Remove plants and just add black mulch..good for the tree and easy to care for...black mulch will look nice next to the dark metal fence and other green bushes.

What don't you like with what is already there? I would not put stones. I think a natural mulch is much better. Be careful about changing the level of soil around the tree; it can smother the roots.

Black mulch is dyed and in my experience it fades to an unattractive gray. Despite the no-fade claims.

Photographs can be misleading but it looks like there is a slope around the tree. If you use rocks I think some will occasionally tumble onto the walk. Mulch might wash away if you get hard rain.

How does run off affect the walk as it is now? Does soil wash off?

Can you lose the orange rocks along the edge? At the very least, I would soften the placement of them so you don't have that right angle going at around 1/3 in from the left side of the photograph. I wouldn't put rock (if you are referring to that meaning a bunch of little/medium rocks, vs the edging). I think hardscape (cement sidewalk) next to hardscape (bunch of little/medium rocks) is too cold. Maybe add a shrub to the back (along the fence) or annuals to the front. But no more "sword" shaped plants. You need a different type of texture.

I don't think it's bad. It complements the other side of the walk. I'd snake more orange rocks in, both to soften the look of the border and just because.

I would extend the bed to the sidewalk, getting rid of that odd little grass area. I would add plants with a contrasting leaf shape but since you don't want more plants, let the groundcover extend to cover.

Mulch alone -- whether of rocks or wood-based mulch -- is not going to be potentially as good looking as solid groundcover. The problem now is the busy mixture, plus the ginger is wildly rangey looking ... wouldn't be my choice for this close-up space. A solid bed of tricolor oyster plant, if it grows where you live, would look both tidy and colorful.

@User Thanks for your message & the hostas around your tree do look beautiful. Would you know if they would survive in Houston weather?

@Yardvaark @houssaon @partim @emmarene9 @lilylchen @Fori @D M PNW Thank you all for your messages. Here are my comments:

- There is a slope around the tree so mulch, soil etc does wash off in the rains & even while blowing leaves.

- Nothing seems to grow properly around the tree (other than weeds :/)

- we planted asiatic jasmine ground cover 1.5 years back & it has not grown so much around the area.

- we would like for the area around the tree to look clean & easy to maintain.

- we ourselves don't like the ginger plants but they came with the house :/ & want to get rid of them.

- we intend to remove the orange rocks for a better looking & functional edging.

Keeping in mind the above is there any way to make the area more presentable w/o adding more plants?

if you just plant something around the tree, the soil portion will still erode and those edging block will still look raggedy. Is there any way you can redo that portion? Build up the edgers and back fill w/some soil?

(these are pretty cheap and would look way better than those rocks)

Thanks @Addy K B ! here’s a thread I found that gives you some good news regarding hostas in Houston. Good luck and happy planting! https://ravenscourtgardens.com/2014/07/09/hostas-in-houston/amp/

Significant grade changes around trees of some age risk killing them.

Without plants, it's not going to look good and it's going to be perpetual trouble. Gravel slides downhill, too. We can see that plants grow there. The trouble you had with plants before indicates that you're not willing to care for them during the establishment period.

@Beth H. : Thanks for that! Your rendition sure does helps visualize it better.

@User Oh great! This is so helpful. Thanks again!

@Yardvaark I agree with you on the gravel sliding & that plants would look best. Will continue looking for some practical options on plants or other landscaping around it that work best for us! Thank you again!