Great project G, sounds like you have it well planned out.
I have to disagree with Paul about the mulch, I hate it... I'm stripping it all away around the house and replacing it with colored gravel. There are areas around the house that have had the gravel in place for years and the only thing I've had to do is spray a little Roundup on the few weeds that pop up here and there.
Question... How is the Asian Jasmine to deal with? I have an area in back that's too shady for grass and too big for gravel. I'm looking for some kind of ground cover that stays low and doesn't grow like crazy and take over everything. Any ideas?
This is the area I'm talking about - there on the right. It's a triangular space about 15x25x30. Right now it's being used as a staging area for gravel, dirt, sand and other bulk materials.
