I have been assembling another semp planter today and thought I would share what I learned from my mistake last year.

I find and buy large planters. I also only plant semps or other perennial plants that need to be outside all winter. I use soda cans in a plastic bag to economise on soil mixture of potting soil and rock garden soil ( shale sand, turkey grit )
Last year I filled this red troth planter and started with a bottom layer of cans and peanuts ( dont use peanuts if you can help it )

I loaded the rest of the troth with rockgarden mix and planted my semps and a alpine.
This spring I could see it was a mistake to plant right away because the soil had settled.

There is no way I want to dig up plants and disturbe the peanuts.



Older and wiser. I let the new Blue Basket planter settle over winter.
I can transplant semps in the spring.Might even make a wishlist for some new ones.

I did that with my first raised bed Jo Ann. And it settled a lot. Live and learn is my motto.
Love that blue basket. Any idea on what you will plant in it?

Those are nice. I like the blue basket. Do you have it lined with something to keep the dirt in? I have some old baskets I could use, just never thought of it. Thanks!

SALL20. I try not to use wood here because of the winter action.The wood just doesnt hold up for more than one season.
I do line open weave planters . I buy a roll of screen door replacement and use it on everything including a spot in the bottom of planters.

Lynn, I have a wishlist of Jovies I am working on. Plus a transplant of Achillea King Edward.

Sounds great Jo Ann

Thanks for info about the screen door replacement. That would be good to put in the bottom of all my pots. We have a problem with fire ants getting into pots through the drainage holes. I sometimes use landscape cloth, but I'm not sure if that impedes the drainage too much.