![]() The best time to harvest the plant for these uses is after the blooming season has passed, when fresh growth has emerged. In addition to providing an attractive and aromatic ground cover, creeping thyme can be used to make tea, to flavor foods and to infuse oils and vinegars. These insects are best controlled with insecticidal soaps and Neem oil. The plant’s scent attracts helpful insects like honey bees, but is also enticing to aphids and spider mites. Impacted areas should be removed and discarded. Pests, diseases, and animalsĬreeping thyme is most vulnerable to root rot and botrytis rot, especially if it is planted in an area where drainage is less than optimal. If plants spread beyond their intended area or begin to encroach on other plants, they should be trimmed back in that area. If spent flowers are creating an unkempt appearance you can use a mower set to two or three inches high to trim the tops. ![]() In fact, cutting it back too frequently can inhibit growth and spread. PruningĬreeping thyme has a low enough profile that it does not require pruning or mowing. After a month of this gradual move, it is ready to be planted in its desired location. Within a few weeks the plant will have begun to root, at which time it is ready to be moved outdoors for short intervals until it has hardened off. Keep the cutting and soil mix in a sunny area, checking frequently to ensure that it remains moist. Then dip the cutting into rooting hormone and insert it into a hole in premoistened seed starting mix in a small container. Cut as close to the base of the stem as possible and remove the leaves from the bottom third of the stem. To divide an established plant, simply use a trowel to cut out a chunk about 4 inches deep, remove it carefully and transplant into another area with soil that has been premoistened.Īlternatively, you can take a cutting from a healthy stem of creeping thyme during its growing season. PropagationĬreeping thyme can be propagated through either division or from stem cuttings. If the soil is rich and well prepared it will not need any additional nutrients, but poor soil should be supplemented with a delayed-release fertilizer. Though the shallowness of their root system means that they can dry out easily, the plants are able to withstand dehydration once they are mature.Ĭreeping thyme’s need for fertilizer depends upon the quality of the soil in which it is planted. The soil beneath them needs to be kept moist in order to encourage their roots to get established. The creeping thyme’s greatest watering need comes when it is first planted. Placing mulch in the areas surrounding the plants is advised, though the mulch should not come into contact with the plant itself. Tamp down the earth around the plant, making sure that the roots contact the soil below.Īfter planting, the transplants and soil underneath need to be kept moist until contact and acclimation is complete. Dig a shallow hole for each new plant that is just deep enough to have its foliage level with the ground. ![]() Loosen them until a few of the rootlets are free from the tangle. If the plant is root-bound, take care when teasing the roots apart. When transplanting creeping thyme, take care not to damage its roots when you remove it from its tray or container. For creeping thyme that is being used to fill the spaces between flagstones, leave four to six inches between each plant, while creeping thyme being used as ground cover should be spaced much farther apart, at a distance of approximately 12 to 18 inches. Placement and distance between the plants depends upon the type and use. The soil where the creeping thyme is placed needs to be watered several times before planting to allow it to settle and the plants themselves should also be watered on the day that they will be transplanted. The first step before planting is to remove all weeds in the area and to level the ground, as any bumps and uneven areas will show on the surface of the ground cover. This will allow the roots to establish themselves through the growing season.Ĭreeping thyme needs soil with good drainage in order to allow the plant to flourish and spread. ![]() Planting should be done in late spring or early summer, after the fear of frost has passed. By Jo Cosgrove | Ecological Gardener, Horticulturist, and Educator – last update on December 2, 2021Ĭreeping thyme does best in an area that gets about four hours of sun a day.
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