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Thyme, it’s not just for cooking anymore. Gardeners are discovering that many varieties of thyme ground cover are a hardy, fragrant addition to flower beds and landscapes. Thyme is easy to grow and is commonly used as a landscape accent. Some xeriscape gardeners have also entirely replaced grass with thyme, in effect creating a “thyme lawn”. With so many different species, there is a thyme plant for every need.
Thymes are considered a part of the herb family, although the ground cover varieties are generally not used in cooking. Thyme ground cover is a perennial plant, ranging in height from 3” to 12” tall. There are over 150 species of thyme plants. Originating in Mediterranean regions, thyme plants prefer moderate to dry soil. Too much water or inadequate drainage will cause the roots to develop rot. Incorporate sand or gravel into your soil to help the thyme plants thrive. In areas with high rainfall, thyme does best on slopes or hills to alleviate excess moisture problems. Most species prefer full sun, although some hybrid species have been developed to tolerate part shade.
Thyme ground cover has a variety of uses. Use a creeper like Red Creeping Thyme as a border along walkways or to fill the gaps between stepping stones. Wooly Thyme prefers dry, stony conditions, and will cascade over obstacles in a rock garden or soften a stone retaining wall. Doone Valley Thyme is one of the taller ground covers at 8”-10” and will mound up into lovely, lemon-scented accent plants. Use one of the smaller varieties, such as Elfin Thyme, to cover the ground below taller plants and shrubs.
If you’re feeling really adventurous, consider replacing entire sections of grass with a thyme lawn. Ensure that you have completely killed or removed existing grasses, then till the topsoil into the ground. Add a generous measure of compost to the area to be cultivated and incorporate it into the soil to a depth of 6”. Space thyme ground cover plants 6”-12” apart to ensure quick coverage. For added interest, consider planting two or three varieties in the same section of lawn for a variegated effect. Water twice a week until plants are established, at which point, most will not require any watering at all. Thyme lawns require little or no mowing, although many gardeners like to just take the tops of the plants after the flowering season to remove deadheads. Also, although thyme is tolerant of foot traffic and releases its fragrance when walked on, it is recommended that you add walkways or pavers in high traffic areas to prevent wear spots.
Thyme ground covers are truly versatile. They can be used as accents in beds and along walkways, soften a retaining wall or stony slope, and even replace your high maintenance grass lawn with a xeric, low maintenance lawn that releases a heady fragrance with every step. Quick growing, hardy, and disease resistant, a thyme ground cover provides a lot of landscape impact for only a little time and effort.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about landscape gardening and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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