Rental Landscaping Mulch or River Rocks

[Scott F.]

I have tenants who will do minimal landscaping at my property.  AKA they will mow the back before they have friends over, but that is about it.  The front probably is a 15x12 area that I typically mulch and weed every year.  I've grown tired of making a separate trip down for mulching every year.   What are solutions you have used to fix this?  I've also heard of using a ground cover or ivy to cover the area as well.  Any thing in particular I should be worried about by using river rock?  The slope away from the house is sufficient.