#Red creeping thyme for lawn how to

Look up a YouTube video in advance to get your technique right. This ancient tool is very easy to use and is a great investment for any gardener.

The holes offer more space for compost to seep in so thyme roots can easily reach downward.īroadforking is a bit of a workout, but you only need to do it once to your yard. The long, sharp tines of this unique tool help incorporate oxygen into lower soil levels so microorganisms can create better soil structure. If the soil under your turfgrass is exceptionally compacted or heavy in clay, broad forking can significantly improve aeration and drainage. Put your lawn mower on the lowest setting to cut the grass as short as possible. I highly recommend mowing before you start.

You have a few options for smothering or removing the turf. This is the most labor-intensive step, but it will dramatically improve your thyme lawn success. Smother the Grass To seed thyme successfully, the labor-intensive step of removing existing grass is crucial.īefore you can seed thyme, you’ll need to remove your lawn grass. In frigid northern zones, late spring is more desirable for strong establishment. If seeding in the autumn, start 6-8 weeks before your expected hard frost. Young plants have a hard time in intense summer heat. Fall or spring are the best times to establish this perennial lawn alternative.

#Red creeping thyme for lawn how to

How to Plant: 6 Simple Steps These plants establish best in fall or spring, avoiding intense summer heat.Ĭreeping thyme is cold-hardy in zones 4-9. If you mow or cut back half of the plant’s growth in the spring, it rejuvenates the foliage and keeps your lawn looking fresh.Ģ-3 years down the line, even with regular mowing, you are likely to still have a few woody plants these may need to be removed & replaced with younger plants to keep the lawn fresh and reduce the woody growth habit. As the plants age, they may become spindly or woody at the base. This herb enjoys semi-regular mowing or pruning and can become woody if it doesn’t get cut at least twice yearly. When you put creeping thyme head-to-head with high-maintenance turfgrass, this humble herb wins in almost every category except price. Benefits This ground cover attracts pollinators and outperforms high-maintenance turfgrass, making it an eco-friendly choice. Its vigorous growth chokes out weeds, so no herbicides or weeding are necessary. This low-growing perennial groundcover doesn’t require regular mowing or fertilizer. The beautiful herb remains green all summer, even when neighboring turfgrass has turned brown and dormant. This is one of the best lawn alternatives because it is incredibly drought-tolerant and low-maintenance. Does Creeping Thyme Make a Good Lawn? This easy-to-maintain plant thrives without mowing or fertilizers, keeping weeds at bay naturally. But before you rip out your grass, let’s dig into a step-by-step guide on how to grow a creeping thyme lawn the right way. The tiny blue-green leaves offer a dazzling display all summer long, and if you don’t mow, it produces bee-magnetizing fuchsia flowers throughout the summer.īest of all, this ground cover is tough, drought tolerant, and remarkably low maintenance. It eagerly colonizes any sunny yard, creating a cushiony lawn that naturally out-competes weeds.Īs a grass replacement, this quick-spreading herb grows low to the ground, forming a dense carpet of greenery.

Creeping thyme is an aromatic ground cover related to the Mediterranean kitchen herb we all adore. If you’re tired of constantly mowing, watering, and spraying your lawn, a creeping thyme lawn is an eco-friendly, low-maintenance, and delightfully fragrant alternative.