How do roots spread through soil?

Have you ever pulled a weed out of the garden? The soil feels cool and crumbly on your fingers. Underneath hang long, thin roots, like pieces of string.

Those roots stretched far down and out through the soil. How did they get there? How do roots spread through soil?

A root grows longer only at its very end. That end is the root tip, which means the pointed end of a root. The root tip keeps growing so the plant can reach more water.

Soil is full of gaps. Between the crumbs of dirt are spaces, like the gaps in a pile of toy blocks. The root tip slides into a gap and pushes the crumbs aside, so it has room to grow.

The root tip wears a soft cap, like a hat. The cap keeps the root tip safe while it pushes. Now, what if the root tip bumps into a big stone? What do you think it does?

The root tip cannot push a stone away. So it bends and grows around the stone, into an easier gap. Then it keeps going on the other side.

Behind the root tip, new roots poke out from the sides. These are side roots, which means small roots that grow out of a bigger root. Each side root has its own tip, so it can push into gaps too.

Side roots grow out every which way, and more side roots grow from them. Soon the roots spread wide, like a big net under the ground. That net lets the plant drink water from lots of soil.

Each root tip grows longer and pushes into the gaps in the soil. Side roots grow out from the sides, so the roots spread wide.

Deep under the garden, root tips slide into tiny gaps between the crumbs. Side roots stretch out all around them. And the quiet net of roots grows a little wider.