Andrew Lawrence

Using gravel in your garden can create an excellent, in-expensive but practical garden surface. It's attractive, maintenance-free, simple to lay and fits in well with plants.

Most Japanese gardens require little maintenance because the components that are used are things like gravel, pebbles, stones, wood, water and occasional, carefully-chosen and well-positioned shrubs or small trees

Edging the lawn with brick or paving, so that the mower can run over it saving time and energy, means that the only trimming you will need to do will be occasionally cutting back any long stems of grass that grow over the paving.