Can thyme and oregano be planted together? | Growing companion herbs

Thyme and oregano can be planted together successfully as they are both Mediterranean herbs that stay green all year, like to dry out between watering and love a sunny position. These herbs can be planted next to each other in a raised garden bed, in the ground or in a pot.

Improve the soil first with compost and aged cow manure if you are planting them in the ground to let them get off to the best start. Place them in a sunny spot to get the most growth quickly.

This article will explore how to grow oregano and thyme together so they both thrive.

Planting oregano and thyme together in a pot

Oregano and thyme can both be planted together in a pot. Oregano will grow to a small bushy shape and can be kept trimmed. Thyme will also start to creep around and over the sides of the pot to cascade down the side.

Oregano and thyme planted together in a pot will make a great feature and will also work well when planted with sage, marjoram and rosemary. These Mediterranean herbs are evergreen, like a warm sunny spot and like to dry out between watering.

Add some good quality potting soil to a wide pot to plant your oregano and thyme together. The pot can be wider than it is deep to allow both herbs to spread and cover the pot. Both herbs have relatively shallow roots so will only need a pot that is around 8-10 inches deep.

After 1-2 years these plants can be repotted to give them more room or planted out into a garden bed.

Important tips to grow thyme and oregano together successfully

Here are my top tips for growing thyme and oregano together successfully in pots, garden beds or raised garden beds.

Mulch is key

I always love to mulch Mediterranean my herbs with bark mulch or tree mulch. This is a mix of bark chips, leaf mulch and stems which will help to keep weeds away from these herbs and help to protect the soil.

Bark mulch is perfect for these herbs as they are long lasting and so is the bark mulch. It will only need to be replaced every 6-12 months. It breaks down slowly so is perfect for mixed garden beds where you have planted citrus trees, annual and perennial flowers and palms.

My garden beds are mixed with a range of trees, shrubs and herbs including thyme and oregano. These herbs thrive in open garden beds with bark chips covering the soil.

Oregano and thyme will spread

Both of these herbs have a tendency to grow bigger and spread through your garden or pot. These herbs are not invasive but if you give them the room they will grow bigger, spread further and fill the space they are given.

This is important when you are choosing a pot or space in your garden. As the plants grow bigger you can lift them up and divide them planting them in to new spaces in your garden or pots.

Trimming will keep them dense and bushy

Both thyme and oregano will benefit from trimming or harvesting regularly. This will encourage both plants to bush out, grow more leaves and produce more for your cooking. Both of these herbs can be picked in bunches, wrapped in string and hung in a protected space to dry out.

Once these herbs are dry they will last for months in your cupboard. These herbs taste delicious dried and you can know that they are grown organically if you pick them at home yourself.

Fertilizing thyme and oregano

Thyme and oregano are easy to care for and need little fertilizer to keep them happy. I like to just add some organic aged pelleted chicken manure to the base of the plant each spring. This is all I like to add to these Mediterranean herbs that are really easy to care fore.

They will get a lot of their nutrients from the soil around them. Keep an eye on potted herbs and give them a feed of chicken manure each spring and again in fall as they won’t be reaching into the nutrients available in the ground soil.

Can thyme and oregano be planted with other herbs?

The best herbs to plant with thyme and oregano are other Mediterranean herbs. These include sage, marjoram and rosemary that also like to dry out between watering and stay green all year round.

While you can planted thyme and oregano with parsley and basil, these herbs will need more water than the thyme and oregano. To make sure that these herbs aren’t overwatered leave 5 inches of space between them so you can give water more directly to the basil or parsley and not to the thyme and oregano.

Chives are another herb that will grow well with all of these herbs and can be picked regularly and will grow back quickly.

Why do thyme and oregano die?

One of the most common reasons why thyme and oregano will not survive or die off quickly in your garden is too much water. Keen gardeners can kill these herbs with kindness not allowing the time between for the plants roots to dry out.

It is always important to check the soil before watering thyme and oregano and you will find that they will need less water than most herbs. I hardly water my thyme and oregano at all during fall and winter and will only top up their water if needed in spring and summer.

If you notice the ends of the thyme are drooping and the soil feels dry in the top two inches then you can add some water to your herbs.

Can thyme and oregano be planted together? | Summary

Thyme and oregano can be planted together and make perfect companions in a herb garden, hanging basket or open garden bed. Pair them with flowers, plant them near fruit trees or give them their own pot near your back door.

Place these herbs in bright sunlight to encourage more growth and you will be harvesting oregano and thyme all summer. Dry these herbs together for the perfect mixed Italian herb addition to pizza and pasta.

Happy growing.