| I've been looking into gravel of some sort for parts of my back yard where I don't want to mow. Haven't found any gravel or seen any gravel that doesn't require a fair amount of maintenance keeping the weeds down. You can put down weed cloth first but that will eventually breakdown. From what I can tell, you're stuck using roundup on a very regular basis if you really don't want the weeds. I'm looking into ground covers at this point too. As a result of your post, I started searching (again) and found something kind of new. Description says it requires some moisture but we have a lot of clay here in Houston so I'm thinking it might work. Says it might be invasive but where I'm going to put it, I don't think it would be a problem. I may give it a try in a small area. If it is difficult to pull up, then not for me. I don't mind if something grows rapidly but I don't want something that is tedious to pull up. Anyway, take a look at: Pleniflorus -
www.stepables.com
Not sure it works in zone 9. Also, climbing fig works but the roots can really become entrunched and it is hard to pull out if you decide you don't like it. It is used a lot in Houston and seems not to mind clay soil or sun and is evergreen. Also, I was looking for Asian Jasmine ground cover. It is used a lot in my neighborhood but I don't know how easy it is too pull out. But it would be my preference if it isn't too hard to get rid of if I change my mind. 'I can't believe I can't find anything about it on the web. Maybe there is another spelling of the name? Let us know what you decide.
In case it isn't obvious, I am definitely not an expert on gravel but decided to just comment on my observations. Hopefully someone else will chime in if they have seen better installations of gravel than I have. | 
