granular polymers

[naughty62]

Does anybody have any experience with incorporating these granular water aborbing polymers .I guess most have to be tilled in . Just wondering if it would worth the expense on new beds and lawns with porous soil ?

[PaproskiLandscaping]

I know penn mulch can be applied right to the top of the soil and does not need to be tilled in.

http://www.lebturf.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=prd.product_details&pid=215&cnid=98

[Jason Rose]

I think he's talking about the polymer crystals that absorb like 100 times their weight in water. I know they are used a lot in potted planters and hanging baskets, but other than that I'm not too sure. I too have wondered if it would be effective in sandy soils. I know that it's pretty expensive stuff, but a little goes a long way usually. If you search around you can find it in 50lb. bags I think.

It would be neet to do a little expriment, like make a flowerbed and out the crystals on 1/2 and not on the other, then let it go a summer and watch how one side needs water compared to the other... The stuff may just be 'snake oil' for all I know.