Avoid significant changes in grade within the root zone of any tree you want to keep healthy.

You should be able to plant a wide range of plants that like shade in your zone. Do NOT use landscape fabric or build up soil over the roots.

Thank you! So I should just plant as well as I can between the roots?. Is mulching okay on these raised roots? Sorry for dumb questions, I have no experience with this.

a pic or two.. will get you more ideas ...

ken

Planting and mulching will be fine.

listen ... you have what sounds like a grand tree ... accept it for what it is ... and do no damage ... but work around it ...

or cut it down.. so you can plant your dream flower garden or lawn ..... and i doubt that is an option .. as nothing is worth a mature oak tree.. imo ...

the only problem is that you want to buck ma nature ... and do things under it ... that arent reasonable ... and trust us on this.. beating ma nature is a rare occurrence... and usually a failure ...

again.. a pic or two would help ...

i have no idea what to do in z9 ... so i would rely on our other friends here ...

ken

btw: are you positive on the ID

Show a picture, especially with the house in the background.

if the roots are too large you have few options the one is cut down the oak and remove it put ring around the tree thin the branches be cause if the grass has trouble growing so will many other plants maybe plant some hostas

under the oak they love the shade

you need to thin the tree