Smart planning for your flowerbeds around the house can lead to significant water and time savings when caring for your gorgeous blooms. According to National Geographic, consider "companion planting" by grouping certain plants together to help them mutually grow. When taller, sun-loving plants are planted in the back with shorter, shade-loving plants in front, they help each other thrive. The taller plants block the sun's rays and also help reduce evaporation of water from the shorter plants. This symbiotic planting will help your flowerbeds thrive and grow almost all on their own.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Reusing items is a simple and meaningful action that is one of the greenest things you can do. But when it comes to disposable plastic utensils like forks, knives and spoons, it's best to use them once. While it's tempting to rinse a plastic utensil and reuse it, they really aren't designed for repeat use. When you wash plastic, microscopic spaces are created that can harbor food particles that eventually will turn into bacterial growth. So if you must use plastic utensils, use them once, but try to opt for reusable ones -- like stainless steel -- whenever possible.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Nobody likes a dusty home, but if there's one place you should be extra sure to clean, it's under the bed. This is where "dust bunnies" typically collect, and this massive concentration of dust is more than just dirty, it can be toxic. A study by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation found chemical toxins, including things like phthalates, flame retardants, heavy metals like cadmium, lead and mercury, and a whole host of other chemicals, in dust samples collected from bedrooms. When you consider that you sleep near this collection of dust for six to eight hours a night, it makes sense to vacuum or mop under the bed as frequently as you can.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION