Transform Your Lawn into a Clover and Creeping Thyme Paradise

If you’re looking to overhaul your traditional grass lawn into something more eco-friendly, low maintenance, and pollinator friendly, a clover and creeping thyme lawn may be the perfect solution. This flowering lawn combo offers a gorgeous, lush carpet of green clovers studded with fragrant, delicate thyme blooms that bees and butterflies flock to. Read on to learn everything you need to know about converting to and caring for a clover and creeping thyme lawn.

An Overview of Clover and Creeping Thyme Lawns

Clover and creeping thyme make an ideal duo for establishing a flowering lawn The low-growing, nitrogen-fixing clovers provide an attractive green backdrop and weed-choking groundcover Intermingled is the herbaceous creeping thyme which offers elegantly trailing stems bedecked in purple-pink blossoms.

There are a few types of clovers suitable for lawns, including:

• White Dutch clover – Large-leaved, most vigorous, higher flowering
• Micro clover – Small-leaved, low growing, low flowering
• Crimson clover – Gorgeous red blooms, annual/biennial

For creeping thyme, common thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is the best choice. Together, clover and thyme create a soft, lush carpet that replaces water-hungry grass.

Benefits of clover/thyme lawns:

• Fix nitrogen, reducing fertilizer needs
• Require less mowing, watering, maintenance
• Tolerate partial shade and drought
• Soften soil and prevent erosion
• Loved by pollinators!

Once established, clover and thyme lawns are lower maintenance than traditional lawns. But the process of converting an existing lawn does take some patience and work Here’s how to make the switch

Removing Existing Grass and Preparing for New Seeds

Converting a regular grass lawn to a clover and thyme lawn will take 1-2 growing seasons. Here are the basic steps:

Kill off existing grass Non-chemical methods like solarizing with black tarps during summer or repeated sheet mulching with cardboard are effective Herbicide is quicker but can leave residue

Loosen soil: De-thatch, aerate, and rake up debris to create seed-to-soil contact. Level any uneven areas.

Add compost: 1/4 to 1/2 inch of fine compost improves fertility, moisture retention, and beneficial microbes.

Plant clover/thyme seeds: The ideal time is spring or fall. Mix seeds and broadcast evenly, then water gently daily.

Continue meadow maintenance: Mow existing grass down to 2-3 inches to allow the new seedlings to establish. Remove weeds as needed.

Let the clover and thyme flourish! Once established, mow occasionally. Your flowering lawn will thrive with minimal care.

Clover and Creeping Thyme Varieties for Lawns

Choosing the right clover and thyme varieties ensures you’ll have a lush, flowering carpet tailored to your climate and needs:

White Dutch Clover – Best for full sun. Provides the most vigorous groundcover and most abundant blooms. Mow more frequently to limit flower stalk height.

Micro Clover – Lower growing and less flowering. Excellent choice for shadier lawns. Soft, fine texture. Handles foot traffic well.

Crimson Clover – Gorgeous red blooms in cool weather. Prefers full sun. Annual/biennial in some zones so reseeds itself.

Creeping Thyme – Lovely purple-pink blooms. Tolerates light foot traffic. Does well in sun and light shade. Appropriate for sandy, rocky, and loam soil types.

Mixed Seed Kits – Convenient all-in-one solutions containing white and micro clover plus creeping thyme seeds perfectly proportioned to establish a flowering lawn.

Match clover and thyme varieties to your specific growing conditions for optimal results. Check if the species are perennial in your hardiness zone before purchasing seeds.

Planting Clover and Creeping Thyme Seeds

Spring and fall are ideal times to plant clover and thyme seeds. Follow these planting tips:

• Mix seeds with sand to distribute evenly. Seeds are very tiny!

• Broadcast seeds by hand or use a drop or rotary spreader for large lawns.

• Aim for 1 oz each of clover and thyme seeds per 250 sq ft of lawn. Adjust rates based on lawn conditions.

• Gently water seeds daily until first leaves appear. Keep top 1 inch of soil moist but not saturated.

• Mow existing grass down to 2-3 inches after planting seeds and continue mowing at this height.

• Clover and thyme seedlings are small and slow growing at first. Be patient! Germination takes 10-30 days.

Getting the seeding rate right is essential for good germination. Too little seed won’t establish a thick lawn. Too much causes overcrowding issues. Follow package instructions for optimal results.

Caring for a Thriving Clover and Creeping Thyme Lawn

Once your clover and thyme lawn is fully established, follow these tips to keep it looking lush and healthy:

• Water deeply 1-2 times per week during dry periods to keep soil consistently moist but not soggy.

• Mow regularly at 2-3 inches to encourage spreading and discourage flowering stalks. Let soil reseed.

• Apply annual topdressings of compost to enrich soil biology, structure, and nutrients.

• Weed by hand as needed. Do not use herbicides which can harm clovers and thyme.

• Overseed bare patches with additional seeds to maintain thick coverage.

• Avoid excessive foot traffic which can damage the low-growing plants, especially when wet.

Your flowering lawn will thrive with proper mowing, occasional watering, topdressing, overseeding, and hand weeding. No fertilizer should be needed thanks to the clover’s nitrogen-fixing abilities. Sit back and enjoy watching the bees happily buzzing about!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Despite the best care, here are some potential problems and solutions:

• Poor germination: Reseed at double strength. Ensure consistent moisture. Scarify seeds with sandpaper.

• Weak coverage: Overseed bare areas. Topdress with compost. Check soil pH – clovers prefer slightly acidic.

• Flowers disappear: Mow less frequently and at a higher height to allow bloom stalks to form.

• Weeds invading: Hand pull weeds before they go to seed. Solarize lawn in summer to kill weed seeds.

• Die out: Confirm clovers and thyme are perennial in your zone. Mulch in winter for cold protection.

• Moss developing: Indirect sunlight and excessive moisture causes moss. Improve drainage. Rake vigorously to remove moss growth.

Adjust maintenance practices as needed to resolve issues and create ideal growing conditions. Be patient – it may take a full growing season or two to establish a thick, lush flowering lawn.

Why Choose a Clover and Thyme Lawn?

Traditional lawns require huge inputs of water, fertilizers, pesticides, fuel for mowing, and time spent on maintenance. There are so many benefits to converting your lawn to a clover and thyme paradise instead including:

• Save water – clovers and thyme are drought tolerant once established

• Eliminate chemical fertilizers – clovers fix nitrogen from the air

• Attract bees, butterflies, and pollinators with abundant blossoms

• Soften soil, prevent runoff, and reduce erosion

• Tolerate foot traffic and pet activity better than grass

• Stay greener in shade and cool weather

• Fewer weeds thanks to clover’s dense low growth

• Less mowing and maintenance required

By planting clover and creeping thyme, you can transform your lawn into a gorgeous, flowering oasis buzzing with pollinators and life. Follow the steps for removal, seeding, and maintenance outlined here to create a thriving clover and thyme lawn you’ll love.