Dictionary MAIN PAGE Text & Grap

Shedding - Shedding means to use and shed woody and non-woody parts. To shed does not mean cast off. Shed means that some type of boundary forms to separate the "used" part from the remainder of the tree. Shedding of non-woody roots adds a great amount of carbon to soils. Shedding of large woody debris can provide habitat, water reservoirs, nutrient and essential element storehouse and provide substrate for fungi, the base of the food web, i.e., just for starters.
Shedding Shed means a boundary separates the leaf or the root part from the tree. Shed does not mean cast away. Remember, with leaves the abscission layer starts to form and then the leaf dies and usually falls away. With mycorrhizae and other nonwoody parts the abscission zone forms first then the organ is shed. Mycorrhizae begin to die and then the boundary forms. They cannot fall away. They will be digested in place. There is probably as much root tissue (or more) formed and shed under ground as leaves above ground." As trees mature twigs, branches, and roots begin to shed and energy must go for protection zones.

A very important, seldom understood fact is the carbon / nitrogen ratio. See Cluster Planting 2 for info on carbon and soils with respect to shedding.