Lets start with water.

Trees like all living things need water, lots of water. Most roots are less than thirty inches in the ground. The main feeder roots are often in the top 12 or 15 inches of the soil. There are many small feeder that are roots only 6 inches deep. The feeder roots are the main source water for the tree and often grow out from the trunks farther than the tree is tall. They suck up water and carry it to the trunk. From the trunk water goes to the limbs and than to the leaves Directly under he trunk roots will go deeper under the tree.

In the forest feeder roots from several trees will often be intertwined making a network that helps make all the trees stronger.

You may ask, how does all that water get in the ground under the tree, especially through all those leaves. Many a time I have ran under a tree to get out of the rain, when there was no lighting of course, and I stayed dry for a while. Than drops of rain would start falling from the leaves and would continue falling under the tree for quite a while after the rain stops. Another way water can get under the tree is down the trunk. Rain falls on the limbs and flows to the trunk and runs to the base of the tree and soaks into the ground. Roots will grow deeper in the forest than in your yard. Water is stored in the trunk, limbs, and leaves. God made trees to be able to survive even during long dry spells.

Trees need a lot of food.

The water in the the ground dissolves the nutrients in the dirt as the trunk suck up the water they also suck up nutrients carried in the water all the way to the leaves. When God created this earth He filled the ground with every nutrient every plant and animal needs to grow and live. Trees have a large collection system in it's roots. God also provided a way for these nutrients to be added back into the ground, the tree's own natural compost pile.

A Tree's Natural Compost Pile.

A tree in the woods develops it's own natural compost pile. All spring and summer water and nutrients are stored in the leaves. Water evaporates from the leaves leaving behind every nutrient the tree needs in the leaves. As fall approaches the trees natural clock tells the tree to stop sending water to the leaves and they start drying but the leaves are still full of nutrients. When they fall to the ground the real work begins.

As soon as the leaves hit the ground nature begins to work. Rain and snow wet the leaves and they begin to rot. In the ground under the leaves live all kind of insects, slugs, bugs, and earthworms. These critters eat the rotting leaves and some even carry bits of the leaves in burrows in the ground. The poop, called casting, from the bugs and insects fertilize the soil. Nutrient rich earthworm castings are deposited on top of the soil where rain and melting snow dissolve the nutrients and carry them back in the ground.

 Small animals such as moles, mice and shrews are drawn to the composting leaves to feast on the insects, bugs, and worms. The small animals often borrow in the ground making tunnels that can fill water making it easier for nutrients to be carried deeper in the ground.

God's amazing design to replenish the earth is repeated every year. This year's leaves will provide the exact food needed to feed the tree two or three years down the road.

Trees don't like yards! Why?

Everybody wants trees in their yard. They are great to look at. Trees provide shade that will help cool you and your house. The problem is that about everything you do to have a beautiful yard is wrong for trees.

Homeowners often plant grass right up to the trunk of the trees. The grass under the trees compete with the trees for water and nutrients. Some shade grass varieties are the worst at this. When the grass is mowed the clipping are usually raked or vacuumed up. They fertilize the grass with fertilizer made for grass not for trees. Homeowners treat the lawns with herbicides to keep weeds away. Some herbicides will sink deeper into the soil than the fertilizes and can be absorbed by the tree's feeder roots and carried into the leaves.

Don't forget lawns are treated to kill insects and grubs. You have to kill the grubs so ground moles won't come into your yard. When you get rid of the grubs you usually will get rid of the earthworms. Oh, moles love earthworms also.

As soon as the leaves begin to fall they are raked and taken away from from under the tree; they might smother the grass.

Yards in towns are designed to keep water from standing on the ground. The excess rain water will run to a ditch and into the storm sewer before it can soak deep into the ground.

If homeowners fertilize their trees they fertilize today for tomorrow. The fertilize will be quickly absorbed by the top feeder roots.  They need to fertilize today for next year.