How Do Trees Drink – Where Do Trees Get Water From
How do trees drink? We all know that trees don’t raise a glass and say, “bottoms up.” Yet “bottoms up” has a lot to do with water in trees.
Trees take up water through their roots, which are, quite literally, at the bottom of the trunk. From there the water travels up and up. To hear more about how trees absorb water, read on.
Where Do Trees Get Water?
Trees need sunlight, air and water to thrive, and from the combination, they are able to create their own food. That happens through the process of photosynthesis that takes place in the tree leaves. It’s easy to see how air and sunshine gets to the tree’s canopy, but where do trees get water?
Trees absorb water through their roots. Most of the water a tree uses enters through the underground roots. A tree’s root system is extensive; the roots extend out from the trunk area much further than the branches do, often to a distance as wide as the tree is tall.
Tree roots are covered in tiny hairs with beneficial fungi growing on them that draw water into the roots by osmosis. The majority of the roots that absorb water are in the top few feet of soil.
How Do Trees Drink?
Once the water is sucked into the roots via the root hairs, it gets into a sort of botanical pipeline in the tree’s inner bark that carries the water up the tree. A tree builds additional hollow “pipes” inside the trunk every year to transport water and nutrients. These are the “rings” that we see inside a tree trunk.
The roots use some of the water that they intake for the root system. The rest moves up the trunk to the branches and then to the leaves. That is how water in trees is transported to the canopy. But when trees take up water, the vast majority of it is released back into the air.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our DIY eBook "Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects For Fall And Winter".
What Happens to Water in Trees?
Trees lose water through openings in their leaves called stomata. As they disperse the water, the water pressure in the upper canopy drops that the hydrostatic pressure difference causes the water from the roots to rise to the leaves.
The vast majority of water a tree absorbs is released into the air from leaf stomata -- some 90 percent. This can amount to hundreds of gallons of water in a fully grown tree in hot, dry weather. The remaining 10 percent of the water is what the tree uses to keep growing.
Teo Spengler has been gardening for 30 years. She is a docent at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Her passion is trees, 250 of which she has planted on her land in France.
-
Best Seeds For Survival – Grow A Garden That Can Outlast Almost Anything
Uncertain about the future? Why not try seeds? They’re easy to save and provide a safety net for good times and bad.
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
Should You Cut Back Perennials In The Fall? – When To Tidy Up And When To Leave Plants Alone
It's tempting to prune plants during the fall garden cleanup, but is it the right thing to do? Discover whether to make the cut – or embrace the mess.
By Amy Grant
-
Best Trees For Carbon Sequestration And Climate Change
Let’s keep planting trees. They are our best bet for capturing carbon and may help with our global warming issues.
By Teo Spengler
-
7 Invasive Trees You Should Never Plant In Your Yard Or Garden
What are some invasive trees you should never plant in your yard? Click here to find out.
By Teo Spengler
-
How Close Can You Plant A Tree To A Stump?
Looking to plant new trees near old stumps or where stumps have been removed? Click here to learn how.
By Teo Spengler
-
Messiest Trees That Drop Debris Everywhere
Want to know which trees will create the biggest messes in your home landscape? Click here to find out.
By Amy Grant
-
How To Get Rid Of Tree Sprouts In The Yard From Nearby Trees
Learn the simple way to keep pesky tree seedlings in your lawn from becoming saplings.
By Teo Spengler
-
7 Common Tree Care Mistakes That Kill Trees
Are you accidentally killing your tree? It's easier than you think, if you're committing one of these common mistakes. Click here for more.
By Teo Spengler
-
How To Tell How Old A Tree Is
Ever wondered how to calculate the age of a tree? Click here to learn all about it.
By Teo Spengler
-
When To Remove Tree Stakes From Saplings
A newly planted tree may grow strong when it’s staked, but don’t forget to remove the stakes when it’s stable.
By Teo Spengler