Help! I need to sort my garden!!

[threeislovely]

We moved a while ago and I have been sorting the house. I have pretty much finished inside and am now looking at the garden. It's a pretty garden but used to be owned by keen gardeners and whilst I love it, working full-time with 3 kids doesn't lend itself to the maintenance it needs.

So - I have a front bed which is massive. Some lovely plants and many, many weeds. I have tried keeping on top of the weeding but it's overwhelming. Do I mulch it? I thought about weed-suppressing membrane and bark, but then my friend said this was a mistake and all the cats in the neighbourhood would love me!?!?!

Out the back we have big hedges and a lawn which is just about doable. I would like to be able to put my herbs in a bed... Thinking of building a raised bed with sleepers and planting the herbs in that - but will this become another weed haven?

Also have some camellias that are hidden in a corner. Can I move these to the front garden? If so, when is the best time and any tips?

Thanks for any help you can give me - I have a week and a half before term starts and I would love to go back to work thinking that I was on top of everything.

If you mulch, you should weed first. It's hard yakka but worth it. Mulch should be quite coarse or it will compact in the rain and not let the water through.

www.landscapegardeningplants.com/articles/mulch.html

Although this is research in Australia, the advice about size of mulch particles holds true.

Wood mulches can take nutrients from the soil as they break down so you need to think about this ground cover plants and close planting can act as a weed suppressant, too.

You're always going to have weeds, but cam keep on top them, especially if you pull them out as soon as you see them

In your position I'd pay a gardener to weed and mow. Then just do the nice stuff yourself.

Annual weeds are easy to manage with hoeing once or twice a week in summer. Having a big garden is a bit like having an extra house to clean, so be realistic about that and hire a gardener if you can't cope.

Don't make work for yourself by building extra beds.
Weed your existing borders (post pics up here if you need help with identification) and plant your herbs there.

Then mulch, by all means.

Thank you! Off to weed bed and mulch!