Pay the fee. As of 2013, a FAST card application cost $50, which you can pay online when you are filling out the application.
A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of an area of soil. Its purpose is any or all of the following: to conserve moisture. to improve the fertility and health of the soil. to reduce weed growth.
Pine is a softwood, so pine bark mulch weighs less than hardwood mulches and has a tendency to float away in a heavy rain. If your mulch layer is shallow, it has a greater tendency to thin and spread, so make sure the depth is at least 2 inches to give it more weight.