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.
Rogue - The removal of unwanted plants from the garden.
Rootbound - A containerized plant's roots that have completely filled the soil inside container. Thus causing a unhealthy plant due to no room for new growth. Frequent repotting of plants in containers will help to prevent rootbound plants.
Species - Another scientific name for a group of plants that breed together and have characteristics that stay the same, but can also be different in a small way. Such as flower color.
Sucker - Any vertical shoot growing from the base or trunk of a tree.
Thatch - A layer of partially decomposed leaves and other plant matter under plants in a lawn or soil.
Thinning out - The removal of excess seedlings; so those plants that remain have room to grow healthy and strong. Also, to remove whole branches from trees, shrubs, or plants to promote healthier growth, and maintain size.
Topdress - To apply a layer on the top of the soil. A fertilizer, or organic material are commonly placed on top of the soil, but not worked into the soil.
Variety - A name also used to identify a group of plants with a specific difference within a species. The word variety and cultivar are often interchanged by gardeners.
Underplanting - When you plant a plant beneath another; usually a taller plant.
Vermiculite - A light mineral; (mica) that can be added to soil mixes to improve aeration, and moisture. A great soil improver in soil mixes for container gardening.
