can my yard look good without wrecking the planet?

I've been thinking a lot lately about how much water and chemicals I'm dumping into my yard just to keep it looking decent. Honestly, it's starting to bug me. Like, do I really need to spray pesticides every time I spot a bug, or run sprinklers every single day just to keep the grass green? Feels kinda wasteful, you know?

Anyway, I'm wondering if there's a better way to do things. Maybe plants that don't need as much water or some natural ways to keep pests away. But here's the catch—I still want the yard to look nice and inviting, not like some wild jungle or dried-up desert. Has anyone tried making their landscaping more planet-friendly without sacrificing curb appeal? Would love some tips or even just hearing how it worked out for ya.