At the start of the warm spring and summer seasons, it is generally good practice to remove old bedding, such as mulch and pine straw, before laying down the new.
However, if the old material is mostly broken down and absorbed into the landscape, then it’s okay to go ahead with a new install right on top.
New bedding insulation perks up the look of your garden and landscape beds while providing a nice layer of protection for the root systems below.