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Old trees are sometimes likened to freight trains for the momentum of their growth or decline. When a thriving old tree suffers hardship in its roots, such as disturbance by bulldozing, or successive years of drought, or a severe and snowless winter, the effects may not show up for some time, and then only gradually. The tree's stored up energy, like a freight's ponderous headway, keeps it "coasting." Signs of decline to watch for, apart from obvious die-back and deadwood aloft, are decreases in the length of annual twig growth, and in the size and greenness of the leaves. But after the occurrence of a hardship, it is better not to wait for trouble signs. Feed the tree and fend them off. |
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