thyme bed

So, I’m working on the thyme bed which wraps around the front and side of our one-acre property. Fortunately, about 90% of the bed is in good shape. Can you imagine the hours I could potentially spend weeding this! For now, I just need to worry about the bottom edge of the bed where grass tries to invade.

As far as ground covers go in a hot, sunny location, creeping thyme seems to work well. It’s deer-resistant, always a plus, and does well in our clay soil. Above is a view of the front of the yard. That beautiful red-leaf tree is a Redbud. At the end of the bed by the driveway are oak trees. Looks like the one tree needs to be limbed up.

This is a close-up of the thyme bed by the driveway. The river stones are part of the drainage ditch which needs to be revamped. Last year, I started planting lavender in the bare spots for the scent and to attract beneficial insects. I also planted some iris versicolor, though I think I may move them.

This view is the side of the property. Down at the end of the bed, we’re having issues with weeds. I suspect this area was not as well maintained as the rest of the bed. It could also be the impact of a slightly different environment. The thyme on this side receives the afternoon sun from about noon onward. The rest of the bed gets 2 to 3 hours more of sun.

Looking at the closer view of the end of the bed by my future woodland garden, one can see the poor shape of the bed. My hope is that removing the weeds will allow the thyme room to spread. I think I may throw some manure or compost on for an extra boost. At some point, we need to redo the top of the bed by the woodland area with a dry river bed to help the drainage.

I started a new full sun bed at the corner of the property. There’s a slight shelf starting here and moving around to the left. My plan is to expand the bed on both sides for another 5 to 10 feet. I’ve already planted iris versicolor seeds. This summer, I’ll add more compost to the bed, and in the fall, I’ll be putting in mums for fall color.