Most thyme plants are perennial in moderate climates.
It can be used as groundcover, in garden beds, between pavers, or grown in containers.
Creeping thyme is deer-resistant.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
How to Plant Creeping Thyme
Plant creeping thyme from seeds or potted nursery starts in the spring.
If grown from nursey starts, space 6 to 12 inches apart.
However, if using as a grass substitute, you’ll want a closer spacer for denser coverage.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Seeds should be planted one inch apart and thinned if more than one seed germinates.
Like most herb plants, creeping thyme seems to thrive in poor soils.
They will grow best in full sun, although they will tolerate some shade.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It grows best in USDA zones 2-9.
Roots should be kept moist but not waterlogged.
Ideally, you’ll water creeping thyme every 10 days in normal weather conditions.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Light
Keep your creeping thyme plant in full sun.
This plant needs at least six hours daily to thrive.
Soil
Ensure your thyme plant has adequate drainage.
An essential element to soil success with thyme is drainage.
It doesn’t like wet feet, so verify the soil drains well.
It loves loose, sandy, rocky soil, and even loam if it drains well.
It does not do well inwet clay.
Water
Do not let creeping thyme get parched, especially when it’s a young plant.
You want the roots to be moist, but they should not be sitting in standing water.
Temperature and Humidity
As a general rule, thyme plants don’t like humidity.
Also, add sand or gravel around the plant’s base to prevent contact with moist soil.
Affected plants should revive when the weather turns cooler and drier.
Fertilizer
Creeping thyme growing in well-prepared soil shouldn’t need to be fed.
For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions.
However, several types of creeping thyme are low to the ground and spread efficiently.
Pruning
Creeping thyme plants can become woody over time.
Prune back creeping thyme stems in the early spring to prepare the plant for the growing season ahead.
Prune again after the flowers die back, usually by the end of summer.
In late fall, after the first frost, prune the leggiest, woodiest stems by half.
This pruning encourages vigorous, young growth in the spring.
Pruning Tip
No pruners?
The best time to divide or take cuttings is in the late spring or early summer.
By Division
To propagate via division, you will need a sterilized sharp knife or spade.
Use a pot with at least 3 inches of growing room on all sides and below the plant.
Water the plant well before you divide it.
Plant seeds on the surface of the mix with a bare covering of additional mix.
(These seeds need light to germinate.)
Keep the water evenly moist in a warm, bright spot about 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
To moisten the top of the soil, use a spray bottle.
The seeds should germinate within 14 to 21 days.
Once the plant grows too big for the container, remove the root ball and divide it.
you might replant the smaller division back into the container it was in, giving it fresh potting mix.
Insecitidal soap is an effective treatment for these pests.
On indoor plants, both spider mites and aphids are possible, again treatable with insecticidal soap.
Creeping thyme is susceptible to root rot in wet, dense soils.
Affected plants will need to be removed.
What Do Creeping Thyme Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Flowering creeping thyme is very attractive to bees, and pollen from blooming thyme often flavors the resulting honey.
Depending on the variety, flowers can be white, pink, or purple.
How to Encourage More Bloom
Most thyme plants do not flower in their first growing season.
You do not have todeadheadthyme flowers.
Common Problems With Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme has relatively few care needs.
It’s resilient against diseases and pests and is only susceptible to a few issues.
Wait to prune after the plant’s first growing season.
Replant the healthy roots in a clean pot with fresh, well-draining soil.
Steer clear of fertilizers that have a high nitrogen content.
Other causes can be severe frost, a lack of sun, or a fungal disease like root rot.
Creeping thyme is a perennial, meaning it will come back on its own every year.
Creeping thyme takes time to establish, but once it does, it will spread quickly.
This plant can spread between 12-18 inches wide by the third year.
Creeping thyme can withstand light walking, but it will struggle under heavy foot traffic.
