Hi. I'm looking for ideas for a front corner border. Nothing seems to grow very well under the spruce tree. I've planted some baltic ivy under it and its not filling. Although it's in a sunny location, the tree provides some shade to half of the boarder.
I'd go with a rock feature - find some really nice boulders and arrange them artistically around the spruce; then try to encourage things to grow in between /on top of the rocks. Lichens or mosses would be a really unique feature, and so would bulbs pushing up between larger rocks and gravel. If you're feeling really special, try building a little inukshuk out of slate slabs.
I agree that a nice arrangement of river rock and boulders would be your best bet (put landscaping fabric underneath to avoid weeds and grass growing through). I would bring the rock out past the tree and then plant a spreading evergreen groundcover (such as Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and your favorite shrubs/ perennials. It's dark and dry under spruce, and not many things will grow there. If you're sure you want to have plants, I have used Persicaria affinis under spruce and they grow pretty well; you could also try Geranium macrorrhizum or Oxalis oregna.
Replace existing small plants with a drift of Berberis x media 'Red Jewel', currently on the market down here at least, and probably pretty likely to be available in Canada also.
I love that color combination. But I already have that plant in my garden and it's already taller than the tree, though I prune it every year.
