Therefore, if you are looking for an attractive ground cover that smells nice and is also deer and rabbit resistant, you should definitely consider creeping thyme! Everything You Need To Know About Creeping ThymeĬreeping Thyme, also known as Thymus serpyllum, is a perennial plant that belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae. The answer is no though it will spread fast in a garden, it won’t bother the other plants. So, let’s cut the chase - is creeping thyme really invasive? In addition to this, it can serve as garden perfume due to its amazing fragrance. What makes creeping thyme great as a ground cover is that it can tolerate foot traffic, so it’s perfect for people with kids and pets. You will have to prune the plant to maintain its shape from time to time, and you don‘t have to worry about mowing because creeping thyme can only grow up to 2 inches tall! This is because the plant can propagate by projecting stolons along the ground or developing roots (rhizomes) under the ground. The truth is that once you plant creeping thyme, it will grow quickly and spread to the rest of the garden. Some people do mow the thyme lawn after flowers are spent, but it’s okay to be a little lazy and leave the area as is.In order to tell whether creeping thyme is invasive, we have to first look at its growth habits. Thereafter, say goodbye to fertilizing, thatching, regular watering, and even mowing if you so desire. Plant the thyme plugs about 8 inches (20 cm.) apart and water in well. Prior to planting, make sure the thyme plants are damp. When the soil is ready to be worked, add some bone meal or rock phosphate along with some compost to the soil and work it in, down to about 6 inches (15 cm.) since thyme has short roots. Hey, patience is a virtue though, right?! Till the area when the process is completed and remove any big chunks of rock or root before attempting to transplant the thyme plugs. This method requires patience, as it takes two seasons to completely kill off the top and even longer to get all the roots. The idea here is to cut off all light to the grass and weeds underneath, basically smothering the plants. Lastly, you can always make a lasagna garden by covering the entire area with black plastic, cardboard, or lots of newspaper layers covered in straw or sawdust. The next option is good old-fashioned, back breaking, digging up of the sod. Of course, you can always go with the easy, albeit not so eco-friendly method of multiple applications of herbicide. It takes some doing to rid the area of all the existing grass. The biggest problem with using thyme to replace grass is the work it will take preparing the site. You can also alternate varieties or create a pattern by planting a different type of thyme around the border of the pseudo-lawn. Wooly thyme ( Thymus pseudolanuginosus).Elfin thyme ( Thymus serpyllum ‘Elfin’).Some cultivars to try in your thyme lawn include: Most varieties of thyme are tolerant of light foot traffic. Most people use creeping thyme to fill in pathways and around patio pavers– smaller areas than the average lawn size. That’s probably why I usually only see small areas of creeping thyme lawn.
Planting a creeping thyme lawn with plants set 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) apart can be pricey, but then again, if you have looked into reseeding or of laying sod for an entire turf lawn, the cost is fairly comparable. The downside of planting thyme as lawn replacement is the cost. As an added bonus, thyme blooms in a long-lasting profusion of lavender hued flowers. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, can be walked upon, and will rapidly spread to fill in a space. Thyme Alternative to GrassĪ creeping thyme lawn is not only drought resistant, but it generally requires much less water than traditional turf grasses too. How do you use thyme as lawn substitute and why is thyme a terrific alternative to grass? Let’s find out. An ideal choice is using thyme for lawn replacement. Many gardeners are choosing to replace water thirsty turf with plants that are drought resistant. Xeriscaping is becoming increasingly popular in an effort to reduce our dependence on water use.
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