A Gardener's Dictionary- This is a glossary of gardening terms and their meanings. Garden knowledge is helpful when communicating with greenhouse staff and other gardeners!
Organized in alphabetical order. Click on one of the letter sections to take you to the desired gardening term.
Acidic Soil - Soil types can be defined by their pH level. Soil with a pH reading below 7.0 on the pH scale of 1-14 indicates acidity. Therefore, the lower the reading, the more acid the soil will be. (A soil pH higher than 7.0 is alkaline.) Areas that receive high amounts of rainfall tend to be more acidic, and are often a sandy soil. A Soil test can be done to determine if a soil is acidic.
Aerate - Make openings in the soil to allow for air infiltration.
Alkaline Soil - Soil types can be defined by their pH level. Soil with a pH reading higher than 7.0 on the pH scale of 1-14 indicates alkalinity. Therefore , the higher the reading, the more alkaline the soil will be. (A soil pH lower than 7.0 is acidic.) Areas with little rainfall; very dry gardens, tend to be more alkaline. Alkaline soil is commonly found next to buildings, driveways, and old foundations where lime can be washed into soil from the concrete. A Soil test can be done to determine if a soil is alkaline.
Annual - A plant that completes it's life cycle all in one growing season. The seed will germinate, grow, bloom, go to seed, then die all in 1 year or less.
Backfill - To fill in a hole where you have placed a plant, covering the roots with soil.
Bare root- A plant with no soil surrounding the roots. Some trees, shrubs, and perennials are often dug out of the ground when dormant, soil removed then stored till ready to ship or sell from nurseries and greenhouses. Best purchased and planted in Spring.
Biennial - A plant that completes it's life cycle in two years; (two growing seasons); or less. Planted seeds in Spring will grow to seedlings in the summer of the first year, then the plant will bloom in the next Spring, go to seed, then die.
Bolt - When a plant grows to quickly producing flowers and goes to seed to soon. Usually due to extreme hot weather or late plantings in the growing season.
Botanical Name - Plants have two or more names listed in the botanical name. The genus, species, and sometimes the cultivar or variety name. These names put together form the botanical name. In the botanical name the first word is the genus name and the second word is the species, and if applicable the third is the variety or cultivar name. For example: Rudbeckia hirta 'Gloriosa Daisy' The botanical name is always the same anywhere. It is the best name to use when buying plants or seeds.
Bottom water - Water that is provided to plants from under neath the containers they are in. Often seedlings are bottom watered by placing a tray with water underneath the container.
Broadcast - To scatter seed by hand randomly over the soil's surface.
Bud - A small form on a branch or stem which will develop into a flower, leaf, or shoot.
Bulb - A plant that grows from a thick, fleshy plant bud, usually under the surface of the soil. These 'Bulbs' protect and store food for the developing plant inside which will than grow and bloom from these bulbs from one growing season to another.
Cell Pack - A container made from plastic or peat with individual planting sections. Often used for starting individual seedlings. Also greenhouses and Nurseries use these containers for selling plants in.
Clay soil - A type of soil that has slow drainage and absorption. Clay soil is heavy because of little air space between the particles.
Cold frame - A closed in structure, with a clear top. Structures are close to the ground for protecting plants from colder weather.
Common Name - The common name is most used by gardeners. Easier to remember, but can get confusing. Botanical names are the same everywhere. Some common names are used for two different plants. So when wanting a particular flower it is best to find out what it's botanical name is. This way you can be sure to get the right plant when buying flowers or seeds.
Complete fertilizer - A fertilizer that contains these three major nutrients; Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
Compost - Humus enriched organic material produced from the decomposition of leaves, grass clippings, dead plant matter, and other sources of organic materials such as fruit and vegetable peelings. Provides an excellent soil improver, and natural fertilizer.
Conservatory - A name used for a greenhouse used for showing or displaying plants and flowers.
Cover crop - Plants that are grown for the purpose of the making the soil more fertile. They are planted, grow, then are worked under and turned back into the soil.
Crown - The part of a plant at ground level, between the roots and stem or trunk.
Cultivar - A name for a plant cultivated by controlled propagation to keep certain plant characteristics the same. The Cultivar name of a plant is noted by single quotation marks. For example: Rudbeckia hirta 'Gloriosa Daisy'
Cultivate - To work and prepare the soil. To prepare the soil by breaking it up and removing weeds before planting, and to work the soil around plants to improve air flow and moisture, as well as the removal of any weeds.
Cuttings - A piece of a stem, root, or leaf cut from a plant to propagate a new plant.
Dampening of - A fungal disease that seedlings can get that causes them to rot and die.
Deadhead - The removal of dead and faded flowers.
Deciduous - A plant that will lose its leaves once in a year. Normally in the fall season.
Defoliation - When a plant loses its leaves as a result of disease or current health. Also, by natural means; such as strong winds, frost or extreme heat can cause a plant to lose its leaves prematurely.
Direct seed - To sow seeds directly outside in the garden.
Dividing - A method of plant propagation. Used to multiply bulbs, perennials and shrubs. The plants are dug up and separated. The parts that are capable of producing roots are replanted, giving gardeners multiple plants.
Drainage - The passing of water down through the soil, and plant's roots. Good drainage is necessary to grow healthy plants. When water drains quickly through the plants root area, not leaving the roots overly moist for long periods of time; the drainage is considered good. It allows a balance of air and moisture for the roots to grow healthy.
Drip Line - Looking at a plants outer most branches, and marking on the ground a circle directly under these branches will give you the point where rain water will tend to drip off at. This gives the area where the roots are concentrated.
Established - When a newly transplanted plant's roots have become firmly rooted and the plant itself is showing healthy new growth, it is then considered established.
Fertilize - Usually means to apply nutrients to growing plants. Such as store bought plant food.
Flat - A tray that is quite shallow. Usually used for starting seeds in.
Force - By creating ideal temperatures, a dormant plant can be caused to grow and bloom out of its normal growing season. Bulbs are a common plant that can be forced with the right conditions.
Frost heaving - Plants become pushed out of the soil due to changing temperatures back and forth from freezing and thawing. Often in spring plants become heaved out of the ground. Gently push plants back into place.
Genus - A scientific name for a category of plants which have similar growth habits, and flower characteristics.
Grafting - A method of propagation. To join two plants together by touching both growing tissues from each plant.
Harden off - To expose a plant to the outdoors gradually over a couple of weeks before transplanting into the outside gardens.
Hardiness or (Hardy) - Plants are rated how hardy they are depending on how well they survive through the winters without any protection.
Hardiness zones - Gardeners often use this to determine if a plant will grow well in an area. Geographical regions are divided into Hardiness Zones based on the average cold temperatures for an area.
Herbaceous - A soft tissued or non woody plant.
Humus - Humus is the end result of the decomposition of organic or plant matter, which helps improve soil. Usually the color of brown or black. Humus is home for other micro-organisms and worms that will help break down organic matter.
Hybrid - A plant that is a result due to the crossing of genetically different plants.
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