Why are leaves green?

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asked Feb 2, 2022 in Gardening by cardnumber1982282 (2,510 points)
Why are leaves green?

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answered Feb 2, 2022 by y78se09 (7,330 points)
The leaves are the color green because of the presence of chlorophyll, a pigment used to absorb energy from the sun.

The plant is investing energy to grow the new leaf, so avoidance of herbivory allows the investment a better chance to mature.

The type of food that a leaf makes is a Glucose or sugar type of food through a process known as photosynthesis.

Their roots take up water and minerals from the ground and their leaves absorb a gas called carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air.

They convert these ingredients into food by using energy from sunlight.

This process is called photosynthesis, which means 'making out of light'.

Leaves are the site of the food making process called photosynthesis.

In this process, carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll (the green pigment) and light energy are changed into glucose (a sugar).

This energy rich sugar is the source of food used by most plants.

The main vein of a leaf is called and known as the midrib.

All of the veins in the leaf, the petiole, and the midrib help position the blade so that it is facing the light source. Veins of flowering plants are found in several patterns.

When summer comes around the Trees start to liven up and take in sunlight and then busily produce sugar all summer long.

The roots provide the minerals and water required to produce the sugar, which is then distributed throughout the entire tree, trunk, roots, branches, and fruit to develop tissues or reserves.

In summer the tree is thick with green leaves.

A substance called chlorophyll colors the leaves green and helps the plant make food.

The chlorophyll is no longer in the leaves and so they start to change color.

The leaves turn into brilliant bursts of reds, oranges, and gold in the fall, before dropping off the trees.

You should water trees before a freeze as it helps provide them warmth and protect them.

Drought-stressed plants are more susceptible to cold damage, so watering plants a few days in advance of a cold snap is beneficial.

Watering just before the freeze can help too by creating warmth, and the water loses its heat slowly over the hours into the colder temperatures.

The time of day that is best to water trees is early morning or late evening when the sun goes down and is not shining too hot.

You want to water the trees either in the morning or evening so the roots have a chance to absorb most of the water.

Unfortunately, there's no magic schedule for watering trees.

How often you should water will depend on the size of your tree, soil conditions, and weather conditions.

Soaker Hoses are good for trees as they water the tree slowly and allow the water to soak into the ground for the tree to absorb.

The soaker hose applies water slowly so it soaks in rather than running off.

Soaker hoses are an efficient way to water trees because they're porous and release water slowly.

A Tree needs at least one inch of rain per week to survive and stay healthy.

If you don't get enough rain you should water your trees so they have enough water.

A tree needs about an inch of rain per week during this season.

This equates to about 10-15 minutes of watering (depending on the pressure of your system) every OTHER day.

The tree that absorbs the most water is the Red Maple Tree.

Other Trees that absorb the most water are.

Weeping willow (zones 6-8)
Ash (zones 3-9)
Oriental arborvitae (zones 6-11)
Black gum (zones 4-9)
White cedar (zones 4-8)
River birch (zones 3-9)
Bald cypress (zones 5-9)

A tree gets water through it's roots from the ground.

As a tree grows so do the roots of the tree and the roots of the tree can extend deep into the ground and even reach ground water sources.

When the rain soaks the ground the tree soaks up some of that water and whatever the tree does not soak up the rest of the water then soaks into the ground.

The tree can then soak up that other water when needed.

Trees absorb water through their roots.

Most of the water a tree uses enters through the underground roots.

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.

In conclusion, trees have placed themselves in the cycle that circulates water from the soil to clouds and back.

They are able to maintain water in the liquid phase up to their total height by maintaining a column of water in small hollow tubes using root pressure, capillary action and the cohesive force of water.

Trees draw water from the ground through the process of capillary action.
The phenomena of rise or fall of liquid in a capillary tube is called capillary action.
Plants have very narrow tubes which travel from the roots to its tallest parts.

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