hostas, they love the shade, grow quickly, available in a variety of colors, textures and are hardy. if you have friends w/hostas they usually want to give them away!!

where to you live.... in terms of plantings? I have the same problem I planted the trees and then did Green Gem boxwood and they need no to very little snipping to keep a mounded form yet not a formal form.

they are a bit young here and I did try to trim the first one in the photo and regret it as they keep shape and still blow in the wind and look MUCH less formal if left alone.

a close up... on occasion you need to take hand clippers if shoots emerge yet they are few and far between!

river rock or pea gravel if you don't want more planting. Easy to blow off the leaves.

Many variety yet some take shaping and some don't as these. Check with a nursery and not the big box ppl.....if you have an interest in such....