Don't Suffocate Trees: How water can be deadly
Trees need water to live, but did you know that too much water can actually kill a tree?
Roots are responsible for the uptake of water, but they also need air to survive.
If there is too much water―think of standing water surrounding the tree―the water will cut off the oxygen supply to the roots. This can suffocate the tree and cause it to die.
If there is too much water―think of standing water surrounding the tree―the water will cut off the oxygen supply to the roots. This can suffocate the tree and cause it to die.
But many trees thrive even when they are surrounded by water. How is this possible?
It will depend on the species. Certain tree species have evolved to support these wet conditions.
For example, some species that live in swampy areas have developed special air roots (or, the more technical term: pneumatophores) that grow upwards and protrude out of water in order to provide adequate aeration to the roots.
Air roots of Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) trees
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Air roots (pneumatophores) grow upwards and protrude out of water in order to provide adequate aeration.
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If you want to plant a tree where water accumulation occurs during certain times of the year, it is important to choose a species that can support poorly drained sites or that is flood tolerant.
Images:
Dead tree in mud of a ash pond by Ansh Mishra, CC BY-SA 4.0
Forest Swamp: Wileydoc on Pixabay
Air Roots of Black Mangrove: Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA, CC BY 2.0
Mangrove pneumatophores, Sulawesi: Shao, CC
Dead tree in mud of a ash pond by Ansh Mishra, CC BY-SA 4.0
Forest Swamp: Wileydoc on Pixabay
Air Roots of Black Mangrove: Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA, CC BY 2.0
Mangrove pneumatophores, Sulawesi: Shao, CC