A little cinnamon in your soil will help keep the bugs away from your seedlings/cuttings.
Invest in a good pair of pruning shears and take care of them. Much cheaper in the long run!
A few drops of hydrogen peroxide in your water will keep the fungus gnats away.
Deer will eat just about anything when they are hungry enough! Don't go by the 'deer resistant' tag at all.
If you can harvest rainwater, DO IT. Your plants will thank you!