Question
I have a three year old peach tree.   A couple of months ago I mulched under it out to the drip line.   I put a layer of compost followed by 4 sheets of newspaper and then some cypress mulch.   The leaves have begun turning yellow and falling off.   I live in coastal SC.   Today I checked under the paper and the paper was wet and the compost hard.   I have since removed the paper and mulch and broken up the compost.   Is it possible I was steam cooking the roots?   It hadn't been watered for a week a yet the paper was wet.

Answer
Hi John,  My thought is that the paper was getting wet and the mulch was stopping the water from getting to the plant.  The leaves are yellowing and falling off because it was and is thirsty.  Yellow leaves usually means not enough water unless there are bugs on them hiding under the leaves.. In your case it is watering.  kathy