What plant are you afraid has been smothered? Wild violets can get very thick and could crowd out something small but maybe the plant you are missing will come up later. Also last year was a bad year and there may be some that did not survive not because of crowding but weather. I like Ajuga and I think I lost most of it last summer in the heat and drought. I am constantly fighting the violets. Once I went on a garden tour where the owner had allowed the wild violets as a ground cover under shrubs in a shady garden. They looked attractive. Any plant can crowd out another less vigorous. Some are so easily overcome that I don't even bother with them. Anything new or small needs to be babied for a while. This time of year I have often worried that something did not survive the winter. Often it eventually comes up when the time is right.

Thanks for posting. A friend gave me some ajuga that is taking over, but I have ferns planted in it and worry that they won't be able to come up. Of course I have stakes where the ferns are so I can weed around them, but is that necessary? But I fear they will choke out everything. Same with violets. They are pretty, but I fear that they will get into my other plants and take over that way. I can see violets as a ground cover under some bushes, but then if i plant flower seeds elsewhere I wouldn't want them to prevent them from coming up. So I am just not sure what to do.