I planted quite a few different thyme 3 years ago, all in the same bed. The larger culinary thyme were getting quite large and some hadn't been "harvested" last year. In any case I cut them back to about 3-4" this spring and while they're still hanging on they have little new growth. Can anyone tell me some general guidelines for growing the larger thyme like vulgaris.

I'm afraid I'm no help - I put my first thyme in this year ... I'm not even sure which kind, lol.

The rule of thumb that I've heard for herbs in general is to cut stems back by no more than 1/4 to 1/3 of their length. That said, I've cut new growth back a lot further than that on oregano, and my thymes often die back nearly to the ground in winter and sprout out new growth in spring. If it got hot right after you cut them back, that might have stressed them and set them back.

A lot of my plants are barely "hanging on" after this hot summer, but I think (hope!) most will come back stronger than ever next spring.

Thanks Jill. My Greek Oregano gets wacked back to the ground every spring. The Lavender (angustifolia) and Garden Sage I cut back to 7-8" every spring and they do great. I wasn't sure if the same thing was appropriate for the Thymes. Oh the mints gets cut back to the ground as well, but I don't think anything can kill mint.

This may have just been a rough summer for your thymes, regardless of how they were pruned... I've got a lot of plants out there that don't look so hot, but I'm crossing my fingers for new growth next spring!

Same here, Jill. Which reminds me, I need to go water a couple of pots of herbs.

Again, right?

Thanks, hope everything starts perking up for you all.

sheryl said:Again, right?

Right.

Me too, Evan.

I'm sure it must be heat causing the decline of the thymus after pruning as CritterJill says. I shovel prune mine in the spring and they aren't affected. They stay evergreen all year here so I think they are hardier in my climate and can take my 'tough' luv.