In less my eyes deceive me there is a gravel base in the bottom of the planter. I suspect this is over the subsoil the foundation of the house was built on. If so, there is no need to worry about drainage as the planter will be coupled with the ground making it a raised bed in effect. As for prepping for planting, repair the end of the planter if you have a mind to, or use some landscape fabric to keep your planting mix from seeping into the cracks. do not add anything to the bottom of the planter, as you are only giving up valuable soil volume and decoupling your bed from the ground. As far as soils go, I would recommend you look at the 5 1 1 mix or gritty mix so often discussed in this forum, They really are good formulas and have a great deal of knowledge base here to draw from. The gritty would be my choice due to the longer life span and less shrinkage, but the 5 1 1 will be less expensive and easier to obtain the materials to build. Either of these mixes will give you great drainage and aeration while maintaining an adequate level of moisture. This thread should help you get where you want to go: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg112015049996.html?33

Jennie, Many folks just make their own grow light stand using inexpensive PVC pipe. You could design it to fit on your table and to hold one or more shop lights (also inexpensive). Some glue them all together but others just glue part of it so it can be taken apart for storage. Actually, the pieces usually fit tight enough that glueing may not even be necessary at all. You can cover the bottom ends of the legs with rubber cane tips so it won't slip around on the table. Do a Google search for something like "grow light stand, PVC pipe" and you should find several good examples. Click the link below to see just one example. Art Here is a link that might be useful: Just one example

That is a personal decision every homeowner with cracks has to make. You either leave it and live with it, or you caulk it and expect to have to caulk it again when it opens up again. I caulk everything, except for where movement is part of the design like with floating panels. The majority of mitres that I caulk don't come back, but you never know for sure.

Okay, not sure how helpful these are, but here goes: Downcut above bud on Banksia stick. This stick is already rooted in a band. I'll bud to it this summer. Upcut to remove the bud: Finished wound. I leave the top bud growth to support the cutting while buds are knitting. Healed old cut on a stick--don't see any regrowth yet. Gouging out a bud with point of the razor knife Finished. I kinda like doing this--you can core down deep, circle around the base of the sprout, yet leave a small wound. (actually, this is kind of big, because the bud is pretty well developed.