I may have made a mistake on the tree age, 5-6' at planting 10+ years ago. Tree now 20' (dwarf Alberta). Suspect typical West Texas red Clay-y soil was level and covered with 6-8" of top soil. Tree did have a black substance develop last year from first branches to crown (3'), treated with antifungal. Also had sap balls at first branches. Both conditions are now gone. Fertilized with tree and shrub (?ratio) at drip line last year and lawn is treated 3 times a year with southwest formulation (added iron and sulfur). Neighbor tree gets no fertilizers and no water except rainfall and has more greener, abundant leaves and more blooms. There is a concrete ring around the tree containing lava rock (away from crown 6-8"s) and 4-5"s deep. The peach tree that produced was in a different area. When I say tree produced earlier it had good blooming but freeze prevented fruit development. Will test soil if you still think it is necessary. I have Bradford pears in front yard which have a problem with pale green leaves also. The older had abundant blooms but the smaller (newer) is very slow growing. Both have been treated with foliage and drip line iron last year, no improvement. Thank you for your advice.
I may have made a mistake on the tree age, 5-6' at planting 10+ years ago. Tree now 20' (dwarf Alberta). Suspect typical West Texas red Clay-y soil was level and covered with 6-8" of top soil. Tree did have a black substance develop last year from first branches to crown (3'), treated with antifungal. Also had sap balls at first branches. Both conditions are now gone. Fertilized with tree and shrub (?ratio) at drip line last year and lawn is treated 3 times a year with southwest formulation (added iron and sulfur). Neighbor tree gets no fertilizers and no water except rainfall and has more greener, abundant leaves and more blooms. There is a concrete ring around the tree containing lava rock (away from crown 6-8"s) and 4-5"s deep. The peach tree that produced was in a different area. When I say tree produced earlier it had good blooming but freeze prevented fruit development. Will test soil if you still think it is necessary. I have Bradford pears in front yard which have a problem with pale green leaves also. The older had abundant blooms but the smaller (newer) is very slow growing. Both have been treated with foliage and drip line iron last year, no improvement. Thank you for your advice.