I would want a tough no care groundcover--Geranium macrorrhizum would work just fine. And after you replace the walk, get rid of the grass and continue the groundcover. Mowing that little strip of grass must be a real PITA.

Since you're redoing this area, have you considered replacing the evergreens? They have few lower branches so they don't contribute much screening.

I was going to suggest geranium macrorrhizum too. But if you continue it across the path, you will have to find very large and thick stepping stones. Geranium is as tall as pachysandra.

Yes, you'd need a wider path.

Thank you everyone so far! When I replace the stones I will be using much bigger ones and probably surround them with gravel or mulch. i cant even believe any grass grows there! the hemlocks are in poor shape but keeping them for the forseeable future as they do provide some needed screening higher up. but just want to make below them a bit nicer looking since theyre bare at the bottom :/

The Tiarella foamflower that you mentioned would probably work in there, especially if it remains shady all year and doesn't dry out. Wild ginger would probably work too, Asarum canadense. You could add some Geranium maculatum and Aquilegia canadensis for spring color, Lobelia cardinalis for summer, and Solidago flexicaulis or Solidago caesia for summer/fall color. These are all native plants. Or you could go with some sedge as a ground cover matrix, like Carex pensylvanica, Carex rosea, Carex sprengelii, or Carex albicans. Plant plugs on 1ft centers if possible, sprinkle in some of the other flowering plants I mentioned for interest.

That sounds so lovely!! thank you!

Tiarella should put up with full shade. There are two types. Tiarella corditifolia which spreads and Tiarella Wherryj, which clumps. If you want a groundcover, get Cordifolia. They are bith native to the US, Cordifolia is definitely native to New England, I'm not sure about Wherryi.

I'd add some woodland phlox, Phlox Divericata. Big leaf aster, which can be weedy, will put up with deep, dry shade and give you fall blooms. Mine's under my row of hemlocks.

All of these should be native to you. The Tiarella should put up with dry shade after the first year or two. You need to water to get it established. I'm adding some ferns to my deep shade garden. I think it's leatherleaf?

I'm buying Tiarella and woodland phlox from The Pollen Nation, which have reasonably priced plugs. I just ordered them, so can't give you a referral on quality.

I also have a bunch of goatsbeard that is pretty and is doing fine in my dry shade, under a row of hemlocks. There are two types of goatsbeard, one of them should be native to Mass.

I have some false solomon seal which does okay under my hemlocks. Regular Solomon Seal should be okay, but only some are native to New England and not the most common one.

Actaea Racemosa should do well in shade, too.

Heuchera, Coral Bells, looks a lot like Tiarella, but doesn't put up with as much shade. You can get a cross, Heucherella, but I think it needs more sun than plain Tiarella.

Can you tell I love Tiarella?

Oh, and if all else fails, boring, non-native hosta is thriving under my hemlocks in deep, dry shade. You can't kill the stuff. Some people find gardens of different sorts of hosta pretty. You could probably get away with never watering if you do that. I doubt your hemlocks need it. That said, Mass had slightly longer, deeper droughts than Maine during dry summefs in the last 10 years, at least Portland area compared to Boston area. I did not water my hemlocks.

Hostas and ferns are my go to solution for shady areas. They have so much variety in color and shape that's it's easy to create something interesting. I would not plant up against the house.

Asarum canadense would look stunning there.

Thank you all! I LOVE these ideas!! I’m thinking I definitely want wild ginger and I’m sold on the tiarella as well. If I add anything else I’m thinking some columbine, ferns, or coral bells.

Now how do I actually plant this and space everything out? If I want it to be mostly wild ginger with other stuff popping out? Do I use small perennials or do I need to get plugs or seeds? Any tips for underplanting trees and having it look natural? thanks again all!

For some color in early spring you might consider some hellebores towards front of house where it appears they might get a little bit of sun. And what about astilbe somewhere in the mix with some other things you've considered? They may need to be more towards front of house, too, to get a bit of sun for better blooming. I have a similar shady area in my side yard but without the hemlocks. I plan to move some hellebores from elsewhere in my yard and plant a few astilbe, a couple hosta and the hellebores for a little green and some early and later color, too. I think the larger stones and gravel you have planned will look nice with some lush shady plants alongside!

It's probably quite dry under those arbs--keep it easy and use G. macrorrhizum, great for dry shade.

If anyone with the same issue happens upon this, there are several good videos on youtube about this very issue that are very inspiring. Have a great day, everyone!

Thanks for sharing the results! I love all the flowers mentioned. Big tiarella fan, although they are not easy to keep alive . . . heuchera much easier but foamflower is so lovely when it thrives . . .

Do you have a deer problem by any chance? Deer munchers. If so, invest in some industrial sized deer repellent spray and a good sprayer . . .