Q: What are your thoughts on placing three inch diameter river rocks around my trees instead of mulch.

A:I’m an agnostic when it comes to landscape decoration. My wonderful neighbors have forgiven my six-foot high lighted angel hovering high in my pine trees, so I have little ground to stand on when asked if something is appropriate. Despite the appearance of the rocks, I foresee eventual problems with weeds growing between them. Also, the rocks do not decompose and feed the soil beneath like organic mulch would.