A lush garden bed with tall purple flowers, clusters of bright pink and white blooms, large green leaves, and grasses, bordered by a green lawn and shrubs in the background.

Ponderous grows the landscape, sluggish is the lawn. The vibrant, lively hues of Summer ripen and languish. Glowing sprays of Goldenrod permeate the garden.

Yellow wildflowers with red centers bloom in a vibrant garden next to a white house, surrounded by lush green foliage and other colorful flowers, under a bright sunny sky.

Raised beds are perfect for tight spaces, questionable soil and short growing seasons.  Sounds too good to be true?  There’s more.  Studies have shown that gardeners can grow twice as many vegetables and flowers than in the same amount of flat, yard space.  Intrigued?  Me too!

A wooden raised garden bed filled with rows of green leafy seedlings, placed next to a house on a sunny day; a small American flag is visible on the right side.

The height of the sides of the bed are limited only by the sky… literally.  I mean you could build them as high as you want, but the higher the walls, the more soil you’ll need.  Consider 1-2′ especially for deep-rooted plants like carrots and especially if you have pesky vermin roaming your garden.  The higher walls will help save your back too.  Keep the width to 4′ or less, so you can easily reach the center of the beds without stepping in the planter.  Stick with rot-resistant lumber, logs, wood-look composite, brick, stone or concrete, and make sure to fill your beds with good soil.  The soil in raised beds tends to warm faster and drain more easily, encouraging healthier root systems.

A square stone planter filled with green and flowering plants sits on a sunny patio with wooden chairs and a lawn in the background.

Choose a flat, level site for your raised beds.  It just makes it easier when leveling the walls.  Be sure the site receives plenty of sun.

A small cucumber grows on a vine behind a green wire fence, surrounded by bright yellow flowers and green leaves.

What can you plant?  The better question is, what can’t you plant?  Just be sure to organize the space well for maximum planting.  Consider planting flowers and vegetables together.  And always feel free to reach out to Sweeney’s!  We’ll help you achieve your lofty goals! 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

A shrub with clusters of bright yellow, star-shaped flowers featuring long, delicate stamens, surrounded by narrow green leaves. Some buds are closed while others are in full bloom.

Blues Festival® St. John’s Wort

Beautifull rounded shrub produces bright yellow blooms amongst striking blue-green foliage mid Summer through late Summer.  Prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil.  Grows 3-4′ tall and 3-4′ wide.  Drought and salt tolerant.  Deer resistant.

“The luxury of all summer’s sweet sensation is to be found when one lies at length in the warm, fragrant grass, soaked with sunshine, aware of regions of blossoming clover and of a high heaven filled with the hum of innumerous bees.”

~Harriet E. Prescott

Best wishes,

Kim Sweeney