Hello,
I'm located in Alabama also.
I'm not sure whats wrong with your tree, but I will let you know what I have experienced with my trees.
The trees don't do well in really hot environments such as the one you have created with the black weed cloth.
I had my trees on a very dark stained wood deck and the sun literally baked the trees in the summer. The barely survived the summer with little growth. By chance I move the trees off the deck into the yard and miraculously they came alive and started to grow.
My experience my have nothing to to with your problem, but it's something you might consider.