Peach trees not doing well

Question: I have two peach trees. One is dwarf and one is not. The non-dwarf peach tree is about 13 years old. The trees have never been sprayed with chemicals. They grow near Apple trees that are also not sprayed with chemicals. Both peach trees are doing poorly. I am including two pictures of the non-dwarf peach tree. It does have some peaches on it mostly near the top. I have never had issues with it before, and I know I have been lucky. It has been producing many beautiful beautiful peaches. In past years. Both trees were treated fertilized with Jobes fertilizer sticks in the spring, Which go into the ground.The trees look much better after the rain we got last night, and also better the first rain we got after the long drought. Some branches/smaller ones have died.All the apple trees growing near these trees are dark green leaves and look healthy. Both of the peach trees have lost leaves and their leaves have yellowed some what, though some remain green but not dark green. I am afraid I’m going to lose it. Please help if you can. Thank you

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 13, 2023, 7:07 PM EDT
response: A 13 year old peach tree is a good accomplishment.   The 2013 & 2014 winters were tough on peach trees in Michigan with the rapid temperature drops in early December both years.   The damage was to the trunks which over the years has resulted in slow tree decline.    If the trunk is very irregular, pitted, gummy, this is most likely due to cold damage and not much can be done. Planting a replacement tree would be prudent.   The drought also has been tough on trees that were weak from cold damage.  Trees were unable to pull up nitrogen from the soil.  Watering occasionally during dry spells is recommended, particularly if you have sandy soil.    You could water in a modest amount of soluble nitrogen such as Peters or Miracle Gro under the canopy. 1 tablespoon per gal water, with about 4 gallons per tree. Do this only once as if the tree gets too much nitrogen it won't settle down for winter. Again, if the trunk is in bad shape, this will not help much.  I also notice on your third picture symptoms that look like peach leaf curl, an early spring fungal disease that can cause leaf puckering and drop.  Control of this disease requires a copper spray in the late fall or very early spring.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 13, 2023, 7:35 PM EDT
response: Hi, thanks so much for your quick reply! I don’t think the tree trunk is in bad shape.  I know I called a few years ago (I believe before Covid) when there was moss growth on the tree trunk, and the person I talked to said not to worry about it, that it was a natural occurrence. I will check out the tree trunk though and get back to you if needed. You did read the part of my message that I fertilized the trees with the Jobe sticks that go into the earth in the spring. So doing this again in the fall with the miracle grow, won’t hurt it, correct? Last year and this year there was a little bit of leaf curl on some leaves but not many. I believe last year was the first time I noticed it. I did look up that one on the web. Thanks again for all of your inputSent from my iPhone On Jul 13, 2023, at 7:07 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 13, 2023, 7:40 PM EDT
response: One more question if I have water under the canopy with the miracle grow in the fall do I water just at the edge Of the tree canopy, which is where I put the Job sticks in the spring. Or can I water all under the tree canopy. ThanksSent from my iPhone On Jul 13, 2023, at 7:34 PM, Michele Bridges <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿Hi, thanks so much for your quick reply! I don’t think the tree trunk is in bad shape.  I know I called a few years ago (I believe before Covid) when there was moss growth on the tree trunk, and the person I talked to said not to worry about it, that it was a natural occurrence. I will check out the tree trunk though and get back to you if needed. You did read the part of my message that I fertilized the trees with the Jobe sticks that go into the earth in the spring. So doing this again in the fall with the miracle grow, won’t hurt it, correct? Last year and this year there was a little bit of leaf curl on some leaves but not many. I believe last year was the first time I noticed it. I did look up that one on the web. Thanks again for all of your inputSent from my iPhoneOn Jul 13, 2023, at 7:07 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 14, 2023, 8:55 AM EDT
response: If your soil is sandy and you did not water during the drought, the tree likely suffered from lack of water and was not able to use nitrogen from the Jobe sticks.   We have had recent rains which should have helped the trees. If the newest foliage is a decent green color, then perhaps no additional nitrogen is needed.  It is hard to know how much of the Jobe sticks you used this spring still have nitrogen. If the newest foliage is still somewhat pale, drenching in some Miraclegro or equivalent once over the entire area under the canopy may help.