Water Polymer Crystals for Trees

Landscapers, Nurseries and Commercial Growers, Home Gardeners,

You may know Water-Keep under the general name of Hydrogels or Superabsorbents. Their benefits have been studied by various Cooperative Extension Services. Hydrogels increase the survival rate of new transplants because they outperform potting soils and organic amendments relative to their water holding and releasing capacity.

Water-Keep was specifically designed to improve the ability of the soil to retain water and nutrients. Water-Keep helps protect the environment by preventing fertilizer and nutrient leaching. Each small crystal absorbs up to 400 times its weight in water. The crystals aerate the soil without any mechanical means. When added to the soil of your trees, the plant roots grow directly into the water-swollen crystals, tapping the moisture reserve as needed.

These benefits will last 5 to 7 years, insuring successful transplantation of your trees with minimal follow-up maintenance. By reducing plant watering by 50%, the addition of Water-Keep into your soil is a cost effective solution.

For application rates, please refer to this table.


Transplanting Tips

Mix half the amount of Water-Keep water conserving crystals indicated in the tables below around the planting hole, mix the remaining amount with backfill. Do not amend the top two inches of backfill with polymer. Water. If you have sandy soil, add about 30% more Water-Keep than the quantities shown below.
 
Application rate: 4 oz. per one foot of root ball.

Caliper Size	Average Amount of Water-Keep crystals
1"	4 oz
2"	8 oz
3"	12 oz
4"	16 oz

Containerized:

Container Size	Average Amount of Water-Keep crystals
1 gallon	1 oz
3 gallon	1.5 oz
5 gallon	2 oz
10 gallon	4 oz
15 gallon	6 oz
20 gallon	8 oz
30 gallon	12 oz
50 gallon	16 oz