Recycle this newspaper

Old-fashioned newspapers are so cool.

They deliver interesting articles like the one you’re reading now, carry money-saving coupons, and — according to Lowe — can be a big help in the landscape.

Place one or two layers on the ground before you spread mulch (the garden pages work especially well), and you’ll create a cheap, biodegradable weed suppressor.

If you’re starting a new flower or vegetable bed, he suggests placing three to five layers of newspaper over existing turf and then putting a layer of cardboard on top.

“That layer kills the grass and makes it easier to start a bed without any harsh chemicals,” he said.

Save your soil

Drainage holes in pots and containers are a mixed blessing: They let out excess water, but potting soil often goes along with it.

Lowe offers an easy solution using something you probably already have in your kitchen: a coffee filter, which you can place over a drainage hole inside a pot.

Water, of course, drains freely through the filter — but “when you water, you’re not washing all that soil out,” he explained.

Transform a stump

Stuck with an old stump or an unwieldy log?

Consider turning it into a free, unique and eco-friendly planter, Lowe suggests.

If it’s already hollowed out, fill the opening with potting medium and plant flowers, ferns or even veggies, depending on the amount of sun.

Otherwise, you can carve a hole with an ax or sharp trowel. Because you’re going for a rustic look, don’t worry about symmetry or smooth edges.

You’ll be helping the environment as well as your pocketbook, Lowe said, because “you’re not removing anything from the landscape.”