Well if your oaks are anything like mine the last few years... you could carpet the area between them with acorns! Anything like mulch, sand, or gravel will eventually grow tons of tiny oak trees.

A raised deck might meet your needs... no rooting medium, root friendly and sweepable.

Oaks are VERY sensitive to changes around their roots.

Anything that doesn't take a lot of fill or compacting ... a low wooden deck on extremely short piers would work.

Then plant a few dogwoods near the deck for screening.

Thanks, Isabella_MA and lazygardens!

Lazygardens - quick question. You write that oaks are sensitive to changes around their roots. Do you think they'd be harmed if I used some gravel to level the area for a low wooden deck? Of all the options (deck, patio, mulch) I like a deck best. It warms up quicker in the spring under your feet & just feels cleaner than the other options (again, thinking about walking on it barefooted).

I'm thinking gravel b/c if I use a thin layer of gravel (2" - 4") I can set PT 4x6 beams in place & lay decking over them directly. No footings, no piers. So it would be close to the ground & wouldn't dig near any roots, but it would add the weight of the gravel (and the deck) to the roots.

Understanding your limits as a garden psychic (IOW - if you're wrong I won't come blaming you) - do you think the oak trees would be okay with that? Or are they more likely to get sick and/or stressed?

Thanks in advance,
-Pam

Thanks! I think that is what I will do. You're right, I had forgotten about the deck piers for a floating deck. I can keep the overall height pretty low that way & won't disturb much soil (or roots).

-Pam

Eh. I'd just use mulch and snip all the babies at the ground once a year.