Finally got my outdoor space looking cozy and inviting

"We ended up using juniper groundcover - took a bit longer to establish, but it's held up nicely."

Juniper's solid once it gets going, agreed. Curious though, did you have any issues with pests or wildlife during establishment? Had a client whose junipers attracted deer initially, ended up needing temporary fencing. Thyme sounds promising too - wonder if it'd be less appealing to critters...

Juniper's tough stuff for sure, but deer can definitely be a headache. Had a similar issue myself when I first planted junipers - thought they'd leave them alone, but nope, they munched on the tips and slowed everything down. Ended up sprinkling some of that repellant powder around, the kind that smells awful at first (thankfully it fades for us humans after a day or two), and it helped quite a bit. Temporary fencing is probably the most reliable option though if it's really bad.

Thyme sounds interesting too...I've used creeping thyme as groundcover in smaller areas. It established faster than juniper did, and honestly, critters didn't seem interested at all - probably put off by the strong scent. Plus, it smells great when you walk on it, bonus points there. Only downside I've noticed is it doesn't handle heavy foot traffic as well as juniper, so depends on your space and how much you'll be walking around.

"Only downside I've noticed is it doesn't handle heavy foot traffic as well as juniper, so depends on your space and how much you'll be walking around."

True, thyme can struggle a bit if you're constantly walking on it. I've found mixing it with stepping stones or flagstones works really nicely, giving you the benefit of that lovely scent without damaging the plants. Has anyone tried other aromatic groundcovers like chamomile or corsican mint? Curious how those hold up to deer and foot traffic...

Thyme does have its limits with heavy traffic, but honestly, I've had pretty good luck with Corsican mint. Did a small patio for a client last summer, and we decided to try it between flagstones - turned out great. It held up surprisingly well to regular foot traffic, and the scent was subtle but amazing. Not sure about deer though...the yard was fenced, so no experience there. Might be worth a shot if thyme's struggling.

Corsican mint sounds interesting, hadn't thought of that one. I've been using creeping thyme around my stepping stones, and it's been okay-ish, but definitely struggles in the spots we walk on most. I like the idea of something that smells nice too - bonus points for that.

One thing I'm wondering though, does Corsican mint spread aggressively? I've had issues before with groundcovers that start off looking great but then take over everything else. Had a patch of creeping Jenny once that practically swallowed my flower beds whole...lesson learned, lol.

Also, how does it handle shade? My patio area gets a mix of sun and shade throughout the day, and thyme seems to get patchy in the shadier spots. Would Corsican mint do better there, or is it more of a full-sun kinda plant?