Question
We are in Western North Carolina. Our tree is beautiful but the roots are above ground, can I mulch and make a planter type    garden of hostas, etc around the trunk?  Have been told this would kill the tree.

Answer
You can mulch around the tree which is a great idea but do not use more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. Adding sand just over the roots would be ok but planting around the tree will damage the roots and cause the tree to dieback form the top. Not a good Idea sorry!