The property line out back of my place in Maryland, zone 6: I'm clearing it out of dead brush, poison ivy. 250 feet along the property line wire cattle fence, has some healthy trees both on my side and on the other side. I'm wondering what kind of ground cover I could get for under the trees and along the fence so I won't need to mow around them? Some kind of mulch? Something not too expensive, to cover an area about 10 ft. by 200 ft. There is a low stone wall along part of it (50 ft) and about another 50 ft has the evergreen kind of honeysuckle vines growing wild on it that I will leave there, although they do sort of cling on the fence. I tried pachysandra out there years ago but had no luck.

Answering your question can almost be like writing a short story. There are so many different ground covers you can use in this situation. If this fence is used to keep livestock in, you have to go with a groundcover the animals won't eat, and will be strong when trampled on, either by lifestock or farmers repairing the fence. Another thing to consider is how much sunlight is it going to receive. Obviously under trees probably not a whole lot, but along the fence most likely mostly sun. Here are a couple suggestons; TolmieaMenzieshii "taff's gold",this is a spreading semi-evergreen perenial carrying ivylike, pale lime green leaves with cream and pale yellow. Tiny, slightly scented, green and chocolate flowers appear during late spring and early summer. Like most ground covers they need to be planted in groups. These also work very well in your zone. Another one could be, Euphorbia Amygdaloides "mrs. robb's bonnet". This is a spreading evergreen perenial with yellow/green flowers in spring. These can be invasive but look very nice when controlled. Not much needed though. You can check out American Horticultural Society for several other good ideas.

I would go with a groundcover that I enjoy and grows wild in the woods as well. Try Perriwinkle, low lying, spreads quickly, enjoys shade (or sun I have found). Prolific blue flowers spring and all year round and dark green shiny leaves, low lying. I haven't had any luck with pachysandra.

What I like best about the Perriwinkle is being able to just rip up a clump and poke it in anywhere. Takes a lot of abuse and keeps on growing !

Blue Star Creeper

Vinca is nice... gets a small blue flower... you can cut it back as needed and will cover any ground

I like vinca vine too (sometimes called periwinkle)

Ground cover junipers are also quite nice and flow beautifully. Blue Star Juniper being one.

There is also a form of Euonymous that grows as a ground cover that's nice. I have also seen one that we called moneywort. I'm not sure if it has another name or not, but it grows in flowing clumps and has gold colored leaves. Very pretty!

I guess I'm going to go with the vinca periwinkle stuff. I looked it up and it is non toxic, I know they sell flats of it at the same store where I got the pachysandra stuff years ago. They also have the euonymous vine, both of these seem to be evergreen in Maryland so it should look good year round. I pruned and raked and grubbed out a truckload of poison ivy and poison oaks back there and as soon as I can I hope to transplant those. (they are calling for snow tonight) THANKS everyone!

Here's an excellent plant that's good for your diverse needs. It can take a beating from shade to full sun. Planted thousands of them. Borders or clumps
If you want something cheap and a lot I would use Liriope. It comes variegated and silver and green. It's a perennial and gets cool looking little blue berries in small stalks. Its considered every green. Stays green all year long. It clumps well and stays low. The beauty of these baby's is you can plant one or a couple and the following year dig up and split it up in 3 or more clumps. Its about one season for them to grow big enough to split. They recover well with lawn mower attacks or weed whackers accidents.I have 100+ lanes and in three years made at least 400 more plants by dividing. Shade to full sun.

Doesn't spread. Cheap and stays green.

At times I sell them with end of my year " Landscape leftovers" I'm a partial grower and landscape our job sites.
I'm not an expert on plants Shrubs are my niche,

http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantname/pda_6b06.html

Liriope at Highland Hill Farm >> Plant Info

Cultivar: Big Blue
Family: Liliaceae
Size: Height: 0.67 ft. to 0.83 ft.
Width: 0 ft. to 1.5 ft.
Plant Category: ground covers,
Plant Characteristics: low maintenance,
Foliage Characteristics: evergreen, semi-evergreen,
Foliage Color: dark green, green,
Flower Characteristics:
Flower Color: blues, purples,
Tolerances: deer, drought, heat & humidity, pollution, rabbits, slope,
Requirements
Bloomtime Range: Early Fall to Late Fall
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 to 10
AHS Heat Zone: Not defined for this plant
Light Range: Deep Shade to Full Sun
PH Range: 4.5 to 7
Soil Range: Mostly Sand to Mostly Clay
Water Range: Semi-Arid to Moist

Signed 21 Boat

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I've lived in this house since 1972 (big yard) and have always loved the way the periwinkle looks and how easily I can control it.

Yes, just love those shiny green leaves and blue flowers coming through in the dark under my pine trees. Really easy to spread around, just pull up a bunch and stick them in the ground with some water and low and behold, another patch periwinkle! My friend who has a B&B with controlled gardens under maple and pine, just runs her riding lawnmower over them to thicken and rejuvenate.

Tick

This is mostly oaks, the roots don't stick up out of the ground like maples do but my tractor and bushhog has a roll bar, I can't go under stuff less than ten feet from the ground easily when I mow with it, and pruning the fenceline trees limbs below ten feet from the ground doesn't give a lot of privacy, so I wanted to make sort of an island bed. Once I'm sure the poison ivy is gone for good I have some bulbs and daylilies I can plant in bunches too to stick up out of the vincas.

21 boat, I can't use liriope, that is poisonous and also causes hallucinations. I'm still hearing about how a grandchild swallowed some blue muscari grape hyacinth flowers out of our tulip bed a few years ago and had to be rushed to the emergency room.