As renovations continue at Toomer’s Corner, University officials are monitoring the health of the new Magnolia Avenue oak tree.
The new Oaks were planted Feb. 14, and while the Oak on College Street is thriving, the Magnolia oak is in transplant shock, according to Gary Keever, professor of horticulture.
“[Transplant shock] results from probably 90 to 95 percent of the roots being left in the ground when it was dug out,” Keever said. “That imbalance makes it impossible for the tree to absorb as much water as it needs to, to support a new flesh of growth.”
Keever said a decision will be made in early June to determine if the backup tree planted in front of the 3-D Arts Studio Building on West Samford Avenue should replace the Magnolia Avenue oak.
The Magnolia oak is still alive and growing new roots, but the tree does not have the root system to support new leaf growth yet, according to Keever.
“The real question is ‘How long can it maintain like this?’” Keever said. “Because the longer it goes without putting out new leaves, the weaker it gets.”
If the tree does grow new leaves, Keever said the tree may still be too far behind to store enough energy to make it through the winter.
The decision to move the tree will be made after Keever, officials with Facilities Management, Tim Thoms, owner of Thoms Tree and Plants of Atlanta and the consultant hired to plant the trees, meet to discuss the current condition of the trees.
The backup tree is healthy and growing new leaves.
Normally, it would be too late in the season to transplant a tree, according to Keever.
“Because [the backup] tree was just moved in there in the middle of February, there’s really not that much root growth outside of the [root] ball,” Keever said.
Keever said the risk of the backup tree going into transplant shock is minimal.
Thoms was not able to be reached by deadline, but told The Auburn Villager on May 13,if the Magnolia oak can leaf out soon they will be better off than transplanting the backup oak.
Keever said the leaves on the backup tree are still immature, and moving one could cause substantial water loss through the leaves.
“I think that if the decision is made to transplant the third tree, then we should wait until the foliage is at least at [the mature] stage,” Keever said.
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