Creeping thyme rarely grows more than 2 inches tall, although its flower stems stand taller and can look scraggly and unkempt after blooming ends. A light mowing helps to improve creeping thyme's appearance and is quicker than hand pruning the plant.

What happens if you mow creeping thyme?

The plant is considered a woody perennial, but the woody portion is comfortable to stand on and doesn't affect your lawn mower if you do choose to mow it. Some gardeners opt for giving their creeping thyme lawn an occasional once-over with the mower to encourage the herb to spread.

How do you prune creeping thyme?

In late fall, after the first frost, select one-third of the oldest and woodiest stems on your thyme plant. Using sharp, clean shears, cut these stems back by half. Repeat the process the next year until your thyme plant has returned to growing younger, more tender stems all over the plant.

How do you care for creeping thyme?

Creeping Thyme Care. Creeping thyme plants grow best in soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH, and this plant requires well-drained soil. Creeping thyme seems to crave poor soils, as do most herb plants. Grow them in full sun, although they will tolerate some shade.

Does creeping thyme grow back?

As if having a durable, dense plant isn't wonderful enough, creeping thyme is even a perennial. It grows well in planting zones four through nine. When the plant isn't blooming, it's an evergreen which means it will add beauty to the planting area year-round.

Great Groundcovers: Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

37 related questions found

Can you walk on creeping thyme?

Thyme Alternative to Grass

A creeping thyme lawn is not only drought resistant, but it generally requires much less water than traditional turf grasses too. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, can be walked upon, and will rapidly spread to fill in a space. ... Most varieties of thyme are tolerant of light foot traffic.

Can you divide creeping thyme?

Cover more ground by dividing your thyme

Both creeping and mounding thymes are most easily and reliably propagated by division. In spring or fall, I slice small clumps, roughly 2 inches square, from an established plant and either pot them or plant them in another site.

Will creeping thyme choke out grass?

Red creeping thyme adds appeal to your landscape during springtime, however they are most gorgeous throughout summer as they burst open in stunning crimson flowers. They form a thick mat and are very effective in choking out weeds.

Will creeping thyme grow in mulch?

Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a hardy herb often grown in the home garden for use in cooking. ... Although you wouldn't plant creeping thyme with mulch, you can use mulch in the wintertime to prevent frost or freeze damage.

When should I cut back thyme?

Trim thyme back after it's finished flowering to promote new growth. This will give you more leaves to harvest through autumn. If you don't tidy them up, plants become woody and will need replacing after three years. Once established, thyme won't need watering.

Is it OK to let thyme flower?

Thyme's tiny flowers are pretty and white. Though you can pinch the flowers off to allow the plant to produce more leaves, the flavor of thyme really isn't compromised by letting the plant bloom.

How do you care for outdoor thyme?

Planting

1. Thyme thrives in full sun and loves heat. ...
2. Soil needs to drain well so there aren't “wet feet.” In the garden, plant with other drought-tolerant perennials.
3. In early spring, you may fertilize with organic matter, like compost, but not much soil amendment is necessary.

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 often do you water creeping thyme?

The small plants will tend to dry out in the first 3-6 months until the roots have grown. This means that it may need water as often as every other day, or if you're experiencing very hot, drought conditions, every day watering may be necessary.

Why is my creeping thyme dying?

The most common reason for thyme plants dying is because of root rot or fungal disease caused by excess moisture around the roots due to over watering or slow draining soils. ... Thyme plants can begin to die back, dry out and turn brown after 4 or 5 years.

Does creeping thyme stay green in winter?

Thyme 'Creeping' A short-lived perennial herb, 'Creeping' thyme, is relatively easy to overwinter indoors. Grow it as a houseplant in a sunny window. ... In areas with cold winters, thyme is considered semi-evergreen, meaning that the plant will retain some of its foliage during winter but not all.

How long does creeping thyme take to spread?

The less space between leaves, the slower your thyme will spread. Longer segments mean faster growth. Generally, creeping thyme takes one year to get established, and then begins to spread in its second season.

Is creeping thyme poisonous to dogs?

“The creeping thyme does well as a dog-friendly ground cover. Irish Moss, Labrador Violet, Miniature Stonecrop (although invasive, so be careful where you plant it) as well as snow in summer are rather dog-abuse-tolerant and are non-toxic.”

What is the fastest spreading ground cover?

16 Options for Fast Growing Ground Cover Plants

• Wild Thyme(Thymus serpyllum) ...
• Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata) ...
• Trailing Periwinkle(Vinca minor) ...
• Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) ...
• Variegated Snow on the Mountain(Aegopodium podagraria) ...
• Aubrieta (Aubrieta deltoidea) ...
• Firecracker Sedum (Sedum) ...
• Dragon's Blood Sedum (Sedum)

How do you multiply creeping thyme?

Dig or pull up a small patch of creeping thyme in the spring, making sure it has healthy roots and green growth. This patch can be as small as one stem with a few roots attached and is referred to as a slip. Plant the patch or slip to the same depth as before. Plant multiple patches or slips 12 to 24 inches apart.

How do you encourage creeping thyme to spread?

With good drainage and full sun, daily watering will get your new thyme established quickly. Herbs don't mind being pampered! Thyme can get by with less water, but if you want it to spread as much as possible, regular watering is the key. Some creeping thymes have wonderful, strong scents.

Will creeping thyme grow in partial shade?

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.

Can creeping thyme withstand foot traffic?

Here are some good groundcovers you can walk on: Thyme (Thymus sp.) – Includes several walkable groundcovers such as woolly thyme, red creeping thyme, and mother-of-thyme. ... A durable groundcover for foot traffic, creeping raspberry produces white summertime flowers, often followed by small, red fruit.