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How—and When—to Water Your Thyme Plants

Gardening Guide: It’s About Thyme: All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, and Cooking with Thyme

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How—and When—to Water Your Thyme Plants

By Norann Oleson

Watering thyme in the garden

Watering thyme in the garden

Thyme is a drought-tolerant plant that needs little water. In fact, overwatering a thyme plant is a sure way to kill it, as soggy soil is an invitation to rot and diseases. So it’s important to plant your thyme in well-drained soil and water only when the soil is dry. In fact, depending on the amount of rain in your region, you may not have to water by hand at all.

When you do water your thyme plants, hand water at the base of the plants or consider a drip hose or some other drip-irrigation method that will deliver water slowly and deeply into the soil. Avoid watering your plants from above; excess moisture on the foliage can cause rot and encourage diseases.

Tip: Early morning is the best time of day to water your thyme plants. Avoid watering during the evening or night.

It’s not necessary to mulch around your thyme—especially the creeping variety. But if you want to keep weeds down and still allow your thyme to drain properly, gravel or stones work well. If you have very cold or long winters, a dressing of evergreen boughs—like those from your discarded Christmas tree—will help insulate the roots in the off season.

Rainwater is best for your garden plants. If it’s possible for you to collect rainwater, your thyme plants will benefit from that!

When you properly water your thyme, you’ll have healthy plants and a good harvest. Improper watering can lead to the following problems that you want to avoid:

  • Root rot
  • Stunted growth and root loss
  • Susceptibility to pests and disease
  • Reduced harvests and lesser-quality thyme

How often do you water your thyme plants? And what time of day do you water? Please tell us how you ensure your thyme plants get the right amount of water.

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overwatering, thyme, thyme plant

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Feature Articles

  • Types of Thyme Plants
  • A Word About Varieties of Thyme Plants
  • Choosing to Grow Thyme from Seeds or Seedlings
  • Growing Thyme in Open Land, in Raised Beds, or in Containers
  • Starting with the Right Soil for Your Thyme Plants
  • Planting and Pruning Thyme
  • The Right Sunlight for Your Thyme Plants
  • Should You Fertilize Your Thyme Plants?
  • How—and When—to Water Your Thyme Plants
  • How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Thyme Diseases
  • What to Do About Pests that Can Harm Your Thyme Plants
  • The Right Way to Weed Your Thyme Patch
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing Thyme
  • Plant Profiles

  • Lavender Thyme (Culinary & Ornamental)
  • Woolly Thyme (Ornamental)
  • Caraway Thyme (Culinary & Ornamental)
  • Lemon Thyme (Culinary & Ornamental)
  • French Thyme (Culinary)
  • English Thyme (Culinary)
  • Recipes

  • Thyme Tea
  • Thyme and Mushroom Soup
  • Lemon Thyme Tea Bread
  • Garlic Thyme Chicken Thighs
  • Cheddar-Thyme Biscuits
  • Roasted Potatoes with Lemon Thyme
  • Feta and Olive Bake with Thyme
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Thyme
  • Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Thyme
  • Resources about Thyme
  • Thyme Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • 8 French Cooking Herbs to Grow to Make Herbs de Provence
  • How to Keep Thyme Alive and Growing Year After Year
  • How to Grow Culinary Thyme in a Container

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