Thanks Mindy.
A timely post even if I need to think a bit. I was just up on that hillside and surveying the zillions of buckthorn seedlings, vicious thorny vine, young poison ivy and of course, garlic mustard.
It has been a lesson in plant succession on "disturbed" land. Five years ago, more or less, we took out all the Norway maples, put down thick newspaper and cardboard, covered thickly with pine bark mulch. For at least two years, no weeds to speak of, but didn't plant any ground covers or cover crop. I don't remember the third year, but I think I was in denial. I know I sprayed for p.i. Last year, it was clear the tough weeds had seeded in. But I still wasn't sure what buckthorn looked like.
This year I sure do. Hundreds and hundreds of seedlings. Maple seedlings are in second year. Garlic mustard year 2 in the sunny spots.

Meanwhile the rest of the elderly cedars blew down in the winter storms and rains.

I've done much more reading about restoring land that has been degraded. I'm trying to be more thoughtful about planting not only for beauty but for the birds, for replenishing the soil (what I call the Norway maple desert)
and habitat.

So that's what I'm thinking about while considering the groundcover.

Marie

you should divide the heck out of all that wood geranium and spread it up there

but personally, not knowing the details of it all, i would have MANY many truckloads of composted manure and compost (delivered from weiss farms or wilson) drive up on your kitchen side and be spread out on the hillside. enough for a 6" cover. best thing you can do for the soil i think.even if the trucks make ugly of the grass; it's worth it.

worried about covering existing shorter plants? hand rake/ spread the manure in their vicinity or hand rake/reveal those plants. many plants- hostas etc will grow up through the dry, composted manure even if it is dumped on top of them.

no point in hesitating.lamium gone.
she who hesitates...
this shoulda been a no brainer.
next time.

oooh she's brutal.