Mint, oregano, pennyroyal and even thyme will spread through underground runners and can quickly take over the garden. They can be hard to remove as small bits of roots left behind can grow into full plants.
Can thyme be invasive?
Wild thyme (Thymus pulegiodes, syn. T. serpyllum) can be invasive in some situations. It likes full sun exposure and sandy, relatively dry soil.
What should not be planted with thyme?
Although a variety of herbs (and even flowers, like marigolds and nasturtiums) can often be planted together, certain kinds like parsley, cilantro, tarragon, basil and chives prefer a more moist soil, and should not be planted directly with thyme.
Is thyme beneficial to garden?
Thyme’s little flowers attract a variety of beneficial insects including native pollinators, honeybees, and predatory wasps. Thyme makes an excellent companion plant. It can be planted in with cabbage, potatoes, eggplant, and strawberries. It’s thought that it repels cabbage worms, flea beetles, and tomato hornworms.
What are the most invasive herbs?
Invasive Herbs
- Butterbur. (Petasites hybridus)
- Garlic Mustard. (Alliaria petiolata)
- Giant Hogweed. (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
- Himalayan Balsam. (Impatiens glandulifera)
- Japanese Chaff Flower. (Achyranthes japonica)
- Purple Loosestrife. (Lythrum salicaria)
- Spotted Knapweed. (Centaurea stoebe)
- Wild Parsnip. (Pastinaca sativa)
Will creeping thyme choke out my other plants?
Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme spreads by sending runners underground that choke out other plants, including weeds. It has a maximum growth height of about four inches, which is considered the ideal height for lawns, and beautiful pink, purple or blue flowers.
Will creeping thyme choke out weeds?
Creeping Thyme
Not only will this groundcover help choke out weeds, but it will also provide colorful interest and a delectable fragrance to your garden.
What companion plants go with thyme?
Thyme is a wonderful and beneficial plant to grow in the garden. Since this tasty herb is a perennial, I started looking for thyme companion plants to optimize my garden.
Some suggestions for thyme companion herbs include:
- Rosemary.
- Marjoram.
- Oregano.
- Parsley.
- Sage.
- Lavender.
- Dill.
- Bay.
Can I plant thyme and lavender together?
If colder weather is not a concern, thyme does extremely well when planted near lavender, enjoying the full sun and the occasional watering. The pair complement each other in looks too. Thyme makes a cute ground covering plant with its paler purple flowers that will look great alongside your lavender patch.
Is thyme a perennial?
Perennial herbs like sage, thyme, lavender, chives and mint do not need to be replanted each year. But annuals like basil and cilantro will not survive an Iowa winter – so they must be replanted each spring. To make matters more confusing, dill, fennel, and a few other annual herbs reseed each year.
Does thyme deter animals?
Lavender, verbena, thyme, balsam, lilac, and pine are all good choices. Implementing fragrant plants can deter garden crashers by overwhelming their sense of smell. Animals rely on their sense of smell to determine what is safe or desirable enough to eat.
Does thyme deter mosquitoes?
Thyme. Thyme is an herb you can rely on when insects are bothering your home. The herb deters mosquitoes, earworm, maggot, hornworm, and whiteflies. You can plant thyme in your garden easily as it can become accustomed to dry and shallow soil.
Where should I plant thyme?
Thyme thrives in full sun and loves heat. If you are growing in a pot indoors, plant near a sunny window. Soil needs to drain well so there aren’t “wet feet.” In the garden, plant with other drought-tolerant perennials.
Does thyme spread when planted?
Just like all plants, thyme plants spread by growing from one set of leaves to the next. In between the leaves is a stem segment. Some thymes produce sets of leaves very close together while others are spaced further apart. Stem segments grow faster without having to produce tightly knit sets of leaves.
How do you keep herbs from spreading?
You can create separate compartments for your invasive herbs using metal or plastic edging around them. The edging must be buried fairly deeply, to keep your herbs from spreading. Some herbs become invasive because they re-seed themselves very quickly and easily. Comfrey and lemon balm fall into this category.
Can you walk on 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.
Can creeping thyme become invasive?
So, let’s cut the chase — is creeping thyme really invasive? The answer is no; though it will spread fast in a garden, it won’t bother the other plants. Therefore, if you are looking for an attractive ground cover that smells nice and is also deer and rabbit resistant, you should definitely consider creeping thyme!
How long does creeping thyme take to spread?
Generally, creeping thyme takes one year to get established, and then begins to spread in its second season. The herb thyme (Thymus spp.)
Is thyme a good ground cover?
Thymes are versatile, colorful, and fragrant plants, offering masses of delicate, starlike flowers. Tuck a thyme into a dry wall, stone walkway, or rock garden. Use it as a ground cover or as an edging for a perennial border. These hardy little plants add swaths of color and fragrance in unexpected places.
Is creeping thyme toxic 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 is the best ground cover for a garden?
Our Favorite Flowering Ground Covers
- Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
- Canadian anemone (Anemone canadensis)
- Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
- Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
- Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox)
- Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum)
- Hosta (Hosta sieboldiana)
- Horned Violet (Viola cornuta)