The first time
After doing much on-line research, I chose to replace half of my front lawn with Red Creeping Thyme in the spring of 2019. I liked its height (2”), the fact that it can tolerate moderate foot traffic, is drought resistant, spreads fast and chokes out weeks and attracts bees and butterflies.
Can creeping thyme be used as a lawn?
Thymus Reiter (Reiter Creeping Thyme) is one of the most vigorous creeping thymes with its stems of olive-green foliage rooting as they spread across the soil. Blooming in mid-summer with prolific lavender-pink flowers, it makes an excellent small-scale lawn substitute.
Is Red creeping thyme good ground cover?
Red creeping thyme is drought tolerant but may die in continuously wet conditions. Plants grow low to the ground, only reaching 3 to 6 inches tall, making them an effective ground cover. You can also use them as border plants or grow them in containers.
Will creeping thyme choke out weeds and grass?
Red creeping thyme adds attractive, deep green color to your landscape throughout spring, but it’s most beautiful in summer when it erupts in gorgeous crimson flowers. It really, really chokes out the weeds, forming a thick mat.
Is creeping thyme toxic to dogs?
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and creeping or wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) are drought-tolerant evergreens that are safe for dogs and bloom in the spring and early summer.
Can you walk on creeping thyme?
These are tough, easy to grow perennial plants that endure light to medium foot traffic. This means they take various degrees of walking on. Have you ever strolled through a friend’s garden where they had planted creeping thyme between the crazy paving stone pathway?
Does creeping thyme repel mosquitoes?
Thyme. Thyme, including red creeping thyme (shown), possesses excellent mosquito-repelling properties. The secret is to crush the leaves to release the volatile oils. You can simply place crushed stems around outdoor seating areas or rub the leaves on skin or clothing.
How much sun does creeping thyme?
Creeping thyme seems to crave poor soils, as do most herb plants. Grow them in full sun, although they will tolerate some shade. Creeping thyme plants can become woody over time.
How quickly does creeping thyme spread?
Generally, creeping thyme takes one year to get established, and then begins to spread in its second season. The herb thyme (Thymus spp.) All creeping thymes spread by sending stems along the ground’s surface to periodically grow leaves and roots.
Does Red creeping thyme come back every year?
Appears to have more flowers than foliage during its peak blooms. Covers the ground in color and breaks up all of the green. Is perennial, returning every year and requiring much less maintenance than grass.
What is the best time to plant red creeping thyme?
Planting instructions. Creeping thyme does best in an area that gets about four hours of sun a day. Planting should be done in late spring or early summer, after the fear of frost has passed. This will allow the roots to establish themselves through the growing season.
Does creeping thyme stay green in winter?
Creeping Thyme
Groundcovers don’t just provide color and interest in winter; they can also help control erosion and suppress weeds that try to sprout when the weather warms up.
How much creeping thyme seed do I need?
Planting Indoors: You can get a head start on your creeping thyme at least six weeks before your last spring frost. Create your own “plugs” by planting 2 to 3 seeds in each nursery tray cell.
What is the lowest growing ground cover?
The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your Garden
Heuchera. 1/11. An evergreen perennial, heuchera is known for its vibrant foliage, which ranges in color from silver to green to brown. Honeysuckle. 2/11. Brass Buttons. 3/11. Creeping Phlox. 4/11. Creeping Jenny. 5/11. Stonecrop. 6/11. Vinca Minor. 7/11. Lamium. 8/11.
Does creeping thyme attract bugs?
Creeping thyme is a vining plant that creates an excellent ground cover for rock and herb gardens. Even though they have different appearances all three can be used as culinary or medicinal herbs. It attracts beneficial insects.
Is creeping thyme hard to grow?
As mentioned, growing creeping thyme is a simple process due to its compatibility in a variety of soils and light exposures. Although this ground cover prefers well-drained lightly textured soils, it will grow quite well in less than desirable medium and thrive from full sun to light shade environments.
Will creeping thyme grow in mulch?
Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a hardy herb often grown in the home garden for use in cooking. Its deep pink, early summer flowers also attract beneficial insects to the garden. Although you wouldn’t plant creeping thyme with mulch, you can use mulch in the wintertime to prevent frost or freeze damage.
