Is the new owner a gardener?
Do they really want the garden?
Would it be much more expensive to “reset” the garden completely so they have their garden fabric and new earth and mulch and whatever seedlings they want?
What about a green house? That probably would be expensive. But weeds and wildlife (unless you can open the windows to bees) won’t get at it.
> Is the new owner a gardener? <
My friend, the new owner, is an older lady who had no interest or ability to be an active gardener. I should have mentioned that in my original post.
Organic Panic mentioned periwinkle as a ground cover (thanks, OP). I’m going to look into that.