Growing Tips
- Select a sunny planting area with well-draining soil.
- Prep the site by weeding and smoothing out soil clumps.
- Sow seeds directly, or plant starts.
- Water seeds daily until germination occurs.
- Give each plant ample room to grow.
- Provide regular watering as plants mature, slowly easing up on irrigation.
Full Answer
How do you grow Thymus praecox?
T. praecox enjoys dry, fast-draining soil and full sun conditions, and it does not need to be fertilized. Grow it in sandy, rocky, or otherwise poor soil in areas that receive six or more hours of sunlight each day.
How deep do you plant creeping thyme?
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Can I plant creeping thyme seeds directly in the ground?
How To Grow Creeping Thyme From Seed: Plant Creeping Thyme seeds directly outdoors after frost danger has passed. Prepare a seed bed, loosening the soil and weeding it. Scatter the Creeping Thyme ground cover seeds and press the seeds firmly into the soil. Keep the seeds consistently moist.
How do you plant thyme grass?
Plant the thyme plugs about 8 inches (20 cm.) apart and water in well. Thereafter, say goodbye to fertilizing, thatching, regular watering, and even mowing if you so desire. 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.
What is the best time to plant creeping thyme?
Planting should be done in late spring or early summer, after the fear of frost has passed.
How long does it take creeping thyme to spread?
Generally, creeping thyme takes one year to get established, and then begins to spread in its second season. The herb thyme (Thymus spp.) All creeping thymes spread by sending stems along the ground's surface to periodically grow leaves and roots.
How many creeping thyme seeds do I need per square foot?
Thyme seed is very, very small so the amount of area you can sow really depends on your sowing method. For planting a 1” space between pavers, we would recommend one packet per 6-10 feet.
Should I soak creeping thyme seeds before planting?
Seed Preparation: Thyme seeds do best with a little cold stratification or an overnight soak.
Does creeping thyme come back every year?
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.
What happens if you mow over creeping thyme?
Mowing creeping thyme too closely results in a sparse ground cover that may let weeds invade the garden bed.
Is creeping thyme better than grass?
A creeping thyme lawn is drought-resistant and requires less water than traditional turf grasses. Would you believe it's possible to have a good-looking, thick, soft ground cover that also saves on water? If you're looking for a practical reason to switch to a creeping thyme lawn, this is it.
Can I plant creeping thyme over grass?
Expert Response. 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.
Will creeping thyme choke out other plants?
Creeping Thyme Creeping Thyme spreads by sending runners underground that choke out other plants, including weeds. It has a maximum growth height of about four inches, which is considered the ideal height for lawns, and beautiful pink, purple or blue flowers.
How many creeping thyme seeds do I need per square foot?
Thyme seed is very, very small so the amount of area you can sow really depends on your sowing method. For planting a 1” space between pavers, we would recommend one packet per 6-10 feet.
Can you plant creeping thyme over grass?
Expert Response. 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.
Does creeping thyme come back every year?
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.
When to divide creeping thyme?
Creeping Thyme is easily divided in spring or early fall , and even small pieces will take root and grow. Attractive to butterflies. Evergreen. Further details for. Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’. Optimal Growing Conditions.
What is the plant number of thyme?
Plant number: 1.515.150. There are a great many selections of Thyme grown in gardens, all of them with some degree of spicy fragrance. This flat-growing Thyme features fragrant dark green leaves, smothered by bright magenta-red flowers in early summer.
Is thyme a drought tolerant plant?
This flat-growing Thyme features fragrant dark green leaves, smothered by bright magenta-red flowers in early summer. A strong grower, ideal as a drought-tolerant lawn substitute or for planting between flagstones, tolerating moderate traffic. Creeping Thyme is easily divided in spring or early fall, and even small pieces will take root and grow. Attractive to butterflies. Evergreen.
How to get rid of red creeping thyme?
You can also remove any red creeping thyme that has spread too far in your yard. Be sure to disinfect your pruning shears or scissors before cutting back the plants. This helps to prevent disease from spreading in your garden.
How tall does creeping thyme grow?
Red creeping thyme is drought tolerant but may die in continuously wet conditions. Plants grow low to the ground, only reaching 3 to 6 inches tall, making them an effective ground cover. You can also use them as border plants or grow them in containers.
Does red creeping thyme spread?
Red creeping thyme does creep and spread. The stems of the plant grow horizontally and grow new roots when the stems contact the soil, advises The Morton Arboretum. Be sure the spreading nature of the plant will not be an issue in the location you select.
Is creeping thyme good for foot traffic?
Creeping thyme is tolerant of some foot traffic. Walking on the plant releases a pleasant fragrance. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension notes that the oil from fresh or dried leaves can be used as a disinfectant or antiseptic.
Can you apply diatomaceous earth to soil?
You can also apply diatomaceous earth to the soil. This scratches the slugs when they move over it, resulting in injury, dehydration and death, notes Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. Commercial pesticide products for slugs are also available.
Can slugs damage thyme?
Creeping thyme has few problems. Slugs in your yard or garden may damage the plants, especially in damp conditions. They feed on the foliage of your plants, leaving large holes in the leaves. Keeping the ground free of leaf litter and mulch can help make the area inhospitable for slugs. Handpick visible slugs.
How tall does Coccineus grow?
arcticus. Evergreen in mild winters. Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society. Grows up to 2-3 in. tall (5 -7 cm) and will spread over time by rooting stems to 12 in. (30 cm).
What is a creeping thyme?
Thymus Coccineus Group (Creeping Thyme) includes dwarf, aromatic sub-shrubs forming a showy carpet of tiny, glossy, blue-green leaves. Blooming profusely in early to mid summer, it features clusters of small, deep pink, tubular flowers. Rich in nectar, they attract butterflies.
Description
Thymus praecox ‘Coccineus’ features small, rosy-purple flowers blooming above a dense carpet of deep green, aromatic foliage. Deer resistant.
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How to propagate creeping thyme?
Creeping thyme ground cover can be propagated via stem cuttings or divisions and, of course, can be purchased from the local nursery as either established plantings or seeds. Cuttings from the creeping thyme plant should be taken in the early summer.
What is creeping thyme?
Creeping thyme, also known commonly as ‘Mother of Thyme,’ is an easily grown, spreading thyme variety. It is excellent planted as a lawn substitute or among stepping stones or pavers to create a living patio.
Is creeping thyme edible?
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. To harvest creeping thyme ground cover, either remove the leaves from the stems or dry them by snipping from the plant and hanging them upside down in a dark, well-aerated area.
Is thymus praecox perennial or annual?
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 or 7.5 cm. — will appear in low, dense mats, which sprawl randomly and quickly fill in areas as a ground cover.
Can creeping thyme grow in 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.
Is creeping thyme deer resistant?
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. Creeping thyme is also capable of withstanding tromping upon by rambunctious kids (making it kid resistant as well!), which makes it an exceptional planting choice anywhere that has frequent foot traffic.
What does thymus mean in Greek?
Thymus or thymon is Greek for "courage." Through the centuries it has been used for traditions relating to this theme. Roman soldiers bathed in thyme water, European knights carried thyme tokens. Other folklore talks of thyme as being the home of fairies.
What zone is a sage plant hardy in?
This plant is hardy in zones 5 - 10. Zones are based on the lowest average temperature an area is expected to receive during the winter. They are used to determine whether a plant is likely to be perennial in your area.
How tall is creeping thyme?
Creeping Thyme Coccineus is one of the very best flowering groundcovers. 1 to 3 inches tall in sun or partial shade. (Thymus praecox) To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter.
What is thyme used for?
Today, various members of the large thyme tribe are used in herb gardens, of course, but also as ornamentals in flower gardens and as ground covers. Its signature foliage, usually gray-green, is highly decorative, and the plants require almost no care once they are established.
How to determine if a plant is cold hardy?
To determine if a plant is sufficiently cold hardy, the USDA created numbered zones indicating winter low temperatures; the lower the zone number the colder the winter.
Is thyme essential oil still used?
Its been claimed to be everything from a trance-inducing drug to an aphrodisiac. Today, the essential oil from thyme is still commonly used--its a major ingredient in Listerine! Best of all, of course, is Thymes heavenly fragrance. (All parts of the plant are fragrant.)
Is creeping thyme drought tolerant?
Many gardeners who grow it even use it in areas where it gets light foot traffic! And it goes right on being beautiful and green, with wonderful flowers every year. Creeping Thyme must have a fast-draining location, since this plant, like lavender, is a dry land species, making it extremely drought-tolerant.
