Creeping Thyme Has An Unexpected Benefit For The Zinnias In Your Garden

Considering how pretty both zinnias and low-growing thyme species can be, it's no surprise they make a beautiful pairing. Whether you opt to grow zinnias and thyme with matching or contrasting flower colors, the larger bolder zinnia blooms are perfectly offset by the tiny (but abundant) thyme flowers. The benefits aren't just aesthetic though. Creeping thyme, like many ground covers, is also helpful in preventing unwanted weed growth, letting you spend more time admiring your garden and less time weeding it.

Ground covers like creeping thyme are great solutions for pesky weeds, quickly growing to outcompete most weed seedlings. And because creeping thyme grows well under many of the same conditions as zinnias, the two are a perfect match in many ways. Just be aware that while creeping thyme is a perennial in zones 5 through 8, zinnias are annuals. So while you'll only have to plant your thyme once to enjoy it for years to come, you'll need to work around the ground cover while planting your zinnias each year.

Caring for zinnia plants and creeping thyme is relatively easy, as both are considered quite low maintenance. Zinnias and creeping thyme thrive in sunny spots, so plant your zinnias behind your thyme, ensuring the taller zinnias don't prevent the creeping thyme from getting the sunshine it needs. They are also both drought-tolerant plants, making them perfect for drier areas and gardeners looking for xeriscaping design ideas. Avoid overwatering this duo, and be sure to plant them in soil with good drainage. 

Your creeping thyme will be most effective at preventing weeds if it is planted densely, blanketing as much of the ground as possible. Luckily, this shouldn't be too difficult, since each plant can grow to a width of around a foot. Because it only grows to a height of about 6 inches, you'll still easily be able to see your zinnias behind the thyme, regardless of whether you opt for taller zinnia cultivars like 'Benay's Giants' which can reach 4 feet tall, or more petite options like the 'Dasher' cultivar which is unlikely to grow past a foot. While creeping thyme doesn't come in quite the same rainbow of shades that zinnias are known for, it can be found with pink, purple, white, and even red blooms, so you're sure to find something that will work perfectly for your garden.