Creeping thymes(Thymus serpyllum) are little plants that spread horizontally forming dense mats. These fragrant perennials have small, narrow leaves and produce clusters of tiny, colorful flowers.
Suitable as a ground cover and for any location, growing creeping thyme is simple and easy. Here, we have brought a comprehensive guide on how to plant, grow and care for this plant, making sure you can enjoy the beauty and fragrance of creeping thyme in your garden.
Creeping thyme belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae. It is a dwarf, creeping, woody evergreen shrub that typically grows 2 to 3 inches tall and spreads 3 to 12 inches wide. Their thin stems carry tiny, oval-shaped, blue-green leaves and tiny, tubular, and pink, purple, or white flowers depending on the variety.
Creeping thyme suppresses weeds wherever it grows, making it a popular choice as a groundcover. It can also be planted in containers, rock gardens, and along walkways, surprisingly some of the varieties are resistant to foot traffic. These perennials don't demand extra care and can survive for years once established.
Apart from having ornamental value, some varieties of creeper thymes are used for culinary purposes. Their fragrant leaves are used to add a delicious touch to various dishes. The blooms can also attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
This can benefit your entire garden, as the presence of pollinators guarantees successful fruit production on the other plants.
Planting Space Preparation
Creeping thymes are best grown in zone 4 to 9. Though they are adaptable to a range of climates, they grow best in cool climates. The long day heat in hot climates may provide stress to these creepers.
Light: Choose an area that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. If you are planting them in a hot climate, make sure they get shade often, especially when the days are scorching hot.
Soil: The roots of the creeping soil prefer well-drained soil. As these creepers are spreading in nature, the roots need to spread freely for the proper development of the plants.
So, if you want vigorous growth in your desired area, consider avoiding waterlogged soil. Also, amend the soil before planting to ensure the roots get proper nutrition for establishment.
The best time to plant creeping thyme is early spring or early fall. As these plants bloom in late spring to early summer, planting them in early spring can be the best decision to avoid harsh conditions. Creeper thyme can be propagated through various means which are described below:
1. Cutting
Creeping thyme is mostly propagated through this method in new areas. Stem, 4 to 6 inches in length, is taken from a healthy plant and planted in the prepared soil. The lower leaves are removed and can be dipped in rooting hormones before planting.
2. Division
If already established creeping thyme plants are available, you can use this method for easy results. The clumps of the established plants are divided into smaller sections and replanted in prepared soil. Make sure the division you are planting has both root and shoot.
3. Layering
Layering is a less common propagation method in which the already existing stems are encouraged to root, while still attached to the parent plant. In this method, a section of the flexible stem is buried with the help of a small stone or U-shaped pin, keeping the tip exposed.
In a few weeks, roots emerge and you can cut the new plant free from the parent.
4. Seed:
Seeds of the creeper thyme can also be sowed directly into the garden. Once sowed, the soil be kept moist constantly until they germinate.
A Guide On Varieties
Not every variety of creeper thyme is appropriate for all spaces. Some of the varieties grow rapidly and tend to cover a large area in a very short time while some are limited to certain spaces.
Coccineus (red creeping thyme) and purple creeping thyme are fast-growing varieties that are great for larger gardens or areas where you want quick coverage. Pink Chintz, Elfin, and Doone Valley on the other hand have compact growth habit that makes them ideal for smaller gardens, filling between stepping stones, or containers.
Another thing to consider is foot traffic. If you are planning to plant creeper thyme in areas where it might be walked on occasionally, then there are sturdy varieties that can withstand light foot traffic better. Elfin or Reiter can be the perfect choice in such cases.
Watering Schedule
Creeper thymes are drought-tolerant plants. These plants need proper watering only until the establishment of their roots, after which they can survive for weeks without water.
Once you have planted creeper thyme, water them every 2-3 days for the first few weeks. Once they are established, watering once a week or two is enough. Frequent shallow watering, if done, can encourage the growth of shallow roots that make the plants more vulnerable to drought stress.
Fertilization Schedule
Light feeding is sufficient for creeping thyme. These plants can be fertilized once a year, in early spring, when new growths begin to appear. It's best to use organic fertilizer like compost or manure.
Alternatively, you can use a balanced fertilizer. For application, sprinkle the fertilizer on the base of the plants and water immediately to help them dissolve and reach the roots.
We recommend you not to fertilize creeping thyme late in the growing season. Doing so may encourage new growths that won't be able to withstand the cold damage.
Early spring and after flowering are generally the best times for pruning. During the growing season, prune them lightly to maintain their size and obtain dense growth.
A light pruning may be performed in early fall to tidy up the plants before winter, heavy pruning can add stress to the plants during this time. Use sharp pruning shears for pruning to make clean cuts.
Spring Pruning: As the winter ends and the spring begins, prune back the previous year's growth to about half its height. This helps the plant to rejuvenate and gather all the new growths effectively.
Deadheading: As the plant enters the flowering season, remove spent flowers (deadheading) to deviate the plant's energy from seeding. As a result, the plant can focus on new flowers providing abundant blooms. Continue the process throughout the growing season.
Maintenance Pruning: This pruning process focuses on dead, damaged, or diseased foliage. These foliages are removed instantly on being noticed, preventing any probability of development and spread of diseases.
Light Trimming: Light trimming focuses on maintaining a compact appearance. As the main flush of blooms fades, straggly or leggy growth is trimmed back so the plant looks tidy. Don't focus on the old wood, as this can harm them and reduce the flowering potential of the whole plant.
How To Care For Creeping Thyme?
Pre-Plantation Care
Full sun or partial shade is best for obtaining a full bloom of creeper thyme. So, don't compromise on providing them a plantation space that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Make sure the soil in the area of the plantation is well-draining, you can also amend the soil to achieve this.
Plantation Care
Plant creeping thyme when temperatures are mild and rainfall is more plentiful. Choose the right variety and provide proper spacing for the chosen one. After planting, water immediately to help settle the soil around the roots and provide initial hydration for the plant.
Post-Plantation Care
1. Mulching
A thin layer of mulch should be applied around creeping thyme plants to help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Use organic mulches if possible, as they decompose over time providing nutrition to the plant. Apply carefully and avoid covering the crown of the plants.
2. Prevent Overwatering
Overwatering during and after the establishment of the roots is not suggested. During establishment, overwatering may hinder the process of root formation and the plants may not grow successfully.
After the plant has entered the growing stage, overwatering can prevent its proper spread and can attract soil fungi that rot the roots.
3. Don't Overfertilize
Overfertilizing is not the key for achieving the successful growth of creeping thyme! If nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used in excess, the plant may focus on the vegetative growth more.
This reduced the rate of flowers in the plant diminishing its ornamental value. Due to excessive growth, the plant energy is distributed haphazardly, giving rise to weaker stems.
If the growth of the plant is properly maintained, the plant can focus more on flowering. Prune regularly for the optimum blooms in the flowering season. Maintenance also ensures proper air circulation, making the plant less susceptible to diseases.
5. Winter Care
If you are planning to grow creeper thyme in colder climates, apply a layer of mulch in late fall to protect roots from frost heaving. This promotes the health of the roots, making sure they are able to function efficiently in the next growing season.
6. Companion Planting
Companion plants with similar growth requirements as creeping thyme such as lavender and rosemary can be grown alongside them. These plants will serve as a good friend of creeping thyme, attract beneficial insects that will feed on harmful insects and attract a lot of pollinators in the garden!
7. Dividing
Every few years, divide mature creeping thyme plants to rejuvenate them and create new plants. This prevents overcrowding and promotes healthier growth of the plant.
Pests and Diseases
Creeper thyme is usually resistant to pests and diseases. However, like any plant, it can still be susceptible to certain diseases under unfavorable conditions. Some of the pests and diseases that have been reported in creeper plants are listed below:
1. Aphids
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects. They form clusters and settle on the undersides of leaves and tender stems. The colors of aphids vary, they may be green, black, brown, yellow, or red depending on the species.
These insects suck saps of the plants which can lead to stunted growth. Heavy aphid infestations can cause leaves to curl, distort, or become puckered.
Aphids can hence decrease the rate of photosynthesis in plants. They are also able to transmit viral diseases from plant to plant as they feed. These diseases can further weaken the whole plant or even cause death of the plant.
2. Spider Mites
Spider mites are tiny pests that are not visible to the naked eye. They create fine webbing on leaves and feed by sucking sap from plants. As these insects can pierce the plant cells and extract the contents, they can create spots on the leaves.
Severe infestations can cause leaves to turn yellow, dry out, and eventually fall off.
Like aphids, spider mites can reduce the plant's ability to photosynthesize effectively. The creeper thyme plant hence weakens and makes it more susceptible to other diseases.
Root rot is caused by fungal pathogens such as Phytophthora or Pythium. These fungi are prevalent in poorly drained soil or overwatered soil. They attack the roots of creeping thyme causing them to decay. The symptoms include yellowing and wilting of leaves and reduced growth of the plants.
4. Grey Mold
Gray mold is caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. These fungi are easily found in cool, humid conditions and attack the leaves, stems, and flowers of creeping thyme.
The infected parts of the plant develop a fuzzy grayish-brown mold that spreads rapidly throughout the plant. The fungus can easily spread to other plants through airborne spores that can be carried by wind, water, insects, and even through human handling.
Management of Pests and Diseases
If there are few aphids on the tips of the creeping thyme, simply prune off the affected parts and dispose of them. This helps to prevent the further spread of them.
While watering, use a strong stream of water from a garden hose to dislodge any pests from the plant. Pests tend to congregate on the undersides of the leaves, so focus the spray on that particular side.
Companion planting can be the best solution for pests. Flowers like marigolds and chives have the capacity to repel aphids.
Natural insecticides like neem oil can repel pests. As a last resort, use chemical insecticides if the spread is massive.
In cases of root rot and gray mold, decrease the frequency of watering the creeper thyme. Water deeply but infrequently making sure that the soil does not get waterlogged.
Destroy plant parts infected by gray mold including leaves and stems showing signs of mold.
As a last resort to control severe fungal diseases, use specific fungicides following the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
