Hi SS!
I haven't dug in the front, but the back field is richly organic with some rocks. It's what I think of as typical Piedmont soil, not overly sandy or clay-ey. It should be similar out front, though it hasn't been worked as much. We definitely have deer... I hadn't really considered them, but I'm sure I should
I'd be OK with shrubs and trees. If there's enough light for it, I'd love to put a dogwood in there. I like azaleas, but I've heard they're not good to have with honeybees.
