How to Take Care of Creeping Thyme

Creeping thyme forms a dense mat of tiny leaves.

Creeping thyme tucked between stones or pavers adds both texture and color to the landscape. This low-growing herb creates a dense mat of foliage that comes alive with purple blooms in early summer. Often referred to as mother-of-thyme, this plant makes an excellent ground cover in sunny areas where soil may be too dry for other plants. You can use it for edgings to rock gardens or under birdbaths and bird feeders to enhance the appearance of your yard.

Things You'll Need

• Garden shears

Instructions

1. Water creeping thyme sparingly, as this plant prefers poor, dry soil. During long periods of drought, creeping thyme benefits from supplemental watering.

2. Trim the edges of creeping thyme to maintain the desired shape. Clip the growing tips back to the desired length at any time. This encourages dense foliage.

3. Shear off blooms once they have begun to fade. This encourages a flush of new growth and revives scraggly foliage.

4. Pull or clip weeds that grow up through the mat of foliage. Slide you hand under the mat of foliage and grasp the weed at the base. Cut or pull the weed and remove it by pulling it through the foliage. This works well for removing random witch grass or other invasive weeds.

Tips & Warnings

• Grow thyme in full sun.

• Do not walk on newly planted creeping time. Although established thyme tolerates foot traffic, young plants do not.

References

• Washington State University Extension: Creeping Thyme
• Colorado State University: Ground Covers and Rock Garden Plants for Mountain Communities
• Plantalk Colorado: Thyme

Resources

• Purdue University Extension: Growing Herbs