How do I revive thyme and rosemary plants?

unhappy_shopper

I have potted thyme and rosemary plants. They were bought from B&Q last year. I am guilty of not lavishing much care for them other than watering them once in a way. Now, the thyme looks rather dry. Rosemary plant has a few green twigs and some dry twigs. Have I managed to kill them? How do I revive them? Thanks for your kind help.

Emma_whitnash

I'm not an expert and perhaps someone will correct me, I'd be inclined to cut them back so new growth can come through? They're both pretty resilient herbs (mine have been in garden all winter), I find they do benefit from a good prune.

May help.

Farway

Plant them out in the garden [I assume still in pots]
Don't hack the Rosemary, it does not regenerate from old wood

They will both do well outside [assuming you are not halfway up Everest], both will flower and the bees will thank you

ALIBOBSY

I agree with the don't hack rosemary too much. You can prune, but only cut in the green "live" bits. found out to our cost when Oh cut back a massive unruly bush the second year we lived here. One dead plant later lessons learnt lol.
My thyme is in a pot as I am not convinced it last through winter.
What I did ;ast year and will do this year is wait till growth starts (now seems to have started so will do shortly), clean up the plant by removing any dead leaves and debris and lift the whole plant. It then usually splits fairly easily if the clump is big enough. One clump goes into a pot that can later on overwinter under the eaves or in the greenhouse during very cold spells/snow. The other clump in the ground.

The both will probably still grow in the pots they are in but will do better either potted on into bigger tubs or the ground.
Ali x

BTW Rosemary (and lavender as well) can easily be propagated from cutting so take a few cutting whilst you are there for extra "free" plants very MSE.

Yolina

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

My thyme is in a pot as I am not convinced it last through winter.

Thyme is rather hardy so I wouldn't worry too much about it. I had some back home (in the French Alps so rather cold winters there) and it always did fine planted in the garden.

Now that I've got a terrace rather than a garden, all my stuff is in large pots outside and doing fine, though London doesn't get particularly cold

ALIBOBSY

Yolina wrote: »

Thyme is rather hardy so I wouldn't worry too much about it. I had some back home (in the French Alps so rather cold winters there) and it always did fine planted in the garden.

Now that I've got a terrace rather than a garden, all my stuff is in large pots outside and doing fine, though London doesn't get particularly cold

TBH I am wondering if it is the clay soil we are on, even though the raised beds have topsoil/compost the clay soil underneath means the beds still hold some mositure in summer (good), but get a bit bogged down in winter (bad). Never got thyme to live over winter in the garden so think it may be the wetness rather than the cold over winter perhaps?

Think I will try some in the rockery as that is at the front, in full sun and open in winter so stays pretty dry. Now the bins have been moved from the front to the side we have a spot on the paving up against 2 walls in full sun close to the rockery so may stick the other herbs in pots there. Will look nice and they will enjoy the sun, plus leaves more space at the back to plant other stuff.

Ali x

VfM4meplse

I'm glad it's not just me! Mine withered whilst on my kitchen windowsill - had a period w/o water and never recovered.:(

I shall persist with it.

meg72

I would repot them at this time of year anyway,should give them a boost. Goodluck hope they survive, I hate losing a plant and have sometimes fed and watered dry twigs for a season before giving up on them. Have had a few survivals andquite a few not but thats gardening.