Overview

When you think of a lawn, you probably think of an expanse of green grass. Grass is just one type of lawn plant. Lawns created from groundcovers provide interest and appeal to many areas of the landscape. Effective groundcovers for lawns include a variety of plants, particularly some types of herbs. Thyme is a one type of herb used as a groundcover. Thyme plugs provide a quick lawn. Planting thyme seeds provides an inexpensive alternative to plugs.

Step 1

Prepare your landscape for your new thyme lawn. Select a sunny location in which to grow your thyme lawn. Remove all vegetation, including grass, from the planting site. Use soil additives to improve the planting site. Apply some bonemeal to encourage strong root growth. Include a humus fertilizer, such as compost, to add nutrients and microbes to the soil. Apply all soil additives according to package instructions. Thoroughly mix additives into the soil with a garden rake.

Step 2

Select a variety of thyme suitable for use in your lawn. More than 300 Thymus species exist for planting. Thyme that grows in mats against the ground exhibits suitable growth for lawn use. Low-growing selections include woolly thyme (T. praecox), mother of thyme (T. pulegioides) and miniature thyme (T. praecox minimus).

Step 3

Plant your thyme seeds in the prepared soil after all chance of frost has passed for the season. Evenly scatter the seeds upon the raked surface of the soil. Choose a day without wind or rain. Thyme seeds are tiny and are easily displaced by windy conditions during planting. Lightly rake your thyme seeds into the soil with your garden rake. Cover them with a fine layer of clean mulch to hold seeds in place and provide moisture retention during germination.

Step 4

Water your new thyme lawn right after planting. Avoid walking on germinating seeds. Do not allow the ground to become dry while your thyme lawn establishes itself. Provide water every few days during the first few weeks. Once the plants mature, water the lawn well every 7 to 10 days.