How to prune tufted thyme

After flowering in early to midsummer; dead material removed in early spring. Use fine scissors to lightly shear the mound after flowering, removing just the spent flower heads and softening any irregular edges. Avoid cutting into the tight, woody basal stems.

Once annually after flowering; light tidying in early spring. Tufted thyme (Thymus caespititius) forms a low, tight mound and is among the least demanding thymes to maintain. A light trim after flowering in summer removes spent blooms and keeps the cushion dense. It is naturally compact and slow-growing, so heavy pruning is rarely needed. Remove dead material in spring to expose new growth.

Use fine scissors to lightly shear the mound after flowering, removing just the spent flower heads and softening any irregular edges. Avoid cutting into the tight, woody basal stems.