For the mostly shady site, look up Lariope Spicata. It grows well in almost full shade. A little too well. It dies back in cold weather. Produces berries in fall that birds eat after everything else is gone :~). We simply mow before spring growth starts (late Feb. in our area) and that's it. It will grow thick enough to stop washing or erosion. We have a sloped back yard and it works well for that. Not sure about snakes. I think it may be a little thick for them to easily move around in, once it gets established.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lariope Spicata

Opps, sorry Trill. You are probably looking for herbs rather than Lariope which is a grass.

Thanks! This is georgous ground cover. If it is as quick as it says, it might work. The only reason I thought of herbs like mint and thyme is because I know they are very fast to take over an area - but the Liriope looks so thick and plush - I love it! Thanks so much for taking the time to help!!!! I will definately look into this!

Trill, as you have discovered it's LIriope and it isn't actually a grass. It is in the same family as asparagus. You are wanting to cover a very large area and personally I would go for a mixture of things, not a monoculture which could look very boring. Also if it doesn't grow or gets some problem you'll lose the lot, not just a patch. I don't know what would be good in your climate but I would definitely go for a variety. As for discouraging snakes I would have thought that any plant could provide cover for them.

Thanks - that's a great idea. I also want to seed as much as possible to keep the cost down - just not sure what will seed good. I do like the idea of a variety - that would help break up a large area. I think I'll post this on the 'groundcover' forum and maybe get more idea's. Thanks again!!!

I know that this might not be the place to put this but what about a native grass? Like a short growing type... say buffalo grass or something like that. Depending on how long your willing to leave it you wouldn't even have to mow it.

After many attempts and expense of trying different ground covers, we did sow grass seed and it has actually started coming in in patches - not close to covering, but we are encouraged by the little bit of green spots that we see. The native grass idea is great - we have native grass all over on our land - but none on the area by the house. I wonder if I could transplant it - might be worth trying. Thanks for the idea. I also found a site to buy seeds for everything, including native grasses - think I will give that a try! Thanks!

red clover is another great one. You can mow it when you mow grass, it is used as an herb (it's useful: you could potentially make some $ by growing it!), and it tastes great! Not competitive with grass!! You can seed it out too. Same with buckwheat, you can seed that out and it's an annual, very easy.

I love red clover - but worried that it might get too hot here for it. Doesn't it prefer cooler climates? I might order some seed and see what happens. We have such a large area behind the house, I think I am going to try a variety of things that hopefully will blend together and look good. Mowing is not an issue - in fact we would like something that can just go natural. After some responses I got, I think I will try some native grasses along with various ground covers, wildflowers and herbs. I will also try a patch of the red clover - if it takes off, I will get more and add to it. Thanks for the suggestion. Also, how could I make $ with it - I'm always interested in that - ha! Thanks!!!

Red clover is a common medicinal herb. The blooms are harvested and dried, if interested in $$. But you would need a source to sell to.

FataMorgana

I think mint is a lovely groundcover. Here's what it looks like. I do have Ivy that competes that I had just pulled before I took these pics. That's why there is bare spots, but if mint it the only thing there, it will cover and it smells so good. That all started as one plant ;)

I'm currently, trying to get rid of all the invasive ground cover that took over my hill to let the mint take over again. I'm also putting in a plant of reddish mint and a plant of veriegated mint to get a nice mix going. I also prefer the mint to the periwinkle that has taken over because it stays pretty low.

How about chocolate mint? It sort of crawls?

Great ideas - thanks! I do like the mint idea, especially because of the smell and also because it grows so fast. I have never seen chocolate mint - is it as rapid as regular mint, like spearmint, and does it cover as thick? Could I combine different kinds of mint? Thanks for posting the picture - it helps to actaully see it. Thanks everyone!!!

Mine seems to be taking on the appearance of spearmint or peppermint, now that it's getting bigger. I just saw some Corsica mint being sold as a ground cover.

Might even try some woodland violets, they also love shade and do love to spread by self sowing.

Chocolate mint is great. I am currently eradicating it from my garden where I made the MISTAKE of planting one tiny pot WITH PROTECTION two years ago--that one tiny pot (with protection) has grown to densely cover several square yards of my garden space.

And when you walk on it or mow it....it smells like...Andes dinner mints!

I love my chocolate mint. Imagine it in chocolate chip cookies, hot chocolate, chocolate cake, mint juleps, ice tea.
It really smells like a mint chocolate, or even chocolate chip mint ice cream! It seems to have more mint oil than the peppermint that I grew last year and killed in the heat.
I'm going to try some chocolate chip cookies this evening.

Mother of thyme is a beautiful low-growing herb...

The pics I posted is actually Chocolate mint. I love it.

Ania