Auburn University: Bleak future for Toomer’s oaks - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Auburn University: Bleak future for Toomer’s oaks

Posted: Updated:
Posted by Courtney Smith - email
Before and after of the Toomer's trees (source: Auburn University) Before and after of the Toomer's trees (source: Auburn University)
(Source: Auburn University Office of Communications and Marketing) (Source: Auburn University Office of Communications and Marketing)
(Source: Auburn University Office of Communications and Marketing) (Source: Auburn University Office of Communications and Marketing)
(Source: Auburn University Office of Communications and Marketing) (Source: Auburn University Office of Communications and Marketing)
(Source: Auburn University Office of Communications and Marketing) (Source: Auburn University Office of Communications and Marketing)

  • NEWS

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:35 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:35:05 GMT
    Police in Americus are searching for two men who robbed a convenience store.

    They say two masked men rushed into the Sojo on Martin Luther King Boulevard Monday night around 10.
    Police in Americus are searching for two men who robbed a convenience store.

    They say two masked men rushed into the Sojo on Martin Luther King Boulevard Monday night around 10.

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:28 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:28:10 GMT
    As rescue workers continue to sift through debris searching for survivors all over Oklahoma, News Leader 9 spoke with local officials in the Valley who say they are taking measures to try to prevent
    As rescue workers continue to sift through debris searching for survivors all over Oklahoma, News Leader 9 spoke with local officials in the Valley who say they are taking measures to try to prevent the same thing from happening here.

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:21 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:21:03 GMT
    After months of negotiations between several Alabama state entities, State Bill 286 is heading to the desk of Governor Robert Bentley after passing the House in a 73-28 vote Monday.
    After months of negotiations between several Alabama state entities, State Bill 286 is heading to the desk of Governor Robert Bentley after passing the House in a 73-28 vote Monday.
    •   
AUBURN, AL (WTVM) -

The Auburn family has been anxiously waiting to hear the final verdict on the condition of the oak trees at Toomer's Corner.  

Now, 18 months after it was announced the trees had been poisoned with Spike 80DF (tebuthiuron), they finally have an answer.

Auburn University's Office of Communications and Marketing issued a press release on Friday explaining the current condition and future of the beloved oaks:

"Both trees leafed out in spring 2012 with healthy foliage, but since then both have steadily declined.  The College St. tree is about 90 percent defoliated and bare branches show no signs of developing new leaves. The Magnolia Ave. tree has more foliage but most of the leaves exhibit signs of herbicide poisoning, and if they follow last year's pattern, will abscise before the end of summer.

"The long-term outlook for the trees is not good. Bare branches will die without re-foliation and their removal will leave trees that are aesthetically dead if not actually dead. Replacement would be the next step; however, this process would probably not occur for 6 to 18 months, depending upon the size of the new trees.

"Rolling of the trees will be allowed this fall; however, trees will continue to be evaluated during this period for branches that may become hazardous; rolling may be temporarily stopped until these branches are removed."

The press release, which can be found here, also lists the Toomer's Task Force's efforts to remediate the herbicide's effects.

Copyright 2012 WTVM. All rights reserved.