Creeping thyme lawn

Then there's a whole bed of golden marjoram that's sometimes cut short
That's taking over my lawn at the back, along with the greener oregano.

Luckygirl3

In my previous garden there was blue star creeper in with the grass and it created z beautiful blue carpet of flowers each year. It got mown down with the grass and then bobbed back up again in full flower the next day.

Here is some information about it: www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/lawn-substitutes/blue-star-creeper-lawn/blue-star-creeper-plant.htm

I will search to see if you can get plants/seedlings.

I've looked at a photo of this on the RHS site, it does look very pretty.

In my previous garden there was blue star creeper in with the grass and it created z beautiful blue carpet of flowers each year. It got mown down with the grass and then bobbed back up again in full flower the next day.

Here is some information about it: www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/lawn-substitutes/blue-star-creeper-lawn/blue-star-creeper-plant.htm

I will search to see if you can get plants/seedlings.

One of the lawns here has become almost entirely white clover and lawn daisies. It stays green through the worst heatwaves and doesn't need much mowing.

Another patch is Vinca Minor that's spread over the years - just trimmed with shears every few years. It's a picture when in flower. Then there's a whole bed of golden marjoram that's sometimes cut short.

The dog violets living in paving cracks have spread into another lawn - and I've let them as they are no problem.

It would have to be no maintenance.
Even the thyme in one of my pots died, the other survived the hot spell.

We have a bank at the front which was grass but now seems to be dead moss with a few weeds (Hawkweed) and even they are struggling.
The soil is very poor but we can't add more as it would slide on to the drive.

Would creeping thyme thrive in such poor soil?

Daddima

I have planted some creeping thyme around the Bodach’s gravestone, as the grass doesn’t go near it. I haven’t checked on it for a couple of weeks, so hoping the hot spell didn’t do for them. The seeds were microscopic, so may only cover one corner at first!

Well, as of today, there appears to be a small area of thyme, though, as I said, the seeds were tiny! I’m going to buy some more, and hope the plant will creep.

I wonder if you could mix creeping thyme and creeping Jenny?

Saw a pretty creeping thyme lawn at a National Trust place yesterday - very popular with bees.

The Erigeron makes a good base for a ‘lawn ‘ didn’t realise haw much had self seeded into mine till the grass element turned to straw cuts well and keeps on flowering So does the self heal and other wild flowers that have taken over the brambles were cleared

My friend has made a huge Eco-forest in which they have dug a pond and made a long bench seat all around it of earth and covered it in thyme which is now ready to sit on having spread rapidly over a few months. It is wonderful

Yes, it’s lovely in gaps in paving. I have no idea if it likes shade. I suspect not as it likes the sun.

No dogs here so no problems there.
I found it worked well in paving gaps and gravel in my last garden where it was trodden on from time to time - though it was not on a daily route. I'm thinking of planting as ground cover under an amelanchier, birches and smallish fruit trees so probably no regular footfall.
Because it dies right back I'm hoping that occasional raking would be fine, in fact that might help to spread the seeds.

I used chamomile for a lawn many years ago. Other posters are correct that they aren't as hardy as grass but I used to go out and trim around the edges with shears and the smell was fantastic. I also used to smell of chamomile once I was finished. It was lawn chamomile I used not the one used for tea making. It sent runners out and I ended up with a fragrant, thick lawn. I've been thinking of doing it agai but have b=never quite got around to it.

It’s very pretty but I wouldn’t consider it for a lawn. It wouldn’t like being walked on I think, and would die back to nothing in the winter. If you have a dog you also have to consider what could be easily cleaned up, if you get my drift. And if you have falling leaves in autumn you have to consider what will withstand the rake!

Germanshepherdsmum

I have both. The oxeye daisies are much taller and have been beautiful this year but will be cut down tomorrow as they are now a complete mess. The erigeron will happily carry on flowering for several months.

Yes, it's the shorter flowering time which puts me off the oxeye daisies slightly, though the flowers are pure and perfect. I think a solid patch of the Erigeron would be lovely, though I'd have to weed the area very carefully first. I've only had it growing in old stone paving and on steps before, but haven't found it invasive.
I've always loved daisies, the larger types seem to work well with so many other flowers.

Photo:
www.gardeningdirect.co.uk/item-p-480453/erigeron-karvinskianus-profusion-mexican-fleabane

Yes, I remember The Chamomile Lawn! I've wanted one ever since - or thyme, or clover - but I've been told they don't do well in the North and wouldn't survive grandchildren. But I like the look of Creeping Jenny, BlueBell and I like the sound of vinca, GreenLady, thank you.

I have both. The oxeye daisies are much taller and have been beautiful this year but will be cut down tomorrow as they are now a complete mess. The erigeron will happily carry on flowering for several months.

I was considered planting ox-eye daisy in the wilder parts of my garden but now I'm wondering about Erigeron Karvinskianus Profusion (which has several different synomyms) and flowers for longer, from May to October at least.
It self-seeds but in my experience has been easy enough to pull out. It wouldn't be a low growing flat lawn but the stems are soft so would not break off completely if you walk on them which I think could be a problem with some more woody thyme stems. Crocus.com says "This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring" which means that you shouldn't get old patches with long bare stems. As it self-seeds it would thicken up over time.
It has an RHS Award of Garden Merit and you can grow it from seed or buy plants. Small bulbs should not have any trouble pushing up through the growth.

I went for clover under the tree and in the patches where my girly dog has wee'd
The bees are loving it
I also leave my daisies as I love them. They get mown occasionally.
Might have a go at thyme in some more patches xxx

Yes,I’ve done it with creeping red thyme. I only put it in a year ago and it’s doubled in size.

The thing to remember with any of the alternative lawn options is that they won't be as tough as grass. If you want a patch to look at its fine. You can occasionally walk on it but using it as you would use a lawn will kill it. They certainly won't survive dogs or kids or any combination of same. They will also need trimming and weeding and won't like being mowed or strimmed. @Juliet27 have a look at periwinkle (vinca). Its pretty much evergreen with glossy leaves and flowers that range from pink through white to blue. leaf size varies, I think the smaller leaved varieties look better. its a creeper and very good at stifling many weeds (not all) and is shallow rooted which means its easy to pull out where not wanted. Bulbs will happily push their way up through the leaves.

Beechnut

I’m interested in this too Luckygirl.

... and me! My dogs have decimated my lawn in places and need to have some idea of how to sort it? My only idea so far is 'grass mats'.

Well I m biased but allsorts grow within my creeping Jenny they seem to all get on well together