I am looking for suggestions for ground covers, preferably grown from seed, for zone 6 clay soil in filtered sun to full sun. My walkway is across my tiny yard from the front step to the patio, less than 20 feet long. I prefer perennials, but will consider fast growing reseeding annuals. If you have a favorite source for large (but not huge) numbers of such seed, feel free to mention it.

I just moved into a new place - yet again. They say that third time is the charm, but they also say bad luck comes in threes. Three moves in less than three years. I dragged my plants and my slate walkway paving stones with me - some of the plants even survived!

I want to plant a groundcover between the paving stones. I have seeds for Irish moss and for creeping thyme. I am not sure if they will like the location of the future walkway. It is very muddy clay - up to the ankles of Winston the pug on warm days. At the moment, It is under layers of cardboard. I even removed all the tape this time!

I think the Irish moss will do well in the filtered shade. Creeping thyme may grow along the slightly sloped edge of the walkway in the sun. However, I don't think either will like the sunny mud. I can fill the area between the stones with better soil mix, but would love something that would work with the location as is - less of a battle that way.

Hi Andi.
Have you tried Wooly Thyme? Mine stays very low growing. It has been in this large container for many years with no fertilizer or added soil. I also have it in the ground in a few places, in full sun.

The thread "Trying out different ground covers." in Plant Combination #3834

I have creeping thyme between my pavers. I don't know if you can grow if from seed (but why not?). I got a couple 6-packs and kept moving pieces until it pretty much took over. It grows FAST.

It will grow from seed. May just take a little longer to fill in.
Daisy I would love to see a photo of your path, it sounds lovely.

Try looking through the offerings here....

https://stepables.com/

Thanks. At the moment, my pavers are in a pile next to the patio and the future path is mud covered with cardboard. My little yard is solid mud today in the unusually warm weather. Luckily, my little dog Winston the pug stayed on the cardboard. We also strolled around the neighborhood a bit.

I have seed for creeping thyme, irish moss, snow in summertime, and alyssum (annual). I moved some plants of irish moss and creeping thyme. I'll have to check if they are alive.

I wasn't sure if wooly thyme and creeping thyme are the same. I looked it up and found this link with even more varieties of thyme!

https://www.thespruce.com/type...

Sounds like you are well on your way to carrying out your plan. Wooly thyme is very easy to recognize, it has a definite fuzzy/wooly texture. The other creeping thyme have smooth leaves.

Here is my little yard today. It snowed on my spring.

Looks like the pug is planting a bulb.

It snowed on my spring too.


But I found this photo I took last July of the stone path through my garden with the creeping thyme between the stones.

Wow

I like your path. I want a similar effect in my yard.

The snow is higher than the flower pots now. About two feet of heavy snow.

Winston the pug was either planting a doggie bulb or making a statement on the weather. I think he is insulted that I cull his bulbs as quickly as he plants them. It don't appreciate his efforts of doggie aromatherapy. He is not pleased that the snow is taller than he is today.

Poor Winston, he's just trying to help you out

I agree with Lynn about the wooly thyme, very unique texture that adds interest. It does have a bit more of an upright habit compared to creeping thyme and may work best along the outer edges of your flagstone path. There are numerous other thymes that have the lower, creeping habit such as variegated, which would add a splash of color. Others that I like are more "scented" varieties that look similar to normal creeping thyme, lemon and orange scented as well as an oregano scented. I like to cook and will use these for an added flavor twist to some dishes. Creeping thyme seed should be available, most likely in the spring. I would suggest sowing the seed in flat trays to get started and plant plugs from the flats between your flagstones. It spreads pretty fast and in one season you could have pretty good coverage.

Great suggestions BigT.