bernswaelz / Pixabay

sens lawn may be unwashed and popular , but they are n’t always a great fit . Whether you ’re having trouble keep a forage lawn goodish or are just attend for a more interesting alternative , there are plenty of options you’re able to choose from . One is planting a creeping thyme basis cover ! sneak thyme is a beautiful plant that cangrow in gardens and containers , but you could also have it spread out out to traverse your lawn . marvel if a creeping thyme ground cover is right for you ? Here ’s what you call for to know .

Is a creeping thyme ground cover right for you?

Creeping thyme is easygoing to plant and requires piddling fear , make it a good choice for homeowner who are engaged or jaunt often . Additionally , mouse thyme is a unfolding plant . During summer and early surrender , a grovel thyme reason cover will be full of pinkor imperial heyday , which are pretty to look at and attract pollinators . Creeping thyme get it on full sun and hot weather , and it ’s moderately drouth tolerant , so it ’s perfect for areas that are too gay or hot for some other grass alternatives like moss .

However , creeping thyme is n’t perfect . It is a member of the mint family , and like all lot plants , it spreads sharply and is n’t native . There is always a prospect that your sneak thyme ground cover will bunk into your neighbor ’s yard or other nearby gullible spaces . to boot , creeping thyme battle in full shade , so shadier yards might need a sundry lawn or a unlike ground cover all .

Planting creeping thyme

you may happen creeping thyme in seeds and plugs , and you may expend both to grow your footing covert . Before you start , remove all or most of the forage in the arena you want the creeping thyme ground cover to grow . If you ’re produce crawl thyme from seeds , wet the soil first , then scatter the seedslike you would wildflower seedsor grass ejaculate . Do n’t overcompensate the seeds , as they ask luminosity to rise . The fireplug will call for to be plant individually . infinite them rough 6 inches to 1 metrical foot aside , so they wo n’t crowd each other while establishing their root arrangement .

For the best result , flora creeping thyme in full sun and well - debilitate soil . While it can abide some ghost and an occasional operose rainstorm , you ’ll start to notice fewer flowers and more sparse ontogenesis in area that are funny and that have poor drainage .

Creeping thyme ground cover care

Creeping thyme is a brave industrial plant that only call for occasional care . While your seeds or chaw are grow , keep the ground moist but not soggy . after , you only need to water creeping thyme every other week or weekly during blistering , dry weather .

creep thyme stays relatively scant , so it does n’t need regular mowing . Many homeowners find they only need to pout creeping thyme ground covers a couple times per year or even less ! However , you may want to weed eat or prune the edges of your lawn to keep the creeping thyme from spread outside of your yard . This may also be necessary around the edge of your garden bed to keep the creeping thyme from crowding your fruits , vegetable , or flowers .

Potential concerns or downsides

As a non - native industrial plant that spread , there is the risk of cower thyme becoming invading or escape your yard . While maintaining the sharpness of your property can help oneself decrease that risk , it ca n’t prevent it entirely . Additionally , while the pollinators its blossom appeal are good for the environment , the bee can pose a risk if you have an active outside lifestyle or have young children who like to play outside .

If your G is heavily shaded or has section where water tends to build up , then creeping thyme might struggle to prosper in your railyard . Whileinstalling a French draincan serve water buildup , shady yards may simply need a different undercoat concealment .

Alternatives to creeping thyme

dope and creeping thyme are n’t the only ground covers available . So if you need a different ground covert , or you want to mix your creeping thyme basis cover with another plant , here are a few selection for you . For shady , cool , or wet yard , you might find out more achiever with a moss lawn . Vinca minor is anothercommon basis covering fire choice , as it is beautiful , dauntless , and adaptable . However , it ’s also not aboriginal and can become invasive if not carefully managed .

trefoil is another common ground masking , with many of the same benefits as Vinca minor and cringe thyme . While the most common white and red clovers are not native to the U.S. , there are some native trefoil species . Finding seeds for these native clover can be tricky , but they make excellent terra firma concealment . For gardeners in the Southwestern U.S.,turkey tangle frog fruitis a slap-up aboriginal ground cover .

sneak thyme primer coat screen may not be right for everyone , but it offer plenty of appealing qualities . If a plain green grass lawn is n’t to your liking , then switching to a more coloured , flowering undercoat blanket might be a great solution . substitute ground covers often require less mowing , and they are usually much more visually appealing . Whether you take grovel thyme or another floral ground back , both you and your local pollinators are certain to enjoy it .

Purple creeping thyme flowers

bernswaelz / Pixabay