finally got our storm shelter checked out and passed with flying colors

I've seen creeping thyme work nicely in some places, but honestly, it's not always the silver bullet people think it is. A couple years back, I had a client who was really into the idea of ground cover between their pavers - wanted something natural, low-maintenance, and attractive. We went with creeping thyme because it checked all those boxes, and initially, it looked fantastic. The fragrance was a nice bonus too.

But here's the thing... thyme (and most ground covers, really) needs the right conditions to thrive. If your pavers are in a shady or damp area, or if drainage isn't great, thyme can struggle. We found that out the hard way. After a wet spring, parts of the thyme started thinning out, and guess what moved in? Yep, weeds. Nature's relentless, like you said.

I've also tried polymeric sand on other projects, and while it's not perfect, I've had better luck with it when it's installed properly. The key is prep work - making sure the joints are deep enough, thoroughly cleaned out, and completely dry before applying. Also, compacting the sand properly and lightly misting it afterward (not soaking it!) makes a huge difference. I know you mentioned sealing it, but honestly, I've found sealing polymeric sand joints can sometimes trap moisture underneath, causing it to break down faster. I usually skip sealing unless the client specifically requests it.

Another alternative I've had decent success with is dwarf mondo grass. It's tougher in shady spots and tolerates foot traffic pretty well. Plus, it stays green year-round in most climates. It's not as aromatic as thyme, but it does the job and looks neat.

Anyway, just my two cents based on what I've seen out there. Every yard's different, so what works great in one spot might flop in another.

"After a wet spring, parts of the thyme started thinning out, and guess what moved in? Yep, weeds. Nature's relentless, like you said."

Yeah, can confirm nature doesn't mess around. Tried creeping thyme at a rental property once - looked amazing for about six months... until the tenants' dog discovered it was a comfy spot to nap. Ended up with a thyme-shaped bald patch and weeds everywhere else. Lesson learned: sometimes the "perfect" landscaping solution isn't tenant-proof (or dog-proof). Dwarf mondo grass sounds promising though, might give that a shot next time.

Can definitely relate to the creeping thyme struggles. Had a similar issue with chamomile once - looked great at first, smelled amazing when stepped on... but it couldn't handle foot traffic nearly as well as I'd hoped. Makes me wonder, though: is there really such a thing as a truly "tenant-proof" ground cover? Maybe dwarf mondo grass is tougher, but I've seen even supposedly hardy plants struggle under heavy use or pets. Curious if anyone's had luck with clover or sedum varieties? Heard they're pretty resilient and can bounce back after some abuse. Anyway, props for trying something eco-friendly and low-maintenance in the first place - nature might be relentless, but at least you're giving it a fair shot.

I've had decent luck with clover, actually. It fills in quickly and seems to bounce back pretty well after being stepped on or even dug up a bit by pets. Sedum's another good one - had it around stepping stones at a rental property, and it held up surprisingly well under constant foot traffic. Still, nothing's completely bulletproof... but you're definitely on the right track trying out eco-friendly options. Gardening is always trial and error, so don't get discouraged if something doesn't pan out perfectly the first time around.

"Gardening is always trial and error, so don't get discouraged if something doesn't pan out perfectly the first time around."

Couldn't agree more. When we first landscaped around our storm shelter, I tried creeping thyme - looked great initially but struggled with heavy foot traffic. Switched to clover later, and it's been thriving ever since... live and learn, right?

Totally relate to that creeping thyme issue... tried it myself around a patio area, and it just couldn't handle the foot traffic. Clover sounds like a smart pivot - might have to give that a shot next spring. Always satisfying when you find what clicks, isn't it?

Yeah, creeping thyme can be pretty tricky. I've used it a few times around stepping stones in garden projects, and it looks fantastic at first, but you're right - heavy foot traffic just wears it down way too fast. Clover's definitely tougher, and I've seen it hold up pretty well in similar scenarios. Have you thought about micro clover specifically? I've had some luck with it in smaller spaces - it stays compact, handles foot traffic decently, and doesn't grow too tall. Plus, it's pretty drought tolerant, which is always a bonus.

Another option I've tried with success in patio areas is Corsican mint. It has that nice aromatic touch when you step on it, and it seems a bit hardier underfoot than creeping thyme, though it does prefer slightly moist conditions. If your patio doesn't bake in full sun all day, it might be worth a shot.

Honestly, experimenting with ground covers feels like an ongoing project...there's always something new to try or tweak. Sometimes the best solutions are the ones you stumble onto by accident. Hope the clover works out for you next spring - would be great to hear how it goes!

Totally agree about creeping thyme - tried it once and it looked like a sad carpet after a month. Micro clover sounds promising though, might give that a shot next spring. One thing I've had surprising luck with is chamomile. It smells great when stepped on, handles moderate foot traffic pretty well, and bonus: you can make tea from it if your DIY projects stress you out too much...ask me how I know, haha.

Chamomile sounds like a clever idea - I never thought of using it as ground cover. I once had a client who insisted on creeping thyme for their patio area, and yeah...it didn't end well. Micro clover's been solid though, definitely worth trying.

Chamomile sounds interesting, but I've had great luck with creeping thyme around our historic brick walkway. Maybe it's the climate or soil here, but it filled in nicely and smells amazing when you walk on it. Micro clover does sound promising though - might give it a shot in the backyard where grass struggles. Always good to have options...

Creeping thyme is definitely underrated - I've seen it thrive in some tricky spots, especially around older brickwork. Micro clover's intriguing too, but I've noticed it can get patchy if the soil isn't consistently moist. Have you considered Corsican mint? It stays low, handles foot traffic pretty well, and the scent is subtle but refreshing. Might be worth experimenting with if you're looking for another option... Have you tried anything else that's worked surprisingly well in tough areas?

"Micro clover's intriguing too, but I've noticed it can get patchy if the soil isn't consistently moist."

Agreed, micro clover can be finicky. I've had decent luck with woolly thyme in similar tough spots - handles drought surprisingly well. Ever experimented with sedums or other succulents for tricky areas?

"Ever experimented with sedums or other succulents for tricky areas?"

Funny you mention sedums - I tried them last summer in a spot that gets baked by afternoon sun, and they've been champs so far. Woolly thyme sounds interesting too, might give that a shot next. Honestly, micro clover drove me nuts... looked great at first, but then got patchy and sad-looking after a dry spell. Guess my yard's just too moody for it, lol.

Sedums are decent, but hens-and-chicks have been the real winner for me. Tossed a few in a rocky patch by my driveway that cooks all afternoon, and they're thriving without any fuss. Wish I could say the same about creeping thyme - it looked promising at first, but just couldn't handle the heat. Might've been user error though... gardening's always trial and error around here.

Hens-and-chicks are pretty tough little guys, I'll give you that, but honestly creeping thyme has been my hero. I planted some between stepping stones on a path that gets blasted by sun all day, and it's been spreading like crazy. Maybe yours just didn't get established enough before the heat kicked in? I had to baby mine a bit at first - regular watering until they settled - but now they're practically bulletproof.

Funny thing is, my hens-and-chicks keep getting dug up by squirrels or something. Every morning I find a few uprooted and tossed aside like they're rejects from some garden reality show. So much for fuss-free succulents, right? Gardening really is trial and error... with extra emphasis on the error part in my yard.

If you're still open to trying groundcovers, have you ever given woolly thyme a shot? It's fuzzy, handles heat well, and bonus points - it feels awesome under bare feet. Just a thought if you haven't totally sworn off thyme yet.

"Funny thing is, my hens-and-chicks keep getting dug up by squirrels or something."

Had the same issue with squirrels uprooting my succulents. Ended up sprinkling cayenne pepper around the plants - worked surprisingly well. Might be worth a shot before giving up on them completely...

"Ended up sprinkling cayenne pepper around the plants - worked surprisingly well."

Wish I'd known this sooner, haha. We had squirrels digging up our flower beds constantly during our first summer renovating. I tried everything from shiny pinwheels to fake owls...nothing worked. Eventually, my neighbor suggested coffee grounds. It seemed weird, but I drink enough coffee anyway, so figured why not? Surprisingly, it helped a lot, and bonus - my hydrangeas loved it. Might be another easy option if you run out of cayenne pepper. Glad your storm shelter checked out okay, btw. Always feels good when something passes inspection easily after all the work put in.

Coffee grounds, huh? Never thought of that one...might give it a shot since my tomatoes are under constant siege from rabbits. I've tried cayenne pepper before, but rain washes it away pretty quick. Did you notice if the coffee grounds held up better after watering or rain? Also curious - did it change the soil acidity noticeably for your hydrangeas? Mine are picky enough as it is, lol. Glad the shelter passed inspection smoothly, btw. Always nice when something finally goes right after all the headaches of renovation.

I've tried coffee grounds around my veggies before, and honestly, they do hold up better than cayenne after rain. They kinda form a crusty layer once wet, which seems to stick around longer. Didn't notice a huge acidity shift in my hydrangeas, but I wasn't piling it on thick either - just a thin sprinkle. If you're worried, maybe test a small patch first? Glad your shelter passed inspection; always feels good when something finally checks off the list after all the hassle.

Interesting about the coffee grounds - never thought they'd hold up better than cayenne. I've mostly stuck to eggshells myself, but now I'm curious if they'd have a similar crusty effect after rain. Ever tried eggshells around your plants? Wondering if they'd last as long or just wash away... Glad the shelter passed inspection smoothly, always nice when something finally goes right after jumping through hoops.