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how do you plant creeping thyme between pavers

by Emelie Veum Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Though the thyme is typically sown indoors in pots or large trays, it can also be planted outside by placing seeds between two pieces of broken concrete “How to plant thyme between pavers” is a question that has been asked many times. One way to plant thyme between pavers is by using a small pot and filling it with soil.

Since thyme seed is so small, it's easiest to handle and plant by mixing it with sand - about four parts sand to one part thyme seed. Scratch the soil among the flagstones, then sprinkle the sand/seed mix on top at a rate so that you're depositing about 4 to 6 seeds per square inch. Tamp the seed into the soil surface.May 6, 2015

Full Answer

How do you plant Thyme in front of pavers?

Spread a bit of loose soil or sand over it, and then once you've planted a bunch, water well. This will help set the pavers, and fill in any air holes around the roots, a sure way to kill off a plant. Be prepared for a bit of time to elapse before the thyme fills in the complete gap between the pavers.

How do you grow creeping thyme ground cover?

The soil pH for growing creeping thyme plants should be neutral to slightly alkaline. Creeping thyme ground cover can be propagated via stem cuttings or divisions and, of course, can be purchased from the local nursery as either established plantings or seeds. Cuttings from the creeping thyme plant should be taken in the early summer.

How do you grow plants between Pavers?

Look for plants that are tough so you don’t have to tiptoe around them. Choose short plants that won’t obstruct your path, and plants that are suited to the current light exposure. Using plants that spread to fill the space around them make growing plants between pavers easier.

Does creeping thyme like sun or shade?

As mentioned, growing creeping thyme is a simple process due to its compatibility in a variety of soils and light exposures. Although this ground cover prefers well-drained lightly textured soils, it will grow quite well in less than desirable medium and thrive from sun to light shade environments.

Is creeping thyme good for between pavers?

Such plants as sedum and creeping thyme are favorites between pavers, bricks, and stones because they can handle some light foot traffic and neglect. Once these plants are established, they generally require very little maintenance to continue to grow and spread.

How do you plant groundcover between pavers?

Space the chunks 6 to 9 inches apart in the ground. Also remember to cover the bare spots with some light soil or compost that will help retain surface moisture until the plants fill in. Next, you'll need to irrigate the plants.

How do you plant creeping thyme in a walkway?

1:202:42Planting Creeping Thyme - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce you're ready just scatter the seeds where you want them to grow don't bury them but be sure toMoreOnce you're ready just scatter the seeds where you want them to grow don't bury them but be sure to press down the dirt for that all-important seed to soil. Contact.

What can you plant between brick pavers?

Planting Between PaversIrish moss – Irish moss adds soft, spongy texture to paths in shady areas. ... Elfin thyme – Elfin thyme is a miniature version of creeping thyme. ... Dwarf mondo grass – Dwarf mondo grass is a good choice for full or partial shade, and it is one of the few plants you can grow near black walnuts.More items...•

How fast does creeping thyme grow?

Tip. Creeping thyme grows slowly in the first year after planting, but growth speeds up in its second year. The speed of spread and mature size of each plant varies according to the species.

Can you walk on creeping thyme?

Thyme Alternative to Grass A creeping thyme lawn is not only drought resistant, but it generally requires much less water than traditional turf grasses too. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, can be walked upon, and will rapidly spread to fill in a space.

What can I plant between paving slabs?

Here are some ideas of plants you could add in between your paving cracks and wall gaps:Erigeron.Thyme.Marjoram.Smaller Alchemilla (vulgaris) variety.Aubretia.Helianthemum.Lavender.Dianthus.More items...•

Does creeping thyme come back every year?

Appears to have more flowers than foliage during its peak blooms. Covers the ground in color and breaks up all of the green. Is perennial, returning every year and requiring much less maintenance than grass.

Is creeping thyme poisonous to dogs?

“The creeping thyme does well as a dog-friendly ground cover. Irish Moss, Labrador Violet, Miniature Stonecrop (although invasive, so be careful where you plant it) as well as snow in summer are rather dog-abuse-tolerant and are non-toxic.”

What do you put between pavers?

Polymeric sand is a material used to fill paver joints, the empty spaces found between each paver, tile or natural stone. It is sometimes called jointing sand, paver sand or hardscape sand. Jointing sand is made up of fine grains, to which manufacturers add a mixture of specific additive particles.

Is creeping thyme invasive?

In general, these plants do not reach a height of more than six inches from the ground. These plants don't really have to be invasive as long as you know how to care for them.

What to put in between stepping stones?

What to put between stepping stones? If you are installing individual stones for each step, the area between steps can be made up of decomposed granite, rock, or even filled in with groundcover plants or sod.

How to propagate creeping thyme?

Creeping thyme ground cover can be propagated via stem cuttings or divisions and, of course, can be purchased from the local nursery as either established plantings or seeds. Cuttings from the creeping thyme plant should be taken in the early summer.

What is creeping thyme?

Creeping thyme, also known commonly as ‘Mother of Thyme,’ is an easily grown, spreading thyme variety. It is excellent planted as a lawn substitute or among stepping stones or pavers to create a living patio.

Is thymus praecox perennial or annual?

Thymus praecox is a low-growing perennial hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 with fairly minimal requirements. An evergreen with lightly haired foliage, this tiny-growing creeping thyme varietal — rarely over 3 inches or 7.5 cm. — will appear in low, dense mats, which sprawl randomly and quickly fill in areas as a ground cover.

Can creeping thyme grow in wet soil?

Soil should be kept moist but not wet, as the growing creeping thyme plant is susceptible to root drowning and edema.

Is creeping thyme edible?

Just like other thyme varieties, creeping thyme is edible with a flavor and aroma akin to mint when crushed or steeped for teas or tinctures. To harvest creeping thyme ground cover, either remove the leaves from the stems or dry them by snipping from the plant and hanging them upside down in a dark, well-aerated area.

What to plant between pavers?

Choose short plants that won’t obstruct your path, and plants that are suited to the current light exposure. Using plants that spread to fill the space around them make growing plants between pavers easier. Here are a few suggestions. Irish moss – Irish moss adds soft, spongy texture to paths in shady areas.

What is the best dwarf mondo to plant in between pavers?

The best dwarf mondo varieties for planting between pavers grow only an inch or 2 (2.5-5 cm.) tall and spread readily. Baby’s tears – Baby’s tears is another selection for shady locations. They are often sold as houseplants, but can also make wonderful little plants to grow within pavers.

How tall does Elfin Thyme grow?

It is sometimes sold as Scottish moss. Elfin thyme – Elfin thyme is a miniature version of creeping thyme. It grows only an inch or 2 (2.5-5 cm.) tall, and you’ll enjoy its pleasant fragrance. You can plant it in the sun, where it grows flat, or in the shade where it forms little hills.

What is the best thyme for pavers?

Elfin Creeping Thyme. Thymus praecox 'Elfin' is one of the best of the creeping aromatic evergreen thymes and perfect for use between stepping stones or pavers. In summer, pretty, tiny lavender flowers nearly cover the groundhugging mats of foliage that grow to about 1 or 2 inches in height.

How many varieties of creeping plants are there?

There are hundreds of varieties of creeping plants to choose from to fill those gaps. In fact, there are a couple companies I know of who specialize in nothing but growing creeping perennial plants and between them they offer hundreds of varieties.

What color is creeping Jenny?

For most of the year the foliage is golden-yellow in color however becomes tinged in orange during the cool season. Creeping Jenny will grow in any average soil and in sun or shade, though we think it stands out more in shade, lighting up shady areas of the garden.

What kind of soil do creeping thyme prefer?

Others, such as Sedums (Stonecrop) and Creeping Thyme prefer a more well-drained soil. Mixing it up.

How tall does thyme grow?

In summer, pretty, tiny flowers nearly cover the groundhugging mats of foliage that grow to about 1 or 3 inches in height, depending on variety. Thyme is easy to grow in the right conditions, growing best in light, dry, well-drained soil and full sun. A little shade is okay. Constantly soggy or wet soil is a killer.

How much space between pavers and stepping stones?

Space between stepping stones and pavers will vary with the type of path or patio. Sometimes there's only an inch or two space between stones or pavers, while in other situations, such as a more natural woodland path, there may be as much as 6-12" between stones.

What to use for a wide spreading plant?

If you plant a wide spreading plant in a pathway that provides only narrow spaces between the stones, the plants will quickly cover the stones, or you'll need to do more trimming to keep the plants in bounds. So, in narrow spaces, use stoloniferous, non-vining plants such as Mondo Grass or Blue Star Creeper.

Do creeping perennials get foot traffic?

How much foot traffic? Not all creeping perennials will handle lots of foot traffic. The rule of thumb is this: The more delicate the leaf structure, the less traffic they’ll be able to withstand. Plants such as Dwarf Mondo Grass (pictured below) will tolerate more foot traffic than Sedums.

Can you divide a plant stem?

Plants with a single main stem cannot be divided! If the gap you are wanting to fill between stones or pavers is narrow and tight try slicing long slender pieces to tuck in. If your existing path needs more space, you can chisel out some of the original path to create more of a gap for your plants.

Can you divide a creeping plant?

In small crevices, many creeping plants such as Blue Star Creeper (pictured below) and Dwarf Mondo Grass, which spread by underground roots (stolons, rhizomes), can be divided by using a utility knife to cut the root ball of the plant into halves or quarters. NOTE! Plants with a single main stem cannot be divided!

How tall should a plant be for pavers?

Height: A plant should be low growing, raging in height from basically flat to 2 inches tall. Anything taller could be trip pedestrians and make the pavers look as if they are sinking, even drowning. Rule of thumb: the larger the scale of the pavers, the taller the filler plants can be.

What is the best ground cover for flagstones?

Creeping thyme (Thymus spp): Considered one of the finest ground covers for filling in between flagstones. It meets all of the criteria of a good plant employee. This petite herb comes in many varieties, all with tiny, rounded fragrant leaves in shades of dark green, lime green, and even yellow with a white edging. Elfin or woolly thyme are especially good varieties that will grow in difficult soils, stay flat and are frighteningly easy to grow.

What is the color of the star creeper?

Above: Corsican mint set between concrete pavers, awaiting to release its minty fragrance. Blue star creeper (Isotoma) has starry, pale-blue flowers atop a bed of very flat, bright-green leaves. It blooms most heavily from spring through summer, with occasional flowers appearing the rest of the year.

How far apart should I plant flats?

Space the chunks 6 to 9 inches apart in the ground.

What is the best grass for a dark green carpet?

Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) is an excellent choice when you want a dark green carpet year-round. Dwarf mondo grass is an especially good choice that I routinely plant in all types of landscapes from Asian to modern. Slow, but well worth the wait. Above: Mondo grass nicely resembling a green Flokati rug.

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