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?
