I also live in the suburbs. I have a very small garden where I initially took the stone coverage away, added some compost to mostly sand, and then planted out a number of species from a local permahero. Now it mostly lives by itself, with a lot of cool insects in it. I also have a small raised bed where I put some wood, charcoal and compost, and now plant stuff with varying success. But the birds love the living soil. Am dreaming of buying more land one day.