Sunny, I can only mention that these grow all over the place down here and the natural litter (leaves, twigs, gumballs) doesn't seem to slow the weeds down one bit!

None of the above. If you need to accelerate their rotting, just drill holes in the stump and fill them with saltpeter or epsom salt and pee or water (not more toxic waste).

Thank you everyone for the help! I was SO worried about this tree and thought the tree had developed bacterial leaf scorch. I am still very knew to gardening and still learning all of the trees/plants that are in my yard. I am located in Northern California, specifically near Concord, CA and we had an extremely hot/dry summer. My grass was definitely affected by this as well! This tree did not get as much water as I know it needs. Is there anything that I can do to help repair the tree, or anything that I can put in the soil? thank you!!!

Wildfire is a male clone and is therefore seedless. Dirr provides more info on Wildfire in this article (scroll down near the bottom): Nyssa sylvatica the lovely black tupelo, black gum "‘Wildfire’- Burgundy spring foliage. Dense, wide, fast growing, almost certainly a southern seed source. Found by Steve Hottovy. Fall color sometimes. Good against leaf spot. Good architecture. Male. I have three in the garden. Fast growing and maintains a central leader. Branches are wide spreading, the lower arching. The emerging leaves are red, maturing green (May in the Dirr garden). Subsequent growth flushes still colorful. Fall color inconsistent and seldom great although in the Dirr garden and Georgia campus, trees have colored brilliant red. High resistance to leaf spot."