#Elfin thyme free#

Make sure the soil is loose and free of weeds before you plant.It does well in most balanced soil conditions.It should get at least four hours of direct sun a day.However, some have been able to do it successfully.Īlthough it can do okay in shaded areas, it will offer the most “bang for its buck” if planted in a sunny spot. From personal experience and from hearing from other gardeners, growing ground cover from seed does not often produce the result you are looking for, so you may be better off going with plugs instead.

It will come as plugs or small potted cuttings. Photo via Flickr by Katherine Creeping Thyme Planting, Care, and Propagation TipsĬreeping thyme is available at many garden stores during the planting season. It can be used in container gardens where it will eventually spill over the edges of the container. Grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 9, although some varieties do better in warmer climates.Ĭreeping thyme isn't just for replacing grass or filling in space in a walkway.Gives the other plants in your garden the benefit of those extra bee visitors who will facilitate more pollination.Attracts bees-you’ll see bees buzzing about it during summer mornings.Is ideal for gardeners who are worried about pests, pets, or kids traipsing through their yard and holds up very well if walked on.Although it is not often harvested, creeping thyme, like any thyme variety, is edible and can be made into teas or other herbal remedies.Has tiny, hair-covered oval leaves with similarly-sized flowers that grow in clumps.Does not grow very tall-only about two to four inches maximum, so it won’t steal the show from other plants or shrubs.Is perennial, returning every year and requiring much less maintenance than grass.Covers the ground in color and breaks up all of the green.Appears to have more flowers than foliage during its peak blooms.Why Creeping Thyme Is an Optimal Ground Cover Used even in larger container arrangements outdoors to add an interesting bottom layer.More attractive than grass in awkward places and can slow weed growth in the areas they cover.Great in borders around tree trunks and can tolerate a wide range of shade or sun.Used along stone walls or drops and will “spill” over and hang down, creating the effect of a waterfall of flowers.Planted between stones in a pathway to add a colorful accent.

Used to accent an empty area bordering a yard or property.