Gardens with nothing in them?

[BigDahliaFan]

Would you not at least put a low maintenance shrub in? I mean not everyone wants full on Monty Don....but something?

I'd choose dirt too, but they are not the only options. Gravel, bark, slate are all options that still allow the earth to breathe & water to soak in. A small garden near me is just slate chippings and large lavender bushes. Hardly any maintenace & looks nice.Paving that isn't sealed can look nice. All sorts of wild plants & moss grow in the cracks on my brick patio. They are shorter than if they grow in soil so the birds can forage on the insects & seeds. Just needs a tidy up about once a year.

Beechgrove is more basic. And based where it is, is far more about dealing with difficult conditions. BUT it's still only of interest if people want to garden

Afaik artificial grass is permeable (maybe depends on the make?) so isn't as bad for the runoff aspect as some of the tarmac/concrete/paving types of surface, and it's understandable why people with kids may want to use it if they can't grow a tolerably hardwearing lawn.

@NannyGythaOgg , I was going to suggest Beechgrove too. It's much more old-school, and they are currently doing an occasional section on essential tools to get started, and often go to new build gardens.