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Yes, rotting leaves can be good for your soil. The decaying leaves release nutrients into the soil that can boost the health of your plants, and the organic matter also helps improve airflow and water drainage.

While they’re popular and have a lot of pros, the cons of river rocks include the following:

• River rocks don’t break down or provide nutrients to plants. 

• These stones can get hot and scorch nearby plants. 

• River stones may heat the surrounding soil to inhospitable temperatures. 

• Rocks can block rainwater from seeping into the ground if installations are too thick or tightly packed.

Most downsides occur when using river rock as mulch in gardens and flower beds. However, you can still incorporate river rocks into your landscape as long as you use them in the correct ways.

The best size rock for your landscaping depends on the design, as different boulders serve different purposes. If you want to group boulders to create a natural-looking cluster, you’ll need a range of sizes. Otherwise, here are some suggestions:

• Small boulders (smaller than 12 inches across): Best for landscape edging and fire pits 

• Medium boulders (12–24 inches): Best for retaining walls and water features

• Large boulders (more than 24 inches): Best as standalone landscaping features, steps, or walkways.

Of course, you can mix and match sizes to create a unique display.

Since the nature of the landscaping project can heavily influence the overall cost, it helps to understand what different types of landscaping projects cost on average. For example:

• Plant a tree: $100–$2,000

• Build a retaining wall: $3,250–$9,200

• Reseed a lawn: $450–$1,700

• Install a water fountain: $950–$4,800

• Install a paver patio: $2,400–$7,000

• Install a concrete walkway: $1,200–$2,400

• Install a flower bed: $800–$3,000

• Landscape lighting: $2,000–$6,000