Thymus praecox is a low growing perennial hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 with fairly minimal requirements. An evergreen with lightly haired foliage, this tiny-growing creeping thyme varietal — rarely over 3 inches — will appear in low, dense mats, which sprawl randomly and quickly fill in areas as a ground cover.
Also to know is, how long does it take for creeping thyme to grow?
one year
Also, how many creeping thyme plants do I need? Plant 6″ x 6″ (15 x 15 cm) apart – that’s 36 plants per square metre to metric people (or you can divide up our chunky plug plants and grow on in small pots before planting out). Ensure weed growth is kept under control until the lawn is well established.
can I plant creeping thyme in the fall?
While you can plant thyme at any point during the growing season, spring and fall are best. In zones 9 and below, temperatures make winter planting inadvisable. Since creeping thyme likes drier soil and doesn’t usually benefit from consistent moisture, you wouldn’t mulch it during the growing season.
How often do you water creeping thyme?
After Planting A 2-inch layer of mulch applied around the red creeping thyme at planting time helps keep the soil moist. Once the plant is established, water to a depth of about 6 inches whenever the top 3 inches of soil feel dry.
14 Related Question Answers Found
Does creeping thyme die in winter?
Depending on your location, creeping thyme will either remain evergreen or it will lose its leaves and some stems will die over the winter. You don’t need to prune it, but to protect it as much as possible you can cover it with sand or gravel over the winter.
Will creeping thyme choke out weeds?
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. However, if the weather is fine, it can bloom for the duration of summer months.
Does creeping thyme repel mosquitoes?
Lemon thyme Repels mosquitoes. This hardy herb can adapt to dry or rocky, shallow soil and will thrive in your herb garden, a rock garden or a front border as long as these are in sunny locations. The plant itself will not repel pesky mosquitoes. To release its chemicals, you must first bruise the leaves.
Is creeping thyme poisonous to dogs?
Herbs. 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. Creeping thyme grows to only 2 to 3 inches tall and up to 1 foot wide.
What is the fastest growing ground cover?
Best, Fast-Growing Ground Cover Plants Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) Mazus (Mazus reptans) Tufted Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera) Creeping Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum coccineus) Big Root Geraniums (Geranium macrorrhizum) Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Will creeping thyme kill grass?
The advantage of creeping thyme is that you can mow it hard to say two inches and it will bounce back and even flower abundantly if you and the bees are lucky, but the grasses give up after a while. As the thyme gets thicker you have to mow less, but the thyme will survive where the grass eventually gives up.
Does creeping thyme bloom all summer?
Related to the edible herbs, creeping thymes are also aromatic. They are principally grown for the fine texture of the leaves as they spread out to softly blanket the ground, but they also produce flowers of various colors, depending on type. The flowers usually appear late spring and early summer.
Is creeping thyme hard to grow?
Creeping Thyme Facts Thymus praecox is a low growing perennial hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 with fairly minimal requirements. Another creeping thyme fact is despite its enticing odor, growing creeping thyme ground cover is deer resistant, making it an ideal landscape candidate in areas frequented by them.
Is creeping thyme easy to grow from seed?
Plant Creeping Thyme seeds directly outdoors after frost danger has passed. Keep the seeds consistently moist. If you want to get a jump start on the Creeping Thyme ground cover plants, sow the seed indoors 6 – 8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant the young seedling into the garden 6 – 12 inches apart.
How invasive is creeping thyme?
serpyllum) can be invasive in some situations. It likes full sun exposure and sandy, relatively dry soil. Creeping thyme (T. praecox and varieties) presents zero threat of becoming weedy because it does not produce seeds and because it spread much more slowly.
Does Thyme spread in the garden?
In general, though, thyme is generally low growing, spreading, and 6 to 10 inches in height. Most varieties of thyme are best left alone to grow; the more you fuss with the plant, the less hardy it will be. Give your thyme a spot in full sun; it handles hot, dry conditions better than cool, damp soil.
Is creeping thyme safe for cats?
ANSWER: True Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is not at native plant and it is not on the ASPCA plants toxic to cats list. But it is not on the non-toxic to cats list either! The Holistic Pets Center list, though does list thyme as being safe for cats.
How do you control creeping thyme?
Dig up the creeping thyme plant using a shovel, hoe and mattock to break up the soil. Use a rototiller in large patches; cultivate to a shallow depth just deep enough to pull up the thyme plants.
How do you propagate creeping thyme?
Cut 4 to 6 inches off the top of a thriving creeping thyme in the spring. Cut through a set of leaves or leaf node. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the thyme cutting. Insert the cutting in a small pot filled with moist, coarse sand, or a good, quality potting mix.