Need some help picking perennial ground cover for under my trees

So you know how it is.. Getting older and need to establish a yard that is basically maintenance free with the exception of me hitting the grass with my riding mower….

I already took out a bunch of thorn bushes.. anything with a thorn is gone because basically .. I don’t need the injuries.. don’t need the tip of a thorn in my hand that I can’t get out because I can’t see it when I get a bit older. You know..

So I am doing my best and one deal i need to get started on is ground cover under my trees and in my flower beds around the house.

I have mulch now but .. seriously i can’t be putting down 5 yards of mulch every other year .. So i just want to plant some type of perennials that will always come back and that I can manage by using my riding mower :o)

I figure I will put in some tulips but I really need a source for like 500 bulbs .. maybe 1000 bulbs… nah maybe 500 what am i insane? ..

Dichondra and Canadian Ginger might be of interest for the filler area.

I need something thats not going to get away from me and ruin my yard and also something that will last forever and replace the need for mulch..

Eventually I will have to pay someone or move when i get to be that old but I would like to extend my time on my own and not in some retirement condo .. man i don’t want to think about that.. but .. I have time now but I am at the point of nearing retirement so I know if I don’t handle this stuff now it will mean making the move much sooner.

Edit.. I don’t want that recycled automotive tire crap mulch either .. i would go to sell the house and they would send the EPA in or something.. and stone.. yeah i don’t really want to give the neighborhood kids ammunition so..

submitted by /u/ZippyTheChicken
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