For architects, building designers, landscape designers, and homeowners, creating functional, beautiful outdoor spaces while minimising ongoing weed maintenance is a crucial design challenge. A well-designed outdoor area should be comfortable, practical, and seamlessly integrated with nature, but without the constant battle against weeds in paths, paving, and garden beds.
This blog explores effective strategies for designing outdoor spaces that are low-maintenance, weed-resistant, and visually appealing, while also avoiding the common pitfall of large, harsh expanses of concrete that reduce permeability and visual warmth.
1. Choosing the Right Path & Paving Materials to Prevent Weeds
Weeds thrive in gaps and cracks between paving materials where soil and moisture accumulate. The best way to reduce weeds in paths and paved areas is to carefully select materials and installation methods that minimise opportunities for weed growth.
Best Practices for Weed-Resistant Pathways & Paving
✅ Use large format pavers with tight joints
Large pavers reduce the number of joints where weeds can establish.
Opt for materials like concrete pavers, natural stone slabs, or large-format porcelain tiles with minimal spacing.
✅ Install permeable paving with a stabilised base
Weeds often grow in the loose sand or gravel between pavers.
A compacted, weed-resistant base (such as crushed rock with a geotextile layer) prevents soil infiltration.
Permeable paving (such as resin-bound gravel or stabilised decomposed granite) allows water infiltration while discouraging weeds.
✅ Use polymeric sand or mortar joints
Instead of traditional sand, which easily washes away, use polymeric sand, which hardens when set and prevents weed growth.
In high-traffic areas, mortar joints between pavers create a seamless, weed-proof surface.
✅ Avoid large expanses of traditional concrete
While concrete slabs prevent weed growth, they can be harsh, prone to cracking, and contribute to heat retention.
Instead, consider textured concrete with expansion joints filled with polymeric material to balance durability and permeability.
🚫 Avoid loose gravel without stabilisation
Without proper stabilisation, gravel paths collect organic debris, which creates an ideal seedbed for weeds.
2. Designing Garden Beds with Weed-Suppressing Strategies
Select Dense, Ground-Covering Plants
Low-growing ground covers such as Dichondra, creeping thyme, native violet, or prostrate Grevillea can shade out weed seedlings while providing soft, natural edges.
Use dense shrubs and layered planting to block sunlight from reaching weed-prone areas.
Use Thick Mulch Layers to Smother Weeds
A 75mm–100mm layer of coarse organic mulch (such as bark chips or eucalyptus mulch) prevents weeds from taking root.
Inorganic mulches (such as crushed rock or decomposed granite) can also provide a weed-resistant surface.
Create Defined Edging Between Paths & Garden Beds
Steel or stone edging prevents mulch and soil from spilling onto paths, reducing weed spread.
Raised garden beds with structured edging (such as timber sleepers, corten steel, or stone walls) help contain soil and reduce maintenance.
🚫 Avoid black plastic or cheap weed matting
Over time, plastic weed barriers break down, trapping moisture and becoming a mess to remove.
Instead, use a breathable geotextile fabric beneath gravel or paving to allow drainage while preventing soil buildup.
3. Creating Comfortable, Naturalistic Outdoor Spaces Without Large Concrete Expanses
A well-designed outdoor space should feel natural and inviting while avoiding the pitfalls of hard, lifeless surfaces.
Alternative Hardscape Materials to Reduce Maintenance & Enhance Aesthetics
✅ Stabilised decomposed granite (DG) paths
Creates a firm, natural-looking surface that blends well with gardens.
Can be mixed with a binding agent to prevent weed growth.
✅ Timber decking with well-designed substructure
Raised decks reduce direct contact with soil, minimising weed infiltration.
Properly installed decking (with drainage gaps and weed mat underneath) helps prevent growth below.
✅ Paved areas with ‘soft joints’
Instead of large, unbroken concrete slabs, use pavers with moss or ground cover between joints for a softer, more natural feel.
✅ Green roofs and living terraces
Instead of paved courtyards, consider low-maintenance green roofs or planted terraces, which improve aesthetics and cooling while reducing hard surfaces.
🚫 Avoid over-reliance on synthetic turf
While artificial grass reduces weeds, it traps heat, lacks biodiversity, and can degrade over time.
If using artificial turf, ensure proper sub-base drainage to prevent weed growth along edges.
4. Functional Design for Minimal Maintenance
✅ Plan Access & Storage for Garden Maintenance
Design concealed storage areas for garden tools and bins to maintain a neat appearance.
Ensure sufficient pathways for wheelbarrow or mower access without tracking dirt onto paved surfaces.
✅ Position Outdoor Spaces with Sun & Wind in Mind
South-facing paved areas can become moss-prone in shaded, damp conditions—opt for well-draining materials.
Sheltered courtyards with screening plants reduce dust and organic debris buildup.
✅ Use Natural Drainage & Permeable Landscaping
Rain gardens, swales, and permeable paving help control water flow while reducing the need for hard surfaces.
Gently sloped paving with integrated drainage prevents stagnant water, which can encourage weed growth.
🚫 Avoid large, flat concrete slabs without expansion joints
These tend to crack over time, allowing weeds to take root in the gaps.
Final Thoughts: A Balance of Beauty & Practicality
Designing low-maintenance outdoor spaces requires a balance between functionality, durability, and natural beauty. By selecting thoughtful paving materials, incorporating weed-resistant planting strategies, and avoiding excessive hard surfaces, architects, designers, and homeowners can create comfortable, visually appealing outdoor areas that require minimal upkeep.
Key Takeaways:
✔️ Choose weed-resistant paving solutions (large-format pavers, polymeric sand, and stabilised bases).
✔️ Utilise dense ground covers & thick mulch layers to suppress weeds naturally.
✔️ Integrate naturalistic materials & permeable surfaces to maintain aesthetic appeal and drainage.
✔️ Design with function in mind—consider pathways, access, and drainage to reduce debris accumulation.
By applying these principles, outdoor spaces can remain beautiful, functional, and low-maintenance for years to come—without relying on large, sterile concrete expanses.