Mint is definitely the garden equivalent of a friendly but overly enthusiastic neighbor who doesn't understand personal space, haha. I made the rookie mistake of planting it directly in my garden bed once—big oops. Took me two seasons to finally get it under control, and even now I still find random mint sprouts popping up in the weirdest places. Lemon balm fooled me too; I thought it'd be mellow and polite, but nope, just as pushy as mint, only sneakier.
I've actually tried woolly thyme in a small patch near my patio. It's super soft and honestly feels amazing under bare feet, kinda like stepping onto a fuzzy carpet. But I have to admit, it wasn't quite as hardy as I'd hoped. It did okay for a while, but after a particularly wet winter, it got patchy and struggled to bounce back. Maybe it was just my soil or drainage issues though, because I've heard others have had better luck.
If you're looking for something sturdy and foot-friendly, you might also want to check out Corsican mint. It's got tiny leaves, smells amazing when stepped on, and seems to handle foot traffic pretty well. Plus, it's not quite as aggressive as regular mint or lemon balm—at least in my experience.
Speaking of cozy outdoor spaces, has anyone tried mixing herbs with groundcover flowers like creeping phlox or chamomile? I've been thinking about giving that a shot next spring to add some color and fragrance without breaking the bank. Curious if anyone's had success with that combo or if it's just wishful thinking on my part...
"Speaking of cozy outdoor spaces, has anyone tried mixing herbs with groundcover flowers like creeping phlox or chamomile?"
I've actually experimented a bit with chamomile mixed in with creeping thyme near my walkway. It looked pretty charming at first—little white flowers popping up among the thyme—but honestly, the chamomile got leggy and patchy after a while. Maybe it was competing for nutrients or sunlight? Not sure, but it didn't stay as lush as I'd hoped.
Corsican mint sounds intriguing though. I haven't tried it yet, but the idea of that fresh minty scent underfoot is tempting. Does it handle shade well, or does it need full sun to thrive? My patio area gets partial shade, so I'm always on the lookout for groundcovers that won't get scraggly without full sun.
Also, has anyone had luck mixing creeping phlox with herbs? I love the splash of color phlox gives in spring, but I'm wondering if it'll crowd out the herbs or vice versa...
I've actually experimented a bit with chamomile mixed in with creeping thyme near my walkway. It looked pretty charming at first—little white flowers popping up among the thyme—but honestly, ...
I've actually had pretty good luck with Corsican mint in partial shade—it didn't seem to mind at all. I planted it between stepping stones, and the minty fragrance was subtle but noticeable when you walked over it. About creeping phlox mixed with herbs though... I tried it once near some oregano and found the phlox got a bit aggressive, kinda crowding out the oregano. Might work better with tougher herbs like rosemary or thyme? Worth experimenting anyway.
Corsican mint between stepping stones sounds like a winner—love that subtle minty scent when you brush past it. I've noticed creeping phlox can definitely get pushy, especially around milder herbs. Rosemary or thyme might hold their ground better, but even thyme can struggle if the phlox really takes off. I once had lemon thyme practically vanish under a wave of phlox...lesson learned, haha. Maybe spacing them out a bit more could help? Worth a shot anyway.
Corsican mint is a great choice, subtle scent without overpowering. Had similar issues with creeping phlox myself—ended up giving rosemary more breathing room, and it worked out better. Your spacing idea sounds solid, worth experimenting a bit to find the sweet spot.
