Photo: Iriana Shiyan - stock.adobe.com We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Home Advice You Can Trust Tips, tricks & ideas for a better home and yard, delivered to your inbox daily. Keeping your lawn green and mowed and your flower beds lush and tidy can take up a big part of your summer weekend, but it doesn’t have to. You can have a neat, colorful backyard with places to play or relax—and that even satisfies your HOA—without eating up your free time with maintenance. There’s a big difference between letting your backyard take care of itself and simple neglect from having too little time (or desire) to maintain the yard.  Between smart landscaping decisions and new, smarter tools, a low-maintenance yard is more attainable than ever. You can set up your backyard to minimize maintenance tasks with a little upfront planning, like selecting the right spot for grass, finding easy-care plants, and stifling weeds.…