FLOWERING THYME PATCH

When growing thyme in containers, fill pots with Miracle-GroВ® Performance OrganicsВ® All Purpose Container Mix. Or, improve soil texture and nutrition by adding a few inches of Miracle-GroВ® Performance OrganicsВ® All Purpose In-Ground Soil in with the top layer of existing soil. Mulching with limestone gravel or builder's sand improves drainage and helps prevents root rot. Plant in soil with excellent drainage and a pH of about 7.0. Be sure to choose strong young thyme plants from Bonnie PlantsВ®, the company that has been helping home gardeners succeed for over 100 years. Start from young plants set out in spring after the last frost. Once thyme is established, harvest as needed but avoid pruning more than one-third of the plant at a time.Keep soil moist and water when the top inch of soil becomes dry.For best results, feed regularly with a water-soluble plant food.Before planting in-ground, improve your existing soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.Space thyme plants 12 to 24 inches apart in a very sunny area with fertile, well-drained soil with a pH close to 7.0.Plant thyme in spring once chances of frost have passed.The flowers open in spring and summer, sprinkling the plant with tiny, two-lipped blossoms attractive to bees.

Thyme is also perfect for containers, either alone or in combination with plants that won't shade it out. Growing thyme provides an anchor in an herb garden in areas where it is evergreen in winter.

FLOWERING THYME PATCH

It even makes a pretty patch of small ground cover. As a special garden treat, put a few along a walkway and between steps, and your footsteps will release its aroma. Plant thyme in your herb garden, at the edge of a walk, along a short garden wall, or in containers.

Flowering thyme