Mulch and beds in Oak Forest

Oak Forest is a northwest Houston neighborhood of ranch homes from the 1940s through the 1960s. Streets are lined with mature oaks, pecans and pines, and yards have deep front beds and side yards that get little sun.

Most Oak Forest beds sit in shade, so we use plants that tolerate low light and heat, like liriope, ferns, holly fern, cast-iron plant and azaleas. Tree roots also fill the soil near the surface. We do not dig deep near large roots, and we keep mulch a few inches from trunks.

Heavy Houston rain washes mulch off slopes and into the street. In Oak Forest and nearby Lazybrook, we edge beds with a clear lip and spread mulch two to three inches deep, so it stays put. Gutters and downspouts that dump onto beds also need a fix.

A mulch refresh once a year keeps weeds down and soil cooler in summer. Our bed refresh comes with hardwood mulch, weeding and a clean edge. If shrubs are overgrown, we trim them in the same visit. Fall color brings the front of the house back to life before the holidays.

Places we work in Oak Forest

• Oak Forest
• Lazybrook
• Timbergrove
• Candlelight Estates