Question
I have 109 feet of bank on the back lot line of my garden home back yard that is about 5-6 feet high and and the depth would be about 6-7 feet at the base.

Eventually, I am going to put a meandering brick path near the base because water drains through our neighborhood there and it's unattractive when it rains. (There is a plastic drainage pipe buried under the burmuda so no water stands).

A 6 ft. wooden privacy fence runs along the top and sides of the bank. It currently has a row of alternating pink althea and Red and White Hibiscus Helene about 8 feet apart in a bed with landscape fabric covered by pine straw but the plants are only about 5 feet high right now.

It looks really bare. Any ideas? I've though of ground covers, ajuga, etc. but I may want to extend the bed out some later when I put in the path and these would be awfully short if I wanted to plant something else in front to extend out to the path.  

Since the space is large, cost is an issue as I have lots of new beds going in this planting season and I'm on a budget.


Answer
Trisha,
You really need a good ground cover for erosion control and to anchor other potential areas on the slope where you might plant. I like using a permanent evergreen groundcover such as juniper. The "Blue Rug" junipers are great! There are now many more improved varieties to choose from. The "Blue Star","Blue Pacific" and the little dwarf Japanese Garden type are perfect for slopes to hold in the soil and prevent erosion.They have a spreading growth habit and are usually pretty fast growers so you can space them from each other about 4 to 5 feet.Very economical. You should be able to purchase these at any local garden center. They usually cost about $4 to $5 for a one gallon size. Nurseries will be more expensive.Make sure you keep the receipt and the plants should have a 1 year guarantee.Also some different size rocks or stones are also good for slopes and they can hold smaller plants in "pockets" around them. Chances are you can probably find rocks around your area or know of some areas to collect some.
Ajuga is OK but not ideal for slopes because of there shallow root system.
Creeping Phlox is also excellent for a beautiful evergreen groundcover that has an extra advantage of flowering in spring with brilliant colors.One of my personal favorites!You could use Creeping phlox with any other type of groundcover.It is not quite as rapid a grower as Juniper,but the color is well worth it,even if you only have 2 or 3 plants.And since it is a hardy perennial you can divide every 2 years to spread at another location of the slope.
Also,last but not least is good old standby ivy. Ivy is a great groundcover but hard to start on slopes and it would take a lot longer to establish.
You mentioned a fence around the slope.You can always brighten up a fence with climbing plants.Set up some twine from the ground to the top of the fence and you have an instant trellis.Roses of course are beautiful climbers but a little more expensive.
I use Clematis a lot.You can also use annual vines like Morning Glory or Sweet Pea.

Hope this gives you some idea of things to use.Good luck on your project!