So I bought my house with wooded backyard (poplar, beech, maple) last year. Previous owner had been keeping the yard cleared of leaves & debris. As a result, weeds (violets, garlic mustard, ground ivy) were everywhere. During winter, I put down moss collected from friends & family and left 3"-4" of fallen leaves there. During springs/summer, I had all the weeds removed and put down fast-growing groundcover (vinca, mazus, liriope, hostas, fern.) Due to tons of earthworms, the sloping yard & wind, most of the leaves are now gone. Remaining leaves are on the four edges along the fences.

Now while waiting for the groundcover to fill in, I have three options:

1. Mulch 1", but is it enough to stop weeds?

2. Mulch 2"-3", but will it also kill the established moss? And is it also enough to stop weeds? I might not get all the weed roots & weed seeds underground.

3. Leave the bare dirt exposed, but I will have to keep weeding every week till the plants grow. There is also erosion issue.

So among the erosion, termite, weeds dilemma, what should I do? What would you do if you were me?