Wooly thyme, which has silvery foliage, may be a better choice in tight areas. Wooly thyme meanwhile is grown for its soft, silvery foliage. In a scent garden, creeping thyme can be used as an edging plant or as a groundcover around shrubs and taller perennials.
When planted in the shade, thyme may bloom less, but the heady fragrance and beauty will always remain. Thyme does best in dappled sunlight rather than deep shade. It dislikes wet locations but is ideal for dry part shade.
These types grow more slowly but result in dense carpets that can even withstand some foot traffic. 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.
“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.”
Woolly Thyme Plant Information
Tiny leaves on woolly thyme ground cover are green and often edged with gray to silver. In summer the plant adds a bonus and produces sweet little pink to purple flowers. The plants are low growing, rarely getting higher than 12 inches (30 cm.) and spreading out to 18 inches (45.5 cm.)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.
Lemon Thyme Care. Attaining a height of 12 to 15 inches (30-38 cm.), this herb is extremely tolerant of poor soil and drought conditions. pulegioides), lemon thyme is an erect woody based plant with a spreading habitat and thus, may need to be cut back in order to control the spread or remove unsightly woody stems.
4 Responses. 1) Yes, you must remove all the turf grass before you plant thyme. You didn't say this, but I am assuming your existing lawn is Kentucky Bluegrass which is the typical turf in Denver. If not removed, KBG will act as a weed in your thyme and because it is rhizomatous, it will spread and take over.
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. It covers a large area rapidly and chokes out weeds.
None of the many varieties of lemon thyme are particularly invasive, even creeping lemon thyme is little risk because it does not produce seeds and spreads only by creeping.
It spreads up to 18 inches, grows best in full sun, and attracts plenty of butterflies and bees. Red Creeping Thyme: Also referred to as coccineus, this thyme can be identified by magenta flowers. Its flowers are very small but prolific.
Take cuttings in early summer for propagation by cutting a stem about 4 to 6 inches long, right below a leaf node. Remove leaves from the bottom 2 inches of the cutting. Dip your cutting into rooting hormone at the cut end. Place the stem into a pot filled with potting soil and compact the soil gently.
Grow Mother of Thyme as you would other thyme varieties: direct-sow in well-drained garden soil receiving full sun, or begin indoors. Germination can be slow (up to one month), but once the seeds sprout, there's no stopping them.
No-Mow Commercial Blends
The No-Mow-Grass brand has two versions. The northern version is Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), which is designed for areas with hard freezes, grows 3 to 6 inches tall and tolerates shade. The southern version is a blend of fine fescue and buffalo grass, designed for hot, dry areas.Planting Creeping Thyme
The creeping thyme does well in any soil type, but for optimal growth, plant it in nutrient-dense, loamy soil that drains well. Gardeners should take cuttings from the plant in the early summer. If you're growing the seeds, then start them indoors in the early springtime.T. serpyllum is another creeping thyme variety. Just like other thyme varieties, creeping thyme is edible with a flavor and aroma akin to mint when crushed or steeped for teas or tinctures.
It is drought tolerant when established. This thyme species (and Thymus serpyllum) has escaped cultivation in North America, and is a weed or invasive species in some habitats in the United States.
Although thyme is a perennial, it may last only three or four years before it naturally begins to turn brown in the center. As thyme grows, the base of the stems turns brown and woody.
Sage and thyme will survive without any protection over the winter, but you probably won't be able to crop any of them unless the winter is unusually mild. Oregano will die back altogether over winter, and even in a cold frame may not put on any new growth (though it's worth a go).
When you trim thyme for light rejuvenation, you are basically ensuring that your thyme plant doesn't become too woody in the future. In late summer, after the thyme plant has flowered, select the one-third oldest stems on the plant. Using sharp, clean shears, cut these back by two-third.
Water: Most varieties of thyme are drought-resistant, so only give a thorough watering, when the soil is completely dry. Spacing: Thyme is a vigorous grower, so be sure to space accordingly. Plant anywhere from 12 to 24 inches apart, depending upon the specific variety.
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.
Sometimes, a neglected thyme plant may need to be pruned back hard to remove woody growth and encourage tender, usable growth. 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.
Really, the more you trim your thyme, the more it grows. Cut fresh stems in the morning, leaving behind tough, woody portions. Leave behind at least five inches of growth, so that the plant can still flourish. Regular pruning not only encourages more growth, but also promotes a more rounded shape.
thyme leaves turning red. Many things can cause purple foliage, but I'm betting it's a water-logged soil. Nearly any environmental condition that puts the brakes on growth and the accompanying use of sugars, but does not limit sugar production (photosynthesis) can cause anthocyanin buildup and purple leaves.
Both types are edible, but creeping thymes are usually small and tedious to harvest and are therefore more valuable as ground covers. Garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris), also known as common, English, or French thyme, is most often used as a seasoning. The flavor of this hardy perennial is pungent and strong.
Thyme. Grow a herb 'carpet' – plant thyme in paving cracks and enjoy the aroma when you walk on it. It works just as well in a pot. Fantastic for honeybees, bumblebees, mason bees and leafcutter bees.
Using wild thyme in the kitchen
Both flowers and leaves are used. They can be eaten cooked or raw, they are delicious when fresh. Wild thyme leaves, just like common thyme, are perfect for seasoning barbecues, gravy, fish and even infusions.Yellowing leaves often indicate the herb is starving for water and is dropping leaves to conserve energy, but it also can mean the roots are too wet and beginning to rot.
Spread a bit of loose soil or sand over it, and then once you've planted a bunch, water well. This will help set the pavers, and fill in any air holes around the roots, a sure way to kill off a plant. Be prepared for a bit of time to elapse before the thyme fills in the complete gap between the pavers.
Water Stress
Thyme grows well in slightly dry soil. It can develop root rot or mildew problems if it's kept too wet. As the roots suffocate and die in wet soil, the foliage will also begin to die back. Drought and overly dry foliage can also cause dieback, although usually the whole plant declines at the same rate.Culinary thyme is a hardy perennial that is evergreen in most gardening zones. If you grow your thyme in a container, feel free to leave it outside and let it enter a dormant state over winter. New leaves will emerge within the early spring.
