I live in Augusta Ga (zone 8 ) and am in need of a great ground cover with a wonderful root systen to take hold of the ground. This is a hill with a freshly dug large-12 by 20 pond on top and nothing but clay around it. It is steep. Please help. Half is sun and half is shade with a large I think a river birch tree in the center. Of course I do not want something snakes would like to curle up in as I actually live very near a large pond as well so there are surlely many snakes around. I want something very dense and short so I can see if anything is rolling around on top of it.