New Toomer's Oak Trees Planted

Workers plant the one of the two new oak trees on the campus of Auburn University at Toomer's Corner in Auburn, Ala., Friday, Feb. 14, 2015. (Julie Bennett/ jbennett@al.com)

(JULIE BENNETT)

The barren oak tree on Magnolia Avenue in Toomer's Corner in Auburn will be replaced next month, a University spokeswoman told the Auburn Plainsman Tuesday.



Two oaks were planted in the area in February after the original, iconic oak trees were poisoned by Harvey Updyke. One tree was on College Avenue, and the other on Magnolia.







In late April, though, the oak tree on College Avenue was noticeably healthier than its twin on Magnolia, which a horticulturist attributed to transplant shock, the stress-related conditions that can result from moving trees.



The Magnolia oak struggled to establish new roots in Auburn after being removed from its original home in South Carolina and planted in Toomer's Corner, and after months of monitoring its health and development, Auburn University officials told the school's student newspaper, The Auburn Plainsman, that the sickly oak will be replaced next month.



