but I've picked up quite a lot. This list is compiled from my husband's top tips for getting the most use out of your lawn mower. (See also: 6 Slick Tools to Save Money on Car Repairs)

1. Maintain Your Lawn Mower Every Season

Lawn mowers are getting cheaper and cheaper, and many people see them as disposable commodities now — purchase, use, and just get a new one in a couple of years when the old one wears out. That's one way to think about it, but it's not the smart and frugal way. Even if you purchase the cheapest lawn mower out there, you can extend its life and get better performance from it by maintaining it regularly. It's not too difficult to do an at-home service, either. The basics you should cover are changing the oil, putting in a new spark plug, checking (and replacing, if necessary) the air filter, and lubricating the machine.

2. Keep the Blade Sharp for Better Cutting

A dull blade on your lawn mower will tear off the grass rather than slice it cleanly. Torn grass will turn yellow or brown at the tips, making your yard look like it has some sort of horrible disease. Not exactly the lush, green look you want. Keep your blade nice and sharp. You can sharpen it yourself, or you can remove it and take it to a lawn mower shop and get it sharpened for usually under $10. Make sure it's tightened back on properly.

3. Use Your Owner's Manual

When you purchase a new piece of equipment, spend fifteen minutes reading through the owner's manual. You'll find out all sorts of interesting tidbits, like where and how to lubricate the mower, what kind of oil to use and how often to change it, how to tighten the blades down, how to troubleshoot minor problems, and other tips. Don't assume that your new mower works just like your old mower. Some lawn mowers need to be lubricated around the gears, wheels, and axles; others have a "closed system" and don't need to be greased, and that's just one possible difference. A few minutes doing a bit of reading can save you lots of time and money.

4. Use Fresh Fuel and Keep It Fresh

Gasoline has a high percentage of ethanol in it, and that ethanol decomposes rather quickly. For a lawn-mower engine, this can be problematic; the old, broken-down fuel creates this gunky kind of varnish that can cause the whole fuel system to act like it hates you. If your machine is starting and dying, revving up strangely, or just refusing to run at all, fuel varnish might be your problem. Purchase a handy little item called fuel stabilizer, and add it to the gas can every time you fill it up. It's cheap, and it will keep your fuel stable longer.

5. Check the Oil with Every Use

Yes, that's right — every single time you use your lawn mower. It takes 30 seconds to pull the dipstick, wipe it, and do a quick check. Keep the oil filled to the correct level, and use the right kind of oil. Too much oil will make your lawn mower smoke, and too little oil will cause all sorts of problems, most of them expensive.

6. Clean Wet Grass Out From Under the Deck After Every Use

Those clumps of wet grass can cause corrosion on your lawn mower deck, which will end up shortening the life of your lawn mower unnecessarily. It's not difficult to get it out from under the deck, especially if you do so as soon as you're finished mowing. Use a stick or a screwdriver to encourage those stuck-on clumps to come off. If you hose your mower down, be sure you let it sit out in the sun to dry thoroughly before you park it back in the cool, dark garage.

7. Get to Know Your Local Lawn-Equipment Shop

I'm a little biased here, admittedly, about how much cooler family-owned shops are than big box stores. But seriously, even if you purchased your mower at the big box store down the street, you can benefit from the expertise of the employees at a smaller shop that specializes in lawn equipment. If you're someone who likes to tinker with stuff yourself, you can get help finding the right parts. Many smaller shops also run regular specials; my husband's business offers annual deep discounts on pickup and delivery, which is a huge savings as a pickup/delivery service can run up to $50 in our service area.

This article is from Annie Mueller of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: