Rake out rocks and impurities and ensure proper drainage. When growing woolly thyme ground cover, plant in well-draining soil. This herb prefers full sun but will perform in partial shade. Keep in mind, however, that those started from seed could take up to a year before they are ready for transplant outdoors. Woolly thyme plants can be easily started from seed indoors, or from small plugs that are readily available at your local nursery. Thyme is a member of the mint family and as tenacious and sturdy as other members of the group, so when planting woolly thyme, put it in an area where the spread is desirable. This almost self-sustaining plant is a treat for the unmotivated or the just plain too busy gardener. Little is needed from the gardener with woolly thyme care. Woolly thyme plants are perennial and survive in USDA zones 4 to 7 but sometimes up to zone 9 with sheltered locations during the heat of the day. The plants are low growing, rarely getting higher than 12 inches (30.5 cm.) and spreading out to 18 inches (45.5 cm.) in width. In summer the plant adds a bonus and produces sweet little pink to purple flowers. Tiny leaves on woolly thyme ground cover are green and often edged with gray to silver. Once established, it tolerates dry conditions and spreads slowly, eventually creating a thick mat of foliage. Thyme is one of the more hardy herbs perfect for hot, sunny locations. Here is more information on how to grow woolly thyme so your toes can enjoy the soft furriness, and your nose the sweet scent of this magical little plant. In fact, when stepped on, woolly thyme ground cover emits a pleasant fragrance. The herb doesn’t mind a bit of rough handling and can be trod upon with no ill effects. Try growing woolly thyme in the cracks between paving stones, along a gravel path, or as part of a xeriscape or drought-tolerant garden. Woolly thyme is a perennial herb, with medicinal and culinary uses in addition to ornamental use. There are plants you just want to touch, and a woolly thyme plant ( Thymus pseudolanuginosus) is one of them. Many sedums grow well in lean soils, which is why they are so often used in rock gardens and on green roofs.(Co-author of How to Grow an EMERGENCY Garden) It is extremely hardy and comes in a variety of colors, from the blue-gray foliage of S e dum cau ticola ‘Lidakense’ to the chartruese to gold of Sedum ‘Angelina’. Popular in rock gardens, sedum is a groundcover with lots of texture. In addition to White Nancy, other popular deadnettle varieties include Purple Dragon and Golden Spotted deadnettle. If it wanders into spots where it is not welcome, just pull it out. After a few years in the same place, you may see a hole in the center of the clump, but deadnettle can be divided easily in spring. It’s deer resistant and grows well in clay soil. The plant is about 6 inches tall and has white flowers for a long period in spring and early summer. Its heart-shaped leaves are silvery white with a green edge and will brighten any area under trees or shrubs. Spotted deadnettle ( Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’) will easily cover an area 2 to 3 feet wide. Once you have a healthy patch established, you can enjoy the groundcover with little effort. New plants need adequate water to get established and you may want to pinch them back to encourage bushiness. In the right site (avoid full sun), pachysandra requires very little care. This shade-loving plant is popular under all types of trees, providing a shiny, green carpet. Pachysandra is one of the plants that grows well under walnut trees, which produce a substance called juglone, which is toxic to many plants. Otherwise, just let it go and enjoy the spring show. It does not require much effort - a bit of fertilizer in the spring, if you like, and perhaps some water during very dry periods. Creeping phlox likes sun and grows well in rock gardens. One of my neighbors has planted a hillside rock garden with this plant and its bright purple waves of color are a springtime treat. This time of year, the creeping phlox is stunning. Creeping phlox looks gorgeous in a rock garden.Ĭreeping phlox. Here are four more favorites for shady and sunny spots. But those are just the beginning of great groudcovers available for the North. Back in 2012, we highlighted four favorite groundcovers: Thyme, wild ginger, ajuga and sweet woodruff. While most are grown for their foliage, many have colorful blooms during part of the year. Groundcovers solve a number of garden problems, from covering bare spots to preventing erosion to covering an area that is too steep to mow.
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