Toomer’s Corner: Toomer’s Corner live oaks are being treated for damages caused by both the urban environment and the “tree-rolling” tradition. Repeated pressure washing and burning to clean off the toilet paper have taken a heavy toll on the legendary trees.
A couple of the most beloved icons of Auburn’s great tradition are receiving some much-needed attention and preservation.
The Toomer’s Corner live oaks, traditionally rolled with toilet paper after major athletic victories, have arrived at a less than optimal condition that recently caught the eyes of the University, sparking plans of renovation for the prestigious trees.
Dr. Gary Keever, a horticulture professor who focuses on the cultural aspects of the trees’ health, is working on devising a curing solution to the problem.
“I’ve been working with a consultant arborist, and I’m currently working with the Bartlett Tree Experts to determine the best practices to improve the health of the trees,” Keever said.
The first step towards implementing such practices is pinpointing the detriments to the oaks, located at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and College Street.
Dan Bauer, local manager of the Tucker, Ga., office of Bartlett Tree Experts, said these harms range from the urban environment to the way the trees are cleaned after being adorned with the celebratory rolls of toilet paper.
The “urban environment,” characterized by brick and concrete paths surrounding the trees, is taking the largest toll on the live oaks.
“Around the base of them is exposed concrete that’s impervious to water, nutrients and air, and that’s not a good practice,” Keever said. “There needs to be a way for water, nutrients and oxygen to get to the roots of the trees.”
Also, the thousands of rolls of toilet paper over the years have caused damage to the oaks.
The burning of this toilet paper on a few instances has been a “major problem,” according to Bauer.
In addition, the use of industrial hoses to remove the toilet paper has worn on the trees over the years.
“The fire hoses used to remove it are blasting out at such pressure that it’s just breaking all the tender growth on the tree,” Bauer said.
The Bartlett Tree Experts began repairs to the trees Saturday. Bauer and his crew pruned decaying limbs, sprayed pesticides, stimulated root growth and implemented a cabling system that supports large, lateral limbs.
However, providing the trees with the rejuvenating supply of nutrients they need, a more permanent solution, would require large-scale changes to the surrounding walkways.
This is one of a few projects to be proposed to President Gogue, according to Cathy Love of Campus Planning and Space Management.
“We’re still investigating alternatives, we’re still trying to put cost estimates together, and we want to show that to the president’s office next month,” Love said.
Love emphasized that caring for the trees will be a long -term commitment.
“This is not just a one-year thing; we’ll be doing this forever now, and we’ll be coming back once or twice a year and doing these horticultural inspections and treatments.”
The Toomer’s Corner live oaks were planted over a century ago and the tradition of rolling them dates back to the 1960s.
Bauer said he is not an Auburn alumnus, but can still appreciate what the oaks mean to Auburn residents and fans.
“From what I’ve seen with the alumni that I deal with that are my clients and that are also my employees, there is an unbelievable amount of pride for those trees,” Bauer said.
After all, what would Toomer’s Corner be without its trees?
July 8, 2008 - 11:34am
Toomer trees
Perhaps they should find another, less harmful way to clean the trees rather than pressure washing in order to uphold the beauty and tradition of the school