Future Mulch recommends the following procedures to assure your installation of Future Mulch will go smoothly and last the maximum amount of time! The FIRST step is to get out your camera and take photos of your landscaping the way it currently looks. There's a reason for this, so read on. We'll get back to the photos later. The most important part of installing Future Mulch may be the most aggravating part of the procedure. You need a flat, solid surface for Future Mulch to sit on, and that means removing the old wood mulch you've been using. While this is not a fun jub, it's only a one-time procedure so please understand it's all part of the long-term investment into the new and improved appearance of your landscaping or playground. You don't need to remove 'every last piece' of your old mulch, but get up as much as you can. Compact down the rest, and then rake out the soil so you have a smooth finish. Deep ruts, valleys or other places below the grade will use extra Future Mulch and soil is simply a cheaper (free) solution to filling in those areas than Future Mulch is. Think about it, the yield of a 20 pound bag is about 8 square feet. But if you have a 2" deep rut that's 2' x 2', and you fill it in with Future Mulch to make the top level, you will use 10 lbs. just to fill that rut. As you can see, it adds up quickly! After you remove the old wood mulch, and have raked out your landscape beds, you can want to use Future Mulch right on the soil! DO NOT USE landscape fabric as this will break down in a few years, leaving fabric sticking up through your new mulch, and it's a pain to remove with hundreds of pounds of Future Mulch sitting on it. The truth is, with the vapor barrier, you simply don't need fabric! I don't recommend landscape fabric, for several reasons. First, around plants it's hard to put down, secondly if you have perennials like tulips, you have to cut holes for them, and third, using Future Mulch stops the annual 'seeding' of new weeds because of its vapor barrier, and you don't get millions of weed seeds like you do with wood mulch. After a few seasons, you'll find almost no weeds as they're not going to be reseeded every year and quickly you'll be virtually weed free! And for your playgrounds, you should never use fabric. Kids running around on it will always cause it to shift and eventually pop through Future Mulch. And the kids will find immense entertainment pulling and tugging on those loose fibers. So, now we're up to the fun part. Your old mulch is sitting in trash bags, your soil is pretty flat and treated (if you had a lot of weeds), and your landscape areas now are nice looking and ready for Future Mulch. Lay bags around the perimeter of the landscape area you're working in. One trick I found is these bags are soft and make a really nice place for your knees while you're working! Take a bag and slice the bottom open with a sharp knife (be careful!) and simply dump the bag into a pile within your landscape area. Don't put it in the grass thinking you can move it! You won't get it all out. After you've dumped it, simply spread it out to about 2" deep, making sure you get it around your shrubbery. If you have fragile new growth, be very careful not to break stems off, which is why working with your hands is better than raking it out in confined areas. In large open beds, using a rake is a faster way to get it done. Since Future Mulch is termite free, you can safely put our product right up against the foundation of your home. Wood mulch must be kept 12" away as many termite control companies will void their warranties if you have wood mulch near your home. Once you've spread out all the Future Mulch stand back and admire your new look. You'll be amazed at the transformation! Invite your neighbors to look as well. And we love referrals, so if your neighbor buys any Future Mulch from us, and says you referred them, we'll put a little thank you credit on your account as well. Now, remember earlier I said to take before photos? Well, now take your 'after' photos! If you have a digital camera, you'll clearly see the difference. It's quite a transformation, isn't it? Well, now here is the surprise. If you take your before and after photos and send them to me, we'll put a credit on your account, so if you need more, we'll give you a free 20# bag of Future Mulch on your next order over 50 bags. We won't use your info online unless you say it's ok, so don't worry about that, but we'd love to show off your home on our website to prove how great an improvement you can make by simply switching from wood mulch to Future Mulch If you have any installation questions, feel free to call us anytime at (703)449-0888 and I'll be glad to answer any questions you have to assure your installation goes smoothly and you're 110% satisfied with your new look. Thank you very mulch! Marty