All About Using Soil Moist Granules

Soil Moist Granules are little tiny granules that you add to your soil to help it retain water. The granules start out about the size and appearance of coarse Kosher salt. When hydrated the granules swell up to the size of a large pea and look like clear gelatin. The granules eventually break down, and so are most effective in their first few years. This makes Soil Moist very valuable when planting, as new transplants won't have their roots established, and will benefit from the extra moisture until they do.

ABOVE: Dry Soil Moist right out of the package.

ABOVE: Hydrated Soil Moist after several hours in water.

When planting a new transplant I tend to mix one or two teaspoons into the soil. I use more for a bigger plant, a plant that needs more water, or a plant going into a problem hot and dry area in my yard. I mix in the Soil Moist along with the peat moss, gypsum, compost, or other amendments I'm adding. The package says not to put the soil moist in the top two inches, but I tend to mix it in worry too much. I will, however, often be sure to put an extra pinch right in the bottom of the hole.

When amending an existing plant I will use something very thin, such as a chopstick, to poke a few holes deep into the ground. I will then carefully pour some Soil Moist down into each hole. I will then use the chopstick again to tamp the granules down and mix them in a little bit more. Of course, not all of the granules get down into the little holes, but having a few stray granules on top of the soil isn't so bad.

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All About Using Soil Moist Granules

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