If you’re handy around the house, the thought of tackling a variety of home improvement projects with your own two hands might have crossed your mind a time or two.

But before you dig into a DIY project, it’s important to consider some factors beyond your ability to do the job right. You’ll also want to consider the cost of all the tools and materials needed, as well as the amount of time you’ll need to devote to the project.

Here are four important questions to ask yourself before attacking a DIY project at home:

How complex is it?
You may know how to hang drywall and install a kitchen sink, but do you really want to do everything that’s required in a complete kitchen makeover?

The bigger and more complex a project is, the greater the chance that it might be too much work for one person. You may need to hire a few professionals to help, or at least a contractor to oversee the project and help you in the areas where you need it.

Do you have the skills for it?
Depending on the project, you may need one or two skills, or perhaps you’ll need to deal with plumbing, carpentry, electrical and metalwork to successfully complete the DIY project at hand.

Before starting any new project, assess your skills, and be sure to factor how easily you can learn new ones into the equation. If it’s a skill you’re unlikely to use again, you might be better off hiring a pro.

Could you damage your home?
Consider what the worst-case scenario is if your project goes awry and you mess something up. Not knowing what you’re doing is a surefire way to not only make the problem worse, but also more expensive than it would have been had you hired a professional from the beginning.

If you’re unsure how to work with electrical, for instance, you may want to avoid the chance of causing a fire or injuring yourself. In the same vein, taking down a load-bearing wall can risk the safety of your home if you don’t know what you’re doing.

What’s your time worth?
Spending weeks on a project that should have taken a weekend can get expensive not only from the standpoint of extra supplies, but also from the cost of your time.

Put a dollar value on your time, such as an hourly rate, and factor that into the project’s cost. In the end, will you still save money by doing it yourself? If you enjoy doing the project and have plenty of free time, it’s probably worth doing yourself. But if you could be making money elsewhere—or don’t have the time to do it well—consider hiring a pro.

A grass lawn, trees and flowers all look wonderful in a yard—if they’re properly maintained.

All that work leads to an enjoyable view, but not much else. But instead of getting little in return for their yard work, homeowners can take advantage of their land and plant vegetables and fruits that can feed them for years to come.

Here are five types of edible landscaping to consider planting in your yard:

Herbs
A bed of herbs can be as small or large as you want. Rosemary, thyme and oregano are easy to grow in a small garden bed that’s simple to build yourself, or you can plant them in pots on a patio or straight in the ground. Basil, an herb used often in Italian dishes, can grow almost anywhere.

Greens
Lettuce, radishes, carrots, cabbage, spinach, peppers, tomatoes, arugula and other salad greens can be planted in a small garden in a yard.

Leafy vegetables prefer nitrogen-rich soil, so add a lot of compost or manure before sowing seeds. Most will require regular watering and four to six hours of sun per day. If you live in a region where the temperature regularly exceeds 75 degrees Fahrenheit, grow salad greens in a shaded area so that they don’t form seeds.

Trees
Fruit and nut trees provide shade and food. Apple, peach and pear trees are common types to grow in a home’s yard.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the best low-maintenance fruit trees are plum, peach, pear and cherry. They don’t require aggressive watering and only require minimal fertilizer applications.

Nut trees that can be grown in a variety of locations include almond, chestnut, hazelnut, pecan, pine nut and walnut.

Vining Plants
By putting up a few decorative trellises in your yard, you can create a sitting area or entryway that’s full of edible vegetables or fruits called vining plants.

While scarlet runner beans can grow in the ground, they also look fantastic on a trellis with their red flowers climbing around it. Other kinds of vine-type beans can also be grown. Peas, squash and grapes are also excellent vining plants that can add flavor and beauty to a yard.

Edible Flowers
For the best of both worlds, plant edible flowers that are beautiful and can be turned into a salad that looks like a piece of art. Some edible flowers also work well in drinks and desserts.

Types of edible flowers include calendula, zucchini blossoms, hibiscus, lavender, nasturtiums, pansies and roses.

Don’t use flowers that have been sprayed with pesticides or other chemicals. After picking edible flowers, wash them gently in a bowl of cold water and let them dry on a paper towel. Use them immediately, or store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container lined with a damp paper towel for up to a week.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average American generates nearly 4.5 pounds of trash on a daily basis, more than half of which goes to a landfill.

If you’re looking to reduce your net trash output with the ultimate goal of joining the zero-waste movement, there are a variety of small steps you can take today.

Refuse
Start by not bringing any items into your house that you don’t need. This includes company giveaways, such as a promotional tote bag from a work conference, free pens that make their way into your hands, plastic bobblehead figures from the ballpark and plastic utensils that come with your takeout order.

Reduce
Buying fewer things will ultimately save you money. Before buying new clothing, electronics, home appliances or anything else, ask yourself if you truly need it.

Reduce your reliance on single-use items such as plastic water bottles, individual yogurt cups and disposable plastic razors. When you do buy something, take advantage of reusable canvas grocery bags.

You can also lower the thermostat in your home and lower your energy usage, plan meals each week so that less food is wasted, and take advantage of public transportation so that you use your car less.

Reuse
Picking up a new skill such as sewing can help you repair some of your clothes and give them a longer life. If there are too many holes in a shirt to repair, use it as a rag instead of using paper towels. Reusing items for something other than their original purpose is a chance to get creative and see just how far you can go.

Recycle
If you’re already recycling, you may be able to take your efforts up a notch. Recycling is a great way to properly dispose of something you no longer use so that it can be turned into something usable again.

Beyond cans and bottles, many items can be recycled. In fact, household appliances, batteries and old toys can be responsibly recycled or given away for free for others to use.

Wood floors are a top choice for modern homeowners. Proponents believe they offer warmth as well as elegance, but they do require care to maintain their luster and are costly. Fortunately, say flooring exerts, technology makes it easy to achieve the look and feel of wood flooring without the need for special care—and at a far lower cost.

Check out the look and feel of these alternatives at local flooring or big box stores. (If you don’t plan to do it yourself, factor in $30 to $45 an hour for professional installation):

Bamboo
Bamboo flooring is an eco-friendly alternative to hardwood that is easy to clean, shrugs off wear and tear, and results in a similar look. Available in vertical, horizontal or strand-woven varieties, it will cost $2 to $5 per square foot.

Engineered Wood
Designed to handle moisture and wear, engineered wood flooring is durable, moisture resistant and available in a variety of wood-look patterns. This faux wood flooring is so much like the real deal (because it includes real wood in the layering) that it can even be refinished. Expect to pay $8 to $12 per square foot.

Laminate
Laminate vinyl is a photo of wood that is laminated onto vinyl flooring. Very resistant to high-traffic wear, it’s available in a wide variety of wood-like designs. It’s moisture-resistant, making it a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms. Laminate vinyl can come in sheets, tiles or planks. The price is significantly less than hardwood, with luxury vinyl tile coming in at $2 to $5 per square foot.

Porcelain Tile
A perennially popular flooring material, porcelain flooring comes in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs, many of which mimic wood-grain textures. In general, tile is durable, easy to clean and water resistant, making it ideal for bathrooms and kitchens. Large-format tiles can serve as a dramatic decor element, visually expanding a room due to minimal grout lines. Average cost is $4 to $9 per square foot.

Like most homeowners, you probably have your water heater strapped down and you flush out the gutters every spring. But there are many other tips that make a big difference in terms of both safety and thriftiness.

The home safety watchdogs at FamilyHandyman.com offer seven tips to start with:

Monitor furnace filters. Clogged furnace filters cost you in both efficiency and higher bills. For peak performance, replace them every 30 – 60 days. Keep track of when you replaced them last by buying several and labeling them by month.

Shut off the water when on vacation. Every insurance adjuster hears it: “We left town on Friday and returned Sunday evening to find thousands of dollars in water damage.” Before going on vacation, turn off the main water valve. In less than a minute, you can eliminate the most common cause of home damage.

Don’t leave the remote in your car. Anyone who breaks into your car can grab the remote for easy access to your garage, and the registration card in your glove box gives the thief your address. Ditch the remote on your visor and buy a keychain model you can take with you every time you leave the car.

Think about replacing pipes. If you have galvanized steel pipes in your home and low water flow at faucets, chances are the pipes are to blame. Galvanized pipe is prone to mineral buildup, which eventually chokes off the water flow. Replacing the pipes is the best cure, especially if you live in an older home.

Check the breaker first. When a light goes out or a switch doesn’t work, check the main electrical panel for a tripped circuit breaker. Look for a switch that’s not in line with the others. Flip it to the ‘off’ position and then back on.

Get low flow showerheads. Showerheads are heavy water users and major energy eaters, since 70 percent of the water used is heated. By reducing hot-water consumption, a low-flow unit can pay for itself in just one month. Many of today’s water-efficient showerheads now provide a high-flow feel.

Install ceiling fans. Moving air increases evaporation from your skin and helps keep you comfortable at higher thermostat settings.