Got a Garden Tower given to me the other day. It's old but in still good shape. Has a composter in the center. Any ideas on what to grow in it at this time of the year. In south texas?

Well, the racoons climbed the fence and had a heck of a good party in our garden last night. I am hoping someone has some ideas on how I can stop this nonsense. I am setting a trap tonight to relocate the intruders elsewhere. What I really need is a way to keep them out. The set up is two 10' x 10' dog kennels hooked together, making the outside frame 20' x 20'. It's about 6 foot tall with a grid for the fencing. The top is wide open. I am open to any and all ideas!

Not Sure Where I'm Going to Put It (Yet) and I Way Overpaid For the Size Of It, BUT I NEEDED It Ya'll! Reminded Me of Our Little Group.

I finally have a few shoots of something besides lettuce! lol But speaking of Lettuce, do I need to pull these if they haven't bolted? I am in Zone 6A and just cut these back on Sunday. The 2 Red Leaf look a little sad but my Butter Crunch & Red Romaine are still growing new leaves...

When we think of container gardens, we often picture seasonal blooms or a rotating mix of herbs and vegetables. But did you know perennials can also thrive in pots—offering beauty year after year with less maintenance? With the right selection and setup, perennials bring vibrant color, structure, and long-term charm to patios, balconies, and porches. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨 𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐈𝐭 * Long-term color: Come back year after year with minimal effort. * Cost-effective: Invest once, enjoy for seasons to come. * Easy to rearrange: Refresh your display or move plants as needed. * Great for limited space: Enjoy landscape-worthy beauty without a yard. 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐬 * Look for compact or clump-forming varieties that don’t mind tight quarters. Some great options include: * Heuchera (Coral Bells): Colorful foliage and delicate flowers. * Hostas: Shade-loving with broad, lush leaves. * Lavender: Fragrant, drought-tolerant, and great for sunny spots. * Long-blooming and pollinator-friendly. * Echinacea (Coneflower): Tough, tall, and striking. * Sedum: Succulent, low-maintenance, and great for hot areas. 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 * Size: Go for deep containers (at least 12–18 inches deep) to accommodate root systems. * Material: Choose weather-resistant options like fiberglass, plastic, or glazed ceramic. * Drainage: Ensure adequate drainage holes—perennials hate soggy roots. 𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐥 & 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 * Use a high-quality potting mix enriched with compost. * Avoid heavy garden soil—it compacts easily and may drain poorly. * Mix in slow-release fertilizer at planting for season-long nourishment. 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: * Refresh soil surface and apply compost or balanced fertilizer. * Trim back dead growth and encourage new shoots. 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫: * Water consistently—containers dry out faster in heat. * Deadhead spent flowers to promote more blooms. 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥: * Cut back fading foliage on some varieties. * Add mulch to insulate roots in cooler zones.