Regardless of what prior posters have said, there is nothing good about using stones in place of mulch, unless you simply like the look of them.
Yes -- they do "bake" the plants and also the soil. The only reason plants survive is because they are getting enough water.
Newspaper and mulch break down and add nutrients to the soil.
Be very careful about using herbicides to kill weeds. Have you heard about the issues and the lawsuits stemming from the use of them?
If you like the look of your stones, you might as well keep them since you already have them.
Just remember to fertilize your plants, shrubs and trees and to give them enough water.
No matter what you do, you will always have weeds. It's a fact of life!
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