A beautiful landscape enhances the overall look of the outdoor space. The driveway is a part of the outdoor area, which hugely impacts the visual appeal. Driveways come in different types, such as pavers or concrete, and can be decorated with various plants. For pavers with a noticeable gap, creeping thyme can be a good option to add color to the outdoor space. In this article, we discuss the ways to plant creeping thyme between pavers.
Why is Creeping Thyme the Right Choice for Pavers?
There are multiple reasons to support the fact that you should opt for creeping thyme to fill the paver gap. Here is the list of reasons:
- It is a perennial that smells awesome.
- Small pink or purple bell-shaped flowers add a beautiful color to the outdoor space during summer.
- It can be grown from seeds or from an already-grown plant.
- One of the features that give homeowners a sense of relief is that creeping thyme grows to a few inches, so it doesn't overshadow the pavers' style, keeping their aesthetic intact.
- It is drought-resistant, so you can grow it in poor, rocky, or sandy soil, but it prefers bright sunlight.
- It prevents weeds and attracts butterflies, bees, and pollinators to the yard.
Ideal Conditions to Grow Groundcovers
Low-Growing- One of the most important features of any groundcover is its low growth, which should not exceed 2 inches in height. This is because a tall plant can overshadow the pavers' beauty.
Dense Foliage- A dense foliage is another feature you should consider in the groundcover, like creeping thyme. A carpet-like, dense foliage smothers weeds, which compete with the plants for essential nutrients.
Tough- Any groundcover should be strong enough to bear even the heavy foot traffic and not succumb to it.
Low- Maintenance Ground cover is highly preferred by homeowners as it saves time.
Tips to Consider Before Planting Creeping Thyme
Though creeping thyme is not so fussy, it’s important to pick up large pebbles and twigs from the gaps between pavers before planting them. Also, fill in the deeper spots with fill dirt and potting soil before planting thyme. At places where you don’t plan to fill dirt and potting soil, simply loosen the soil.
How to Create a Lively Landscape With Creeping Thyme Between Pavers?
Pavers are not ideal for planting because they are set on compacted soil, a compacted base, or several inches of sand. Compacted oil does not provide an ideal environment for plants; therefore, nutrient-rich soil is essential between the pavers.
When planning to plant creeping thyme between pavers, make sure the area gets at least six hours of full sunlight, and there’s enough gap between the pavers (6 inches). The gap also ensures the plant's roots are buried deep in the soil. The plant is not fussy about soil, so well-drained soil keeps it thriving. Compost helps retain the surface moisture, so add compost to the soil for better drainage. Also, remove weeds from the soil so that other plants don’t compete with thyme for nutrients, water, and sunlight.
Steps to Grow Thyme
- Sprinkle the seed in the gaps and cover it lightly with soil. Keep watering the seeds until they germinate, which may take a week. Keep a close watch on seed growth and remove weeds.
- Once seeds germinate and plants start to grow, cut them so that they don’t spread beyond the pavers. Use a pair of scissors to trim the top of the plant. You may get tempted to use a weed whacker, scissor is recommended as it gives more precision and reduce the chances of over-trimming.
Conclusion
Planting creeping thyme between pavers is a smart way to transform the outdoor landscape. The plant fills the pavers and the surrounding area with bright and colorful flowers. There are certain tips you should consider before planting to ensure the plant thrives.
