That soil looks awfully dry , looks like u let them dry out for too long and they locked out on ya. Any soil with amendments needs water so plants can take up nutrients . Dont let your plants dry out so much , when u water do u get runoff?
Rabbits are worse , they chew off branches and peel the bark off at the base of stalk , if they make it all around plant , plant dies . But ya deers suck 2!