what around the low maintenance shrubs?

hohadcr

Trying to creat a low maintenance yard. I have seen things like that as show in the pics.

In the two pics, the ground around the shrubs are covered 1. gravel, 2. wood chips(don't know the name of it)

My question is:

What is the steps to create such ground covering with the shrubs?

Do I plant the shrubs on normal top soil and put gravels and wood chips all around it directly on the soil or what?

Thanks

hohadcr

here are the pics

Attached Images

  

chrisn

Plant shrubs as normal, lay down some weed "retardant" material, apply stone or mulch or wood chips or whatever you want.