Go organic. Synthetic fertilizers are designed to turn the grass green, but once the plants pull the nitrogen out, the byproduct is often harmful to the soil and other lifeforms. Organics treat the soil. Healthy soil, healthy plants.
Use native plants. Tropical plants in a desert take a ton of care and feeding. Desert plants in the north will just die. Native plants usually use less water and need less care.
Weeds happen, you can worry or just accept. Healthy grass and mowing before the weeds germinate will help. I know every April my yard will be full of weeds, but by mid May after the grass wakes up from winter, the weeks die off.
Organics might cost more the first year or two because you have to recover the micro organisms in the soil, after that it is easier and cheaper than chemicals.
Re-purpose your flowerbeds. I pulled out all the bushes, put down some river rock, and made a nice seating area. In the other flowerbed, I planted herbs. If I'm going to have to deal with plants, they might as well have a benefit.
Or just get rid of the beds altogether. If the grass can grow right up to the house in the backyard, why not the front too?
