How about cocoa shell mulch? I haven't used it myself, but I've seen it used
on the Victory Garden a couple years go, and it looked interesting. You're
also not killing any trees.

Here's one website I found that described it, and if you do a google on
"cocoa shell mulch" you'll get plenty of others.

http://www.vitasoil.com/cocoa%20main.htm

Hope that helps,

Ali

"jel" wrote in message
...
I have 6 trees in my small yard, and a 40 year old grape vine. I would
like
to stop mowing around each. The typical Ohio solution is to mulch around
trees. I know of no typical grape vine solution. But I don't want mulch;
I'd like to do something a little different. Has anyone any suggestions?
I
am considering gravel - not the driveway grade but the pond grade small,
smooth marble. Any opinions on that? I'll need a retaining solution to
keep the gravel from rolling away. Any suggestions?