Have you considered creeping thyme as a lawn alternative?
Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum), which is also known as “magic carpet” by some, is a type of low-growing plant that makes up for a great ground cover.
It is so effective that, over the years, it has slowly started to replace the traditional turf grass we are all used to.
While the name of this plant makes you think that thyme has its own genome family, all of them are actually part of the mint family.
This one in particular has become a staple in growing zones 4 through 9 for those who want an alternative to turf grass.
It is one of those plants that can be used as a lawn alternative, despite being known as an ornamental plant by most gardeners.
While you can also grow creeping thyme as an ornamental, filler plant, or container plant, today we are going to explore how you can use it as a lawn alternative and why you should give this low-maintenance plant a try if you do not want to deal with mowing too much!
Have you heard of creeping thyme lawns before? Would you be willing to give them a try? Share your answers in the comments!
What exactly is this thyme?
The best bet to see why this plant is a great lawn choice is to understand what it is and where it comes from, so you can get a better picture.
Creeping thyme is a perennial plant that is native to northern Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia.
As we mentioned before, it is low-growing, which is why it has been used as a lawn replacement since you are not going to see it get too high.
This plant creates a nice bed of foliage that is sometimes described as a mat.
Most agriculture professionals are fans of this plant since it is a great pollinator attractor due to its fragrant, attractive flowers.
Creeping thyme produces tubular, small flowers that most often come in purple but can also be spotted in various shades of pink too.
It generally blooms from June to early September, and it will turn your plant mat into a fragrant, vibrant rug of flowers!
If you are intrigued by this plant, make sure you buy the creeping variety so you get the dense mat that can become a beautiful lawn.
Here are the benefits of creeping thyme!
What made this plant slowly gain popularity was the fact that it is low-maintenance and drought-resistant!
These two qualities have been what have made people experiment with it as a lawn option, and they have not been disappointed. Creeping thyme covers the ground unevenly, and it does not deserve to be mowed at all!
Not only that, the pruning needed is minimal in order for it to maintain its aesthetic properties.
Another perk is that it is a great rabbit and deer repellent, which makes it a great choice for those who want to keep these visitors away from their yards.
Likewise, it is a natural pest repellent for some bugs, and it has also been proven to be resistant to many plant diseases that kill other popular plants.
Even if you do not choose it to cover your entire yard, professionals suggest you use it as a gap filler, especially between stone pavers and stepping stones, since it is an easy way of dealing with the bare ground with little to no hassle.
Planting instructions
If you want to give creeping thyme a go, the best time to plant it is between early spring and early summer, when the plant will have the best chance to root properly and establish itself well into the ground.
You can try to grow your own plants from seeds, or you can try to find them locally. Generally, you should be able to find creeping thyme at a nursery or garden center, either as plugs or small plants.
These small plants should be planned with 6 to 18 inches between them. In their first year of growth, you should expect the plants to just establish themselves, but in about three years, you should already have seen their speed.
In three years, the typical creeping thyme covers about 6 to 18 inches of ground.
To plant your plugs or small plants, you should make the holes slightly bigger than the root ball. Tease the roots before you place the plant in the ball, and then backfill the soil.
After tamping it with your fingers, make sure that during the establishing period, you keep the soil semi-moist. After the thyme has established itself, you can reduce irrigation.
Caring instructions
Despite creeping thyme being considered a plant that requires minimal maintenance once it has been established, there are certain things to keep in mind if you are planning to switch to this ground-covering plant. Let’s go through five of the most crucial things together!
Light
While it is a low-growing ground plant, creeping thyme does require sun exposure. It will need at least six hours of direct sunlight if you want it to be able to grow healthily.
If you plant it in a place that does not get enough sunlight, you can expect your creeping thyme to end up developing diseases or pests over time.
Soil
Creeping thyme is a hardy plant that can tolerate even the worst-regarded types of soil, like gritty, sandy, or rocky soils.
Despite this, you should ensure that your soil is slightly alkaline, which will support its healthy development and growth.
Water
This will come as good news to people who live in drought-prone zones, as creeping thyme is tolerant and even prefers soil moisture between dry and medium.
One thing to keep in mind is that you will need to keep the soil relatively moist while the plant establishes, and only then scale back on watering frequency.
If you overwater your thyme, it can easily develop root rot, so be careful.
Fertilizer
Since creeping thyme can grow even in subpar soils, the plant will not require fertilizer.
However, if you have soil that has very low nutrient levels, you can use some balancing fertilizer to give it a bit of extra nutrients.
If you want to ensure that the soil drains well and still offers some nutrients to the plant, you can incorporate a little bit of compost or organic matter in the soil.
Temperature
Keep in mind that creeping thyme does not get along with humid conditions. If anything, this plant thrives in drier areas that have good airflow.
Despite this, when the drought season comes around, make sure you keep an eye on it, as it can end up drying out from the high temperature.
Common issues to consider
Creeping thyme may sound like the perfect plant to replace your turf grass since it is low maintenance, but that does not mean that you cannot run into some issues down the line.
Problems with this plant are rare, but they can still be encountered.
When it comes to pests, you can expect to not have many issues on this front. However, the likes of spider mites, aphids, and even white flies.
They can easily persist if your plants are under stress caused by poor soil drainage, excessive moisture, high humidity, or a lack of sun exposure.
Creepin thyme is not a sickly plant, so you can expect it to avoid most plant diseases, but you still have to be mindful of root rot, as we previously mentioned.
The one drawback that some people discover after planting it is that it is sensitive to foot traffic. Creeping thyme is a lawn alternative, but it will not withstand heavy foot traffic as it is more of an ornamental and visual replacement.
If you expect to have a lot of people walking over it, then you should avoid creeping thyme!
If you’re interested in cultivating this plant, here are the seeds to help you get started!
If you have been looking for other in-depth analyses of plants, we have got your back. If you want to test your green thumbs with some easy-to-care-for home plants, we recommend cacti and succulents. Check out our spotlight on these gorgeous plants here!
