I am interested in using ground cover instead of a grass lawn for a number of reasons. I am considering Thymus serpyllum 'Pink Chintz" and would appreciate comments on this. I live in Kelowna on a sunny mountain side. Soil here is heavy clay hardpan and not very good. It is nearly impossible to cultivate. I plan to add about 6 inches of good topsoil as a growing medium and have proper water sprinkling system. Sadly this topsoil or other medium, such as sand, is nearly impossible to cultivate into the subsoil hardpan. I am almost certain that regular lawn sod planted on this hardpan with only 6 inches of soil will not survive for long. Does use of this ground cover as an alternative have a chance? Your comments much appreciated.
Thymus did not do well in my clay soil garden in Delhi, India.
But then I seeded it with Dychondra, with amazing results - it never needed mowing and it was the most beatiful, even shade of green.
UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Burnaby, BC
Posts: 6,928
Re: Ground cover lawn grass substitute
fknor sent me this reply via email:
Quote:
My lawn grass alternative has been well satisfied, as the attached
> picture helps show. After two years growth to fill in blank (over 700
> plants put in about 18 inches apart) in both sides of the yard, I now
> have carpets of Thyme. The main plant is /Wooly Thyme/, which seems to
> handle being occasionally walked on. I put /Pink Chinz/, and /Red
> Bressingham Thyme/ as interspersed border plants. I used Gold Moss as
> accents around the small 5 foot central pond. The results are very
> pleasing and once weeds are removed the Thyme helps keep them out and
> with the help of occasional watering (about 20 % of what grass needs) it
> pretty much looks after itself. In my mind this great option for soil
> types and zones like we have here in Kelowna. This lawn alternative
> really puts on a show when the various plant types go into bloom.
> Thanks again for your notice and information.
