Auburn's famous oaks get first aid

Annie Gilbertson Toomer's Corners' famous oak trees

Auburn University has recently shown great concern for Alabama's most famous pair of trees. Over the past year the university has spent more than $13,000 to make the trees' environment "green friendly," with the most expensive transitions not yet approved for implementation.

Located on the corner of Magnolia and College, two live oaks have grown to be a solid symbol of Auburn tradition and now embody a campus initiative to create healthier green spaces. The tradition of "rolling" Toomer's Corner, however, and the effects the activity has on the trees, has sparked the attention of AU's office of Campus Space and Planning Management.

"A number of horticulture issues have come up," said Cathy Love, university engineer. "We have already made changes regarding irrigation, fertilizer, disease, pesticides, pruning of limbs and the wire reinforcement of heavy branches."

Many Auburn fans and community members were already concerned about the practice of pressure washing the toilet-paper-festooned trees after athletic victories, which can remove the leaves and buds necessary for healthy respiration. When a car hit one of the oaks, the concerned voices rose to an uproar. As a result, Campus Space and Planning Management has been successful in getting the funds needed for necessary changes.

"We have produced a fog nozzle that goes over the nose of the hose, changing the velocity in which the water comes out without changing the volume," Love said. "We have insisted that our clean-up contractors use this method in the fall."

Several proposals currently are being reviewed by university administrators. The plans are pricey, calling for a landscape architect to change out the concrete pavement in favor of a permeable surface that would allow for more water and air to reach the trees' soil and roots. If approved, this project is set to begin in the late in the spring or in the summer.

"Extra measures have to be made in caring for our live oaks," said Love. "They are indigenousness to the Gulf Coast, which makes them particularly susceptible to disease here."

Additionally, a project is being proposed in which the acorns from the famous oaks will be used to grow some reserve trees—just in case. This idea came out a student project that involved growing small oaks from the seedlings as a fundraiser for the Forestry Club and Wildlife Society.

"The trees sell for $60 each and are direct descendants of the two oaks at Toomer's Corner. The trees come with a certificate of authenticity, which tells the history of the Toomer's Corner oak trees, planting instructions, a tree ID tag and a roll of Auburn toilet paper," according to the City of Auburn's Web site.

Horticulture professor Scott Enebak is helping oversee many aspects of the project and did the initial inspection of the trees a couple years ago, Love said.

"He says live oaks can live to be 400 years old," she noted. "Since our trees have been here for about a hundred years, hopefully our project will ensure their health for the next 300 years."

August 29, 2008

Auburn’s famous oaks get first aid

Auburn University has recently shown great concern for Alabama’s most famous pair of trees. Over the past year the university has spent more than $13,000 to make the trees’ environment “green friendly,” with the most expensive transitions not yet approved for implementation.

Located on the corner of Magnolia and College, two live oaks have grown to be a solid symbol of Auburn tradition and now embody a campus initiative to create healthier green spaces. The tradition of “rolling” Toomer’s Corner, however, and the effects the activity has on the trees, has sparked the attention of AU’s office of Campus Space and Planning Management.

“A number of horticulture issues have come up,” said Cathy Love, university engineer. “We have already made changes regarding irrigation, fertilizer, disease, pesticides, pruning of limbs and the wire reinforcement of heavy branches.”

Many Auburn fans and community members were already concerned about the practice of pressure washing the toilet-paper-festooned trees after athletic victories, which can remove the leaves and buds necessary for healthy respiration. When a car hit one of the oaks, the concerned voices rose to an uproar. As a result, Campus Space and Planning Management has been successful in getting the funds needed for necessary changes.

“We have produced a fog nozzle that goes over the nose of the hose, changing the velocity in which the water comes out without changing the volume,” Love said. “We have insisted that our clean-up contractors use this method in the fall.”

Several proposals currently are being reviewed by university administrators. The plans are pricey, calling for a landscape architect to change out the concrete pavement in favor of a permeable surface that would allow for more water and air to reach the trees’ soil and roots. If approved, this project is set to begin in the late in the spring or in the summer.

“Extra measures have to be made in caring for our live oaks,” said Love. “They are indigenousness to the Gulf Coast, which makes them particularly susceptible to disease here.”

Additionally, a project is being proposed in which the acorns from the famous oaks will be used to grow some reserve trees—just in case. This idea came out a student project that involved growing small oaks from the seedlings as a fundraiser for the Forestry Club and Wildlife Society.

“The trees sell for $60 each and are direct descendants of the two oaks at Toomer’s Corner. The trees come with a certificate of authenticity, which tells the history of the Toomer’s Corner oak trees, planting instructions, a tree ID tag and a roll of Auburn toilet paper,” according to the City of Auburn’s Web site.

Horticulture professor Scott Enebak is helping oversee many aspects of the project and did the initial inspection of the trees a couple years ago, Love said.

“He says live oaks can live to be 400 years old,” she noted. “Since our trees have been here for about a hundred years, hopefully our project will ensure their health for the next 300 years.”