Best soil for growing thyme

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Sunnyside_One Lansing, WV(Zone 6b) Aug 27, 2010

I want to grow thyme in a fairly large area of about 70 square feet. I'm preparing the area now by first removing the clay soil. I want to create a soil that would be perfect for growing thyme. I know thyme does not require or appreciate rich soil and that it must be well drained. I'm thinking about mixing 1 part sand, 1 part peat, 1 part vermiculite and 1 part composted cotton burrs. I have to carry all this material in a bushel basket on my shoulder upgrade about a 100 feet so it will be a great amount of work. The sand is quite heavy. It weighs 100 pounds per cubic foot. I'm thinking about adding the vermiculite because it's light weight and helps to hold moisture evenly. Could I please get some suggestions on what you all think would be a good soil mix for growing thyme. I haven't decided on what kind of thyme I'll be planting as of yet. I think I'll use plugs, tho. The area will only have light occasional foot traffic.

Also, would anyone here be willing to show me their thyme growing or direct me to a public garden where it's growing? I've never seen a large area of it in person before. I travel on my job in the Pittsburgh PA, Columbus OH, Cincinnati/Dayton OH, Indianapolis IN, and Chicago area and would love to see a nice example of thyme before I go through with this project. If anyone has a better suggestion for a ground cover, please tell me what you think. I live in southern West Virginia. My blue star creeper froze out last year when it got to about 10 below zero here.

Thanks for any help.

Post #8065366
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pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) Aug 27, 2010

Before you go through all that work why not try a little pot of thyme in the area where you want to plant it to see how well it does without all the amendments?

If you do use all the additions please wear a disposable breathing mask when using vermiculite: http://www.airfilterusa.com/3m-home-dust-mask-model-8662es.html?___SID=U

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