Hydretain: What is it? Does it Work?

If you’re on the lookout for new landscaping products, you’ve probably noticed that there are new concoctions on the market every day that claim to do miraculous things for plants and soil. It’s hard to know what works and what’s a scam. While you can’t try the thousands of products out for yourself, you can rely on the experience and opinion of professional landscapers like us! With Utah’s current drought, the need to find an effective, water-saving product is urgent. If you’re in search of a product that helps your plants retain more moisture from the soil, you may have heard of the product, “Hydretain”. To learn more about the chemical properties and success rate of this product, read on.

What is Hydretain?

All the information you need to know about Hydretain can be found on their website here: https://www.hydretain.com/the-science/. However, if you want a quick summary, here it is! Hydretain is a chemical product that helps plants get more moisture intake in their rootzone. It comes in granules that act as “tiny water magnets” which settle around the roots and bring moisture to where plants need it most.

Any water that is applied to soil has to fight the force of gravity, which causes it to sink in the soil below the root zone. Water is also pulled by the force of evaporation, which could take the water away before the plant has a chance to absorb it. Hydretain fights those two forces to make the water more accessible to plants, and in the process, reduces the amount of water you have to apply.

Why Would You Need It?

When people see wilting plants, they almost always assume that the plants just need more water. However, a lot of the time it isn’t an issue of how much water is applied, but how much of it is actually reaching the root zone. If your soil has poor structure or has years of compaction, the water may never be reaching the root zone no matter how long you leave your sprinklers on. It might be running right through the soil without being absorbed, or running off the surface.

In the case of turf grass, the roots are usually only a few inches deep. While this makes the root zone easily accessible to water, the weight of gravity can make it impossible for the grass to get the moisture it needs. Even leaving your sprinklers on for hours a day could result in the grass dehydrating and eventually dying. Hydretain is the solution to this issue, because it acts as a vessel for water to reach roots and retain the necessary moisture.

You don’t need to wait until you feel like your plants aren’t getting the moisture they need to start using Hydretain! In fact, it’s a great way to ensure your plants are happy and hydrated no matter what elements await them. Not only does it aid in moisture management, but it also helps you cut down on water costs and consumption.

Does It Work?

The short answer to this question is absolutely, yes. We can confidently say this from personal experience and years of using it. If we feel confident using it on our lawns, you should feel great using it on yours! But let’s talk about why it works.

Before you read anything else, just take a look at these pictures. (Unedited)

Left: Taken on March 27th, 2019 (Hydretain applied previous October) | Right: Taken on April 15th, 2019 (watered only once, right before picture was taken.

These pictures were taken after the Hydretain had been applied by one of our employees on their lawn. The lawn next to it is a neighbor who didn’t use any products on their lawn. The difference is almost unbelievable, and the pictures taken in March were the results before any substantial amount of water had been applied. The pictures taken in April are the result of watering about 2 days a week with a small amount of fertilizer added.

Hydretain is a great product to apply alongside your favorite fertilizer. The combination brings your plants the nutrients they need, along with the right amount of water to keep them thriving!

Is it Safe?

Hydretain is a very safe product to use. The product itself is not considered “hazardous”, and you can use your lawn right after the application without having to wait any period of time. It’s even safe for kids and pets! According to the Hydretain website, the products are 93% biobased.

Is it Worth the Price?

Hydretain itself is an affordable product. Most likely, the most costly part of using the product is the cost of having it professionally applied to your landscape. This part is optional, however, you should carefully read the application label and make sure you’re comfortable with it before you apply it on your own. Regardless of whether or not you hire a professional applicator, it most definitely is worth the price.

The reason why this product is so cost effective is because of the amount of water you’ll be saving by using it. According to the Hydretain website, using the product will reduce the amount you need to water your landscape by 50% or more. After using the product ourselves, we can confirm this is accurate! Monthly water bills can add up quickly, and over time may be costing you more than you want to know. The product quickly pays for itself and saves you money by the amount of water you’ll be conserving!

Hydretain has the potential to help us conserve a significant amount of water during the serious drought we’re in. We encourage everyone to take action in their own homes to make a difference in any way you can.

Overall, Hydretain is a safe, effective, affordable product that is great for everyone to use. The results listed in this article are not sponsored and are the unfiltered outcome of our personal experience using it. If you want help applying it or want to ask a professional landscaper more questions about it, feel free to give us a call!

Hydretain: What is it? Does it Work?