Simple answer is, they don’t. Whether large cracks or tiny cracks the plants find already existing cracks in the concrete. That doesn’t mean the growth of the plant won’t put additional pressure on the crack, between retained moisture or woody ste...

You might be surprised to know that plants do not break through concrete. What they do is that they find cracks through the concrete that are already existing. Then, they tend to grow through this crack whenever they can. This however, does not suggest that plants happen to put extra pressure on the concrete so as to break it.

More How Do Plants Break Through Concrete videos

Plants don't really break through concrete: The concrete breaks around the plant. Plant roots will grow anywhere there is water. The edges of a concrete slab are particularly attractive as all the runoff water from the slab's surface collects there. The roots will continue to grow into any gaps beneath the concrete, exerting enough force to ...

When a plant grows towards something such as concrete, these cells are the driving force that breaks into the concrete and eventually pushes/grows through. Plants/trees are much stronger than we give them credit for and it has a lot to do with these cells.

If there is a tree in your backyard, you should check regularly if your floor is affected. The roots might be destroying your concrete. Read on.

Concrete Around Trees. As trees mature, their root systems naturally spread out. Root systems may also rise to the surface, wreaking havoc with any concrete that's poured near the tree. To ensure ...

Nov 17, 2006 · How do plants grow through Concrete? This may sound like an elementary question but I am preaching a sermon called growing through concrete. The basic theme of the sermon: Even when we are put in positions that offer no fertile ground for success, we can discover the power from within to thrive inspite of adverse conditions.

How do plant roots split stones and concrete? « Reply #1 on: 13/07/2008 23:21:04 » I think we need a serious plant scientist for the actual force exerted by a root, but what I can say is that when I was in Queensland, Australia, in 2004 I saw a massive rock that had been split in two by a tree growing through it!

Why can plants break through asphalt so easily? Not all plants have sufficient force to break through from beneath, but when one does it is because there existed a microscopically fine crack in the asphalt layer at the point of breakthrough.