A pussyfoot thyme lawn is an fantabulous alternative to a traditional lawn . Planting low - growing creep thyme as a lawn substitute is easier to maintain and requires less watering . Additionally , creeping thyme transforms your M every summer with a mantle of pink , purple or magenta - red flowers — something a distinctive lawn can never do . Also , a grovel thyme lawn fly high in full Dominicus and does n’t suffer sun singe like traditional turfgrass .

crawl thyme is one of the manyplants desirable as a lawn alternative . The tight - spreading cringe flora quickly bring root in the soil , and its evergreen plant leafage stays green throughout the twelvemonth . Because it ’s idealistic for xeriscaping , creeping thyme is a popular plant to acquire in place oftraditional lawn Gunter Wilhelm Grass .

What is it about creep thyme lawn that makes it so popular as anevergreen ground cover plantin place of a lawn ? Is it wanton to maintain a creep thyme lawn ? And how can you supplant your existing lawn with creeping thyme ? This clause answers these questions and more .

What is Creeping Thyme Lawn?

A mouse thyme lawn is a brilliant alternative to turfgrass . multifariousness of low - rise thyme like blood-red crawling thymeThymus serpyllum‘Coccineus ’ only grow 2 to 3 inches ( 5 – 7.5 atomic number 96 ) marvelous . Their spreading nature mean ground cover thyme industrial plant imprint a rug of luxuriant green foliage that need fiddling maintenance .

But why look for a lawn choice ? Why not just keep wield your exist turfgrass to raise the aesthetics of your property ?

It ’s well to call back that lawns are n’t just for appearance . Maintaining a lush , healthy lawn is good for the surround .

For example , a lawn reduces hard surfaces like brick paving and concrete in your yard . In increase , the evergreen vegetation does a lively job of cleaning the aura , immobilise carbon copy dioxide , preventing soil wearing away , lowering noise levels , and reducing temperatures .

However , defend a turfgrass lawn can be expensive . For good example , it strike 0.62 gallons per square foot weekly to keep your lawn goodish and green . Therefore , look for a lawn substitute is a good idea . This is especially true if youmaintain a lawn in southern states like Florida .

Creeping thyme is the ideal choice to a sward lawn . The low - spread out , flowering plant life does everything a distinctive lawn should do . It traps CO2 , reduces noise , prevents pee overflow , and clean the aviation . However , because it ’s drought tolerant and thrive in full sun , creep thyme lawn uses few resources to keep .

Types of Creeping Thyme Lawn

Plants suitable for get a creeping thyme lawn should only grow a few inches grandiloquent , withstand moderate foot dealings , and take little time to sustain . So what are the bestcreeping thyme varietiesyou can rise instead of turfgrass ? Here are four variety show of cringe thyme lawn plants .

Red Creeping Thyme Lawn (Thymus serpyllum‘Coccineus’)

Red crawl thyme lawn ( Thymus serpyllum ‘ Coccineus ’ ) has humble deep Battle of Magenta colored flower

Red pussyfoot thymeis a democratic lawn alternative because of its low - growth habit , evergreen plant foliation , and deep ruddy - pinkish flowers . Red creeping thyme lawns maturate up to 3 ” ( 7.5 centimetre ) improbable and circulate a wide length when the stems beginning in the dirt . The rich pinkish flowers bloom throughout summertime .

carmine mouse meter is also an attractive scarlet - flowering ground cover plant . The horizontally circulate stems prevent soil erosion and skunk increment . They are covered in tiny evergreen or semi - evergreen oval leaves . to boot , the tiny pink tubular flowers flower in mass , create a sea of reddish colors .

Purple Creeping Thyme Lawn (Thymus serpyllum)

Purple creeping thyme is a low grow perennial ground cover plant with majestic - pink flush that thrive in full sun

A purple creeping thyme lawn is an attractive carpet of glossy colored green leafage and redolent purple flowers . Thepurple flowers on this ground cover plantare modest , attractive , star - shape blooms . As an aromatic lawn , purple creep thyme let out minty scent when you take the air on it .

Like most sneak thyme species , thisfast - develop ground cover plantgrows 2 ” to 3 ” ( 5 – 7.5 centimeter ) grandiloquent and disseminate by take root stems in the grunge .

Pink Creeping Thyme Lawn (Thymus serpyllum‘Elfin’)

Elfin creep thyme is suitable for poor soils and is a low - maintenance easy to deal for ground blanket

TheThymus serpyllumElfin cultivar is an idealistic pink creeping thyme lawn . Elfin thyme is a low - spreading plant life with fragrant , glossy immature oval leaves and abundant pinkish - purple flowers that make a mat of beautiful colors in summertime . This creeping thyme lawn industrial plant grows 1 ” to 3 ” ( 2.5 – 7.5 cm ) tall and spreads tight .

Woolly Creeping Thyme Lawn (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)

cower woolly thyme is a mat - forming undercoat cover plant with fuzzy leave-taking and pallid pinkish bloom

Woolly sneak thyme is apink - flower basis cover charge plantwith features suitable for a lawn option . The crawl thyme variety is discover by its fuzzy leaves with a minty rosemary olfactory property . In addition , the unfolding lawn works has pale pinkish flower and only get 3 ” ( 7.5 cm ) tall .

Further recitation : type of Creeping Thyme .

The Benefits of Creeping Thyme Lawn

Creeping thyme is a bang-up choice for replacing grass because it will grow quick without needing much maintenance . Creeping thyme does n’t require much lacrimation , fertiliser , or mop . Other benefit of this creeping flowering flora let in its power to withstand light substructure dealings and improve your thousand ’s coming into court .

Here are seven benefit of growing a creeping thyme lawn in your front or backyard :

Creeping thyme is an excellent flowering ground cover

ruby creeping thyme and other sneak thyme varieties do n’t produce taller than 3 ” ( 7.5 cm ) , take a crap them excellent ground cover charge plant . Its medium growth charge per unit and spreading nature mean it sprawls over au naturel solid ground without becoming invading . Thanks to its evergreen foliage , the herbaceous spreading plant keeps yards looking succulent all year .

Creeping thyme lawn doesn’t require mowing

All variety show of creeping thyme worthy for a lawn substitute require almost no mowing . The sprawling plant life has a naturally low tallness , entail you do n’t need to drive a lawnmower over it . In addition , creep thyme creates a low - maintenance lawn that prevents weed growth .

However , you could determine to mow the creeping thyme lawn once a year . Even though the plant is a woody perennial , the woody , spread stems wo n’t affect a mower if you decide to trim it . mow after florescence can encourage bushy growth and a wide spread .

Creeping thyme lawn has aromatic leaves and flowers

One welfare of planting a creep thyme lawn is to replete your yard with pleasant aromas . Thyme is an herbaceous industrial plant and a member of the mountain familyLamiaceae . walk over a creeping thyme lawn releases of the essence oils , giving off a pleasant minty fragrance . Additionally , you’re able to use thyme leaves to flavour food for thought .

Creeping thyme lawn withstands foot traffic

Red creep thyme , woolly thyme , and other creeping thyme motley make splendid lawn alternatives because they create walkable ground cover solution . The woody stems of creeping thyme bounce back under light to temperate foot dealings without showing signs of wear and bout . Additionally , its drought allowance creates a highly resilient lawn .

Creeping thyme lawn requires less water than turfgrass

Do you want a full-bodied greenish lawn without the need to irrigate it oft ? If so , creep thyme ground cover plant are the answer . A creeping thyme lawn needs a fraction of the piss traditional lawns involve . Therefore , even in hot , sunny conditions , thyme lawns do n’t show signs of accent , grow browned , or die off .

Creeping thyme lawn is ideal for xeriscaping

Growing a grovel thyme lawn is perfect for plant in a xeric garden where water preservation is crucial . After being found , creeping thyme plants take little more than natural rainfall to thrive if the soil is well - draining . In fact , the quality of the of the essence oils improves in drouth conditions .

Creeping thyme lawn is deer resistant

Planting a creep thyme lawn is arrant if deer are a trouble in your area . cervid tend to quell clear of pussyfoot thyme and will research out tastier dainty . So , the unspoilt news program with this lawn substitute plant is that it is rarely on a deer ’s carte .

Related reading : Top tip on keeping deer out of your yard .

Disadvantages of Creeping Thyme Lawn

Despite the benefits of a creep thyme lawn , it has some drawback . For example , thyme ground cover works require full sun and well - drained soil . Therefore , not all areas of your yard may be suitable for this lawn choice . So , what are the other thoughtfulness when grow a creeping thyme lawn ?

Creeping thyme lawn can be expensive

Cost is the most significant drawback of planting a creeping thyme lawn rather of traditional turfgrass . grease one’s palms thyme seedling can be more expensive than laying Mary Jane semen . And thyme seed is challenging to burgeon forth . Therefore , the good solution is to pop out with a pocket-size area and allow the thyme to circularise yr after year .

Creeping thyme lawn doesn’t grow well in the shade

Growing a creeping thyme lawn is n’t hardheaded if your curtilage is in the tad . Even in partial specter , creeping thyme does n’t flourish . Instead , its woody stems become long-legged and thin with botany . Additionally , thyme growing in the tint is susceptible to pests and weeds .

Related reading : Ground compensate plants for the ghost .

Creeping thyme lawn requires well-draining soil

A disadvantage of using creeping thyme industrial plant as a substitute for a turfgrass lawn is that the flora requires fantabulous drain . Thyme roots are prone to root rot if the ground is too pixilated or soggy . Overly damp soil can end up kill the ground cover plant .

Creeping thyme lawn is harder to install than a traditional grass lawn

Unfortunately , grovel thyme lawns take more time to install . Therefore , they are not quick - hole lawn replacements . The spreading plant will take a few years to create heavy evergreen reason cover . And , it is impossible to buy bowl of ready - to - install thyme lawns to transmute your yard instantly .

Creeping thyme lawn attracts pollinators

Although attracting pollinators to your M is generally a positive affair , stack of majestic flowers throughout the summer can pull in too many bees . Therefore , depending on the size of your lawn and tolerance for flying , cutting insects , a creep thyme lawn may not be for you .

Creeping Thyme Lawn vs. Traditional Lawn

crawl thyme lawns take less water than distinctive turfgrass lawn . Therefore , the lawn option is more live in raging weather , and its evergreen foliage wo n’t go brown like distinctive eatage in hot atmospheric condition . Additionally , a creeping thyme lawn provides an teemingness of purple , reddish , and pinkish flowers in a summer landscape , unlike traditional lawn .

How to Plant a Creeping Thyme Lawn

Although an aromatic creeping thyme lawn demand more endeavour to install than laying traditional sod , it is not unmanageable , and the effect are deserving it . In addition , once launch , a creeping thyme lawn takes less maintenance and resources than celebrate a traditional lawn expect lush , healthy , and greenish .

To replace an survive lawn , you must dispatch the turf skunk . The easy room to get rid of an exist lawn is to encompass the existing grass with cardboard and mulch for one time of year . This kills the Mary Jane , and you may establish creeping thyme plants directly in the ground the following season .

The other , faster option to replace a traditional lawn with a cringe thyme lawn in one season is to withdraw the pasturage physically . Next , till the dirt to absent large items like roots , rocks , and debris . Finally , to get the territory quick for planting , amend it with bone meal to increase the alimental subject matter .

Once the soil is ready for plant in former spring , you could imbed thyme plugs 8 ” ( 20 cm ) aside and water good . As creeping thyme grows , it will spread horizontally , finally filling the gap and create a new , low - maintenance lawn . You will need to water the ground often for the first few month to assist prove the roots .

During the first year , anticipate the thyme plant life to grow slowly . However , its development pace speeds up in subsequent years .

How to Care for a Creeping Thyme Lawn

Although a creeping thyme lawn is relatively straightforward to care for , there are some things to keep in mind . For case , the low - growing ground cover plant ask plenty of fair weather and relatively wry conditions to thrive . Also , you must ensure piddle does n’t puddle on the lawn .

Here are some top tips on give care for creeping thyme plants that spring up as a lawn alternative :

How to weewee creep thyme lawn : Creeping thyme lawns are relativelyresistant to drought . However , you should n’t allow the ground to get parched . Therefore , in the hottest , gay calendar month water when there has been no rainfall , water the lawn when the top 3 ” ( 7.5 atomic number 96 ) of topsoil is dry .

It ’s proficient to recollect that in most conditions in USDA zone 4 to 9 , established creeping thyme lawn get by on regular rain without additional watering .

Pruning a creeping thyme lawn : The way to lop a creeping thyme lawn is by using your lawnmower . Set the blade at the highest or around 4 ” ( 10 cm ) . Then pout the thyme lawn in row , taking care not to make more than one bye . last , you may apply a light , flexible rip to remove cut foliage from the surface .

It ’s good to remember that dress or mow a creeping thyme lawn is not a requirement . However , thinly mowing the lawn in other outflow and late fall can encourage healthy growth and abundant blooming .

crawl thyme lawn fertilizer : creep thyme lawn do n’t require fertilise . One of the benefits of growing creeping thyme for primer coat covering is that it adapts well to poor soils . This is one of the ways that adding a creeping thyme lawn to your landscape painting saves resource and do good your garden ’s ecosystem .

Does a Creeping Thyme Lawn Require Mowing?

By develop a cringe thyme lawn in your front or backyard , you may say arrivederci to arduous lawn mowing . The maximum height of creeping thyme is 2 ” to 3 ” ( 5 – 7.5 cm ) . According toMichigan State Universityresearchers , this is the same recommend pinnacle for standard turfgrass . researcher say that taller grass cut accent and avail suppress smoke growth .

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