Totally agree on the wood chips—got some from a tree crew last summer and they worked great. As for groundcovers, I've had decent luck with Corsican mint. Smells amazing when stepped on, but it does need regular watering to stay happy.
"Smells amazing when stepped on, but it does need regular watering to stay happy."
Corsican mint is lovely, but yeah, the watering can be a bit much if you're busy or away often. Have you tried creeping thyme? I've used it in a few projects, and clients always rave about how low-maintenance it is. Plus, it handles foot traffic pretty well and gives off a subtle fragrance too. Either way, sounds like your outdoor space is really coming together nicely... always satisfying when things finally click into place.
Creeping thyme is definitely a solid choice—I've had it in my side yard for a couple years now, and it's held up surprisingly well. I originally went with Corsican mint, but after one busy summer away, it didn't exactly thrive... lesson learned, haha. Thyme seems way more forgiving if you miss watering here and there, plus the scent's subtle enough not to overpower everything else you've planted. Glad your space is shaping up nicely; always feels great when you finally nail down what works.
"Thyme seems way more forgiving if you miss watering here and there, plus the scent's subtle enough not to overpower everything else you've planted."
Totally agree about creeping thyme—it's been a lifesaver for me too. Have you tried woolly thyme yet? I planted some between the stepping stones in my garden last spring, and it's held up really well, even through foot traffic and some dry spells. Plus, it has this nice silvery-green look that complements older homes beautifully. Might be worth considering if you have pathways or stonework to fill in...?
Creeping thyme's definitely a solid choice—low maintenance and looks great. Haven't tried woolly thyme myself, but the silvery-green color sounds appealing, especially against stonework. I've mostly stuck with creeping thyme around my patio edges, and it's held up nicely even when I forget watering for days. Might give woolly thyme a shot next season...sounds like it could handle the foot traffic better than some other groundcovers I've tried.
