I have a flat of thyme that I started from seed. Parts of it is congested but overall everything is thriving. Is it common to prick out or thin thyme?
Do you thin Thyme?
Tammy, mine (a creeping thyme) spread pretty well (not an aggressive plant, but it is vigorous.) Each year I pull out clumps from areas I don't want it in. But it stays fairly compact (at least it has for three years now), and I haven't had to thin out the center yet. I might at some point if it starts to decline and needs to be rejuvenated.
All my thyme needed thinning after 2-3 years, sometimes less. Usually offshoots rooted so I just yanked out the center deadwood. The woolly thyme did it the least.
Terry, do you know the variety name your creeper is? I love thyme but always kill it for some reason. I tried creeping from Pinetree this year and as soon as it started to get hot - it went under. I would love to have some that would last a bit longer than 2 months!
Nicole, wooly thyme is a wonderful creeper. Sorry I don't have some from my Asheville house or I'd send you a start.
Cool! Will keep that one in mind! Dried thyme is just not the same.
Mine is Thymus serpyllum 'Mother of Thyme' creeping wild time. It is very hardy here. In fact it is so vigorous that you have to be careful what you plant it with because it doesn have a tendency to take over if you don't thin it quite frequently. My herb garden is in a corner between the back of the house and a fence so they do get quite a bit of shade and don't have any trouble surviving the summers even when I don't water them much.
Thanks Pville and Darius! I put both on my trade list - also got a good one from Darius to look for. I will be covered up in no THYME!
one of the nicest and easiest to maintain is Thymus 'Longwood.
really nice cultivar with bluish foliage, small mounding cultivar.
NCG, I had 4 or 5 varieties that thrived in a garden outside Mooresville. You're probably too nice to it. Put it in some red clay and kick it every now and then. It'll thrive.
Thanks everyone!
Tammy, when (if) you thin it, be sure to trim with small scissors, rather than pulling them out like I did, so as not to disturb the roots.