Why Do Trees Shrink When They Die?

When a tree is alive, it keeps growing bigger because it takes in water and nutrients from the soil. When it dies, it stops taking in new supplies, so it starts to shrink. It's like when you stop eating, your body doesn’t grow anymore, and maybe even gets smaller.

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Examples

A dead tree in your backyard looks smaller than it did when it was full of leaves.
When you cut down a live tree, it's tall and thick. But if you leave the stump for years, it starts to look smaller and more worn out.
You can see this happen with fence posts, they shrink after they're no longer used.

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Categories: Environment · trees· biology· nature· deciduous trees· plant life