Close-up of a white wildflower with yellow stamens, surrounded by green leaves and blurred foliage in the background.

May sidled in, almost undetectable, on the tail end of an April storm. Thus far, she seemed a bit capricious, but hopes are high that she will bridge the gap to Summer with graciousness and generosity.

Raised garden bed with colorful flowers and leafy plants in the foreground, surrounded by a stone patio with wooden chairs arranged around a fire pit; a green lawn is visible in the background.

May means planting – annuals, perennials, etc., and planting isn’t just for gardens and large plots of land. In fact, container gardening has become quite trendy, and for good reason.

Three pots with various succulents and green plants are arranged outdoors on gravel, with a garden bed of hostas and mulch in the background. One large stone sits among the succulents in the tallest pot.

Containers offer the perfect solution for a litany of issues – from small spaces to bad soil. They can also be mobile and moved around the yard/patio to suit your needs.

A wooden planter box filled with blooming purple flowers and dark purple leafy plants, placed on a concrete surface near a white building wall.

Although there are no hard and fast rules about what you can plant, there are some basic guidelines to follow to insure the container’s health and get the most out of your plants:

  • Any vessel can serve as a container, as long as it can hold soil and provide drainage.
  • Consider the size of the container before adding plants.  It’s important to account for the mature size of the plant, so there is ample room for it to grow and flourish.
  • Just like garden plants, make sure you are siting your containers correctly.  If your plants require full sun or shade, make sure the container is positioned in an area where its light/shade requirements are met.
  • Soil tends to dry out faster in containers, so make sure you are watering properly.  Self-watering containers are also an option.
  • Containers aren’t just for flowers.  Consider planting vegetables or a combination of the two. Dwarf vegetables work especially well, as do herbs, and they are both harvestable and beautiful.
A close-up of a potted succulent plant with thick, pointed leaves in a gray planter. Sunlight highlights the plant, and more potted plants and greenery are visible in the background.

Container gardening is actually quite liberating, and they can be used almost anywhere, no matter how big or small the space, and flowers are no longer the rule of thumb. Vegetables, herbs and succulents are all very popular, and because of their size, containers are much easier to manage and maintain.

A gray pot with bright pink flowers sits on a driveway beside a large bush of pale purple flowers, next to a white-sided building and a wooden ladder.

Not sure where to start? Contact Sweeney’s. Perhaps you already have a container but need help in choosing plants. Or maybe you have the vision for the perfect container but don’t have the time. As always, Sweeney’s is here to help, and we can barely contain our excitement in making your container garden dreams a reality!   We proudly serve the communities of Villa Park, Elmhurst, Oakbrook, Oakbrook Terrace, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wood Dale, Itasca, and more!

Sweeney’s:  A Plant Based Company

Plant of the Week

Close-up of two bright pink cosmos flowers with yellow and reddish centers, set against a blurred green background.

Coreopsis ‘Heaven’s Gate’

Masses of bright pink flowers with ruby-red centers bloom amongst fern-like foliage June – August.  Prefers full sun and dry soil.  Grows 12-18″ tall and 18-24″ wide.  Attracts butterflies and pollinators.  Great for container gardening.

“However big or small your garden is, if you allow nature to touch your spirit, gardening will bring returns of peace, satisfaction, and well-being for as long as you continue to wander the garden path.”

 – Norman Hansen

Well wishes,

Kim Sweeney