I meant to tell you, thyme and stems
In early spring, before the thyme begins new growth, take your hedge
clippers and cut the thyme way back. rapid New growth will come with
early summer (for me, it is now). The new growth is tender, soft and
floppy, Cut this thyme for drying, there are no old, woody, hard
stems.
Janet US

On Friday, June 24, 2016 at 9:32:32 AM UTC-7, Janet B wrote:
> I meant to tell you, thyme and stems
> In early spring, before the thyme begins new growth, take your hedge
> clippers and cut the thyme way back. rapid New growth will come with
> early summer (for me, it is now). The new growth is tender, soft and
> floppy, Cut this thyme for drying, there are no old, woody, hard
> stems.
> Janet US


good advice.

On Fri, 24 Jun 2016 10:32:22 -0600, Janet B >
wrote:

>
>I meant to tell you, thyme and stems
>In early spring, before the thyme begins new growth, take your hedge
>clippers and cut the thyme way back. rapid New growth will come with
>early summer (for me, it is now). The new growth is tender, soft and
>floppy, Cut this thyme for drying, there are no old, woody, hard
>stems.
>Janet US

The thyme I've planted grows as a ground cover, never grows tall
enough to shear. When I need thyme I pinch off a few sprigs and the
leaves strip off easily, sometimes I mince the leaves but mostly not.
To dry I tie bundles of sprigs with thread and hang them inside a
brown paper bag in my garage... the bag collects the leaves that drop
off.

On Fri, 24 Jun 2016 14:46:17 -0500, Sqwertz >
wrote:

>On Fri, 24 Jun 2016 10:32:22 -0600, Janet B wrote:
>
>> I meant to tell you, thyme and stems
>> In early spring, before the thyme begins new growth, take your hedge
>> clippers and cut the thyme way back. rapid New growth will come with
>> early summer (for me, it is now). The new growth is tender, soft and
>> floppy, Cut this thyme for drying, there are no old, woody, hard
>> stems.
>> Janet US
>
>How do you trim a rosemary bush? I have one of the starburst type
>that grows close to the ground and is about 5 feet across and 3 feet
>high. The new growth seems to come out of the sides then grow up the
>outside.

I have no experience of that as my winters get cold enough to kill
rosemary. I have plants in pots. The rosemary I do have seems to
branch freely when I cut a portion off. If I had a big rosemary bush,
I would select an inconspicuous spot and simply cut it back, but not
into bare wood and then see what happens. Leave enough green on the
branches to allow for new growth to occur in leaf elbows.
Janet US

On Fri, 24 Jun 2016 10:32:22 -0600, Janet B >
wrote:
>
> I meant to tell you, thyme and stems
> In early spring, before the thyme begins new growth, take your hedge
> clippers and cut the thyme way back. rapid New growth will come with
> early summer (for me, it is now). The new growth is tender, soft and
> floppy, Cut this thyme for drying, there are no old, woody, hard
> stems.

Hedge clippers? I'd kill my thyme if I did that. The highest it ever
gets from the ground is maybe 3 inches... and it's not supposed to be
creeping thyme!

--

sf

On Fri, 24 Jun 2016 20:13:39 -0600, Janet B >
wrote:

> On Fri, 24 Jun 2016 14:46:17 -0500, Sqwertz >
> wrote:
>
> >On Fri, 24 Jun 2016 10:32:22 -0600, Janet B wrote:
> >
> >> I meant to tell you, thyme and stems
> >> In early spring, before the thyme begins new growth, take your hedge
> >> clippers and cut the thyme way back. rapid New growth will come with
> >> early summer (for me, it is now). The new growth is tender, soft and
> >> floppy, Cut this thyme for drying, there are no old, woody, hard
> >> stems.
> >> Janet US
> >
> >How do you trim a rosemary bush? I have one of the starburst type
> >that grows close to the ground and is about 5 feet across and 3 feet
> >high. The new growth seems to come out of the sides then grow up the
> >outside.
>
> I have no experience of that as my winters get cold enough to kill
> rosemary. I have plants in pots. The rosemary I do have seems to
> branch freely when I cut a portion off. If I had a big rosemary bush,
> I would select an inconspicuous spot and simply cut it back, but not
> into bare wood and then see what happens. Leave enough green on the
> branches to allow for new growth to occur in leaf elbows.
> Janet US

I have a regular rosemary and they can take severe pruning. My advice
to Steve is to take some cuttings to root, and prune away after the
are viable. I leave some greenery on my rosemary like Janet does, but
I know people who trim theirs to what looks like a stub to me and it
comes back. If you over-prune and kill it, you've got your cuttings
to replant. Rosemary grows like a weed when you throw a little water
on it, so they will be out of control in no time and you won't miss
the one you killed.

--

sf

On Fri, 24 Jun 2016 23:46:34 -0700, sf > wrote:

>On Fri, 24 Jun 2016 10:32:22 -0600, Janet B >
>wrote:
>>
>> I meant to tell you, thyme and stems
>> In early spring, before the thyme begins new growth, take your hedge
>> clippers and cut the thyme way back. rapid New growth will come with
>> early summer (for me, it is now). The new growth is tender, soft and
>> floppy, Cut this thyme for drying, there are no old, woody, hard
>> stems.
>
>Hedge clippers? I'd kill my thyme if I did that. The highest it ever
>gets from the ground is maybe 3 inches... and it's not supposed to be
>creeping thyme!

The new growth on my thyme is about 15-20 inches . A plant has become
at least 8x4xknee high. All of it straight and all single stems. If
you leave it to grow much later, it begins to branch and also
blossoms. I guess it just depends on climate and soil. My rosemary
would never grow as you say yours does. I was just planning to go to
the nursery today and see if I could get a new rosemary plant.
Janet US