deer and helicopters are your worst enemy , clear the area around your site before the grow of anything not living ie dead plants and wood and pre spray with insectiside, i also use ortho home defense as it keeps a good barrier around plant sites thats water proof for up to 10 months, if you planting in-ground i would drop a few 3-5 baby diapers cut up in the bottom of the hole for extra drought protection on months its really hot and dry as it does happen here, i always make my hole 3-4ft across and 3 ft deep and makes for a 8-10ft plant, you can (i do) add in perlite and any other slow release nutes you want to help built the soil up, watch for pm and mold you can spray for it with sulfur spray its used by apple farmers here in washington and is sold on-line and is inexpensive
