Ground cover advice required!

[StoatOfManyColours]

I have a foliage garden, anything lovely and leafy goes in. Plants are bamboo, fatsia, heuchera, ferns, brunnera, climbing hydrangea etc etc.

I made the garden from scratch a couple of years ago and there are still lots of empty spaces where I either don’t have enough plants, or those that are there haven’t filled out yet.

I’m SICK of weeding, and am thinking of planting some galloping ground cover like mind your own business or pachysandra terminalis, in the hope of covering every last inch of soil.

Is this a good idea, or will my irises never flower again, and my lawn be eaten by rampaging ground cover?

I like the look of mind your own business when it’s cascading down the side of pots etc, but I’m not sure whether a foliage garden looks better with bark between the plants.

Not especially, perdito This garden is the type which grows everything! But it's quite alkili so it hates rhodies. I do keep it under control. on the beds, our tree surgeon said it doesn't harm the trees. It doesn't seem to dry the soil , the opposite actually. It shades it from the sun.

I don't have the variegated type, it would need light so it might be less "enthusiastic" in the shady parts of the garden. I mentioned it for the op to choose because she has a specific foliage garden.

I’m going to mention Ajuga Chicolate Chip again because it’s really useful and so much better than other Ajugas. It creeps steadily and low and always looks tidy, even through the drought. Photo attached with foot to give scale

Why is it nicer, Trethew? I have the burgundy/black ajuga in a shady corner, where it grows like stink but I don't really like black or burgundy leaves.

Because it’s neat and doesn’t get stalky and messy and untidy like the rounder leaved forms. Also I find the colour more pleasing. Also like it for contrast with bigger greener leaves. Maybe its only me?

No, those are all good things!

I sem to of ordered the Hakonechloa and another red grass from Waitrose.

Does anyone have any Pratia Pendunculata. It wasn the colour I was looking for but seems to be ideal for what I want which is basically replacing grass on a slope.. I have cut a border at the top and want to infill with stuff