It's not news that drought-resistant plants like succulents are an excellent water-saving choice to grow around the house. But have you heard of drought-resistant trees? When planting a new tree, it often needs a tremendous amount of water to settle, grow and eventually become a beautiful specimen in your yard. If you live in a location where water can be scarce, look for drought-tolerant varieties. The National Arbor Day Foundation names trees like Eastern Redcedar, Bur Oak, Northern Red Oak and Kentucky Coffeetree as great options.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

There are myriad things you can toss into a compost bin, like vegetable trimmings, eggshells and even almost all nutshells. One big exception in the nutshell category: walnut shells. Turns out walnut shells can be lethal and toxic to plants because they contain high concentrations of juglone, a compound produced by some plants to stunt the growth of other plants. Juglone is so effective as a plant toxin, it is sometimes used as an herbicide. If you toss walnut shells into your compost and use the finished compost in your garden, you could inadvertently be killing your crop.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Pick one day a week to go completely unplugged, free of any digital devices. Years of studies have shown that being disconnected from your phone and computer screens is beneficial for overall well-being and happiness, but recent findings indicate that it also may help you sleep better. According to a study by the National Academy of Sciences, spending time on your phone prior to bedtime can delay melatonin release, which causes you to take longer to fall asleep. It's best to leave phones off, and include e-readers as well, since they also emit the "blue light" from screens that affects your brain.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION