Mistakes Gardeners Commonly Make When Growing Thyme

Thyme is a beloved herb garden classic thanks to its beautiful smell, range of culinary uses, and relatively easy to grow nature. Of course thyme isn't invincible, and you still need to be sure to provide it with the necessary growing conditions for it to thrive. Some of the worst mistakes you can make with your thyme include not paying attention to the specific species you're growing, not providing it with enough sun, overwatering your plant, and placing it in the wrong type of soil.

Even though you likely just refer to the herb as thyme, there are actually many different species of plants in the Thymus genus. While these plants all originate in the Mediterranean, and have similar growing needs, they aren't identical. Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) for example is used primarily as a ground cover and is hardy to USDA zone 4. Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), on the other hand, is the type you're likely familiar with using in cooking, and it is only hardy to USDA zone 5. Making sure you buy the correct thyme for your zone and your needs can be the difference between a fragrant beautiful garden and bitter disappointment.

One of the easiest but also most damaging mistakes you can make with your thyme is planting it in an area where it doesn't receive enough sun. While you may be able to get away with planting common thyme in a location that gets partial sun, it likely won't grow as well as it would in a space that gets six to eight hours. Creeping thyme, in particular, struggles in shade, making it a poor option to plant under shade trees. 

Thyme is one of those plants that is vulnerable to being loved to death by overenthusiastic gardeners. While it may be tempting to rush to water your thyme whenever the soil surface begins to dry, this is likely to be far too much moisture for the drought-tolerant plant. Thyme plants can actually begin to turn brown and start to rot if they are watered too much. Avoid watering your thyme until its soil is completely dried out. Poking your finger a few inches into the soil is an easy way to confirm this.

Unsurprisingly, given its vulnerability to overwatering, it's also essential to plant your thyme, regardless of the specific species, in an area with well-draining soil. If your soil is particularly clay-heavy or soggy, you may need to amend it with compost to ensure it drains well enough for your thyme to thrive. One thing you don't have to worry about adding to your soil is fertilizer. Thyme actually thrives in poor soil, and too much fertilizer can make the leaves less flavorful.