Garden Glossary 101

Sure, you know the difference between an annual and a perennial.  But can you identify the suckers, thugs, and leggy plant growth in your garden?  Are you a nemophilist?  Do you suffer from O.W.D.?  Are guerrilla gardeners a threat to your community?  Browse through this glossary to test your knowledge of garden-related terms and jargon.

Acid (“sour”) soil has a pH lower than 7.0

Aerate – loosen or puncture soil to allow air circulation and increase water penetration

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Aeroponics – a plant cultivation technique in which roots suspended in air receive a nutrient solution in the form of a fine mist (similar to hydroponics, in which plants grow in a water-and-nutrient solution)

Air plants (the common name for Tillandsia) – plants that grow naturally without soil, absorbing water and nutrients through their leaves

Alkaline (“sweet”) soil has a pH higher than 7.0

All-purpose fertilizer – commonly used fertilizer that contains a balanced blend of macronutrients N-P-K (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium)

Amendments – soil amendments are materials added to soil to improve its fertility, drainage, water retention, texture, nutrient content, etc.  Two main categories of soil amendments are organic (such as compost) and inorganic (such as vermiculite).

Annuals – plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season

Aquatic plants – plants (such as water lilies) that grow in, on or near water

Arbor (Arbour) – a shady garden alcove formed by trees or climbing plants, or an arch that supports climbing plants

Arbortecture (also Arborsculpture) – the art of shaping a living tree (by pruning, bending, and grafting) for artistic and architectural pleasure (topiary, by comparison, involves the shaping of foliage)

Bedding plants – plants grown in nurseries that are suitable for planting in garden beds and containers (often for colorful, seasonal flowers)

Beneficial insects – friendly inhabitants of your garden, such as ladybugs, that prey on harmful pests

Biennials – plants that complete their life cycle within two years

Biodegradable – able to decompose (i.e., break down) through natural bacterial or fungal action

Biological pest control – a method of controlling garden pests and diseases that relies on natural predation rather than chemicals

Black gold (also “gardeners gold”) – finished compost

Bolting – going to seed prematurely (triggered by warmer weather)

Bone meal – finely ground fertilizer that adds phosphorus to soil

Bonsai – the Japanese art of growing carefully trained dwarf plants and trees in containers

Botanical name – the scientific name of a plant, usually composed of two Latin words, the genus and the species

Broadcast – to sow seeds by widely scattering them

Browns – compost ingredients that are rich in carbon (typically dry materials such as fallen leaves, hay, sawdust, shredded paper, etc.)

Bulb – underground stem base that holds an embryonic plant surrounded by tissue that develops into leaves

Cat – a charming garden accessory (although the birds may disagree)

Chlorosis – the yellowing of normally green leaves

Cold frame – a box with a removable glass or plastic top used to protect and harden off seedlings and small plants (thereby acting as a growing season extender)

Companion planting – the close planting of two different plants that enhance each other’s growth or that protect each other from pests (e.g., basil and tomato are often planted together because basil repels the insects that feed on tomatoes)

Compost – decayed organic matter that is used as a natural garden fertilizer

Creeper – a plant that creeps along the ground or up a support

Cultivar (short for cultivated variety) – a plant variety that is created through cultivation, not in the wild, by selective breeding

Deadheading – the process of pinching or snipping off spent blooms (to keep plants well-groomed, prevent seed formation, and encourage new flowers)

Deciduous – a tree, shrub or vine that drops all of its leaves at the end of the growing season.    (Evergreens, by comparison, never lose all of their leaves at one time.)

Deep shade – plants that thrive in deep shade require less than two hours a day of dappled sunlight

Dibble stick – a pointed tool for making holes in soil (for seeds, bulbs, and young plants)

Dividing – a method of plant propagation that involves gently separating the roots into two or more pieces

Dormancy – the cycle in a plant’s life when growth slows and the plant rests

Drip irrigation – a highly efficient method of irrigation that slowly delivers water to plant roots

Drought-tolerant – plants that can withstand periods without regular watering

Dwarf – naturally tiny

Edging plant – a low-growing plant, such as thyme, that provides good edges of beds and containers

Epiphyte – a plant which grows on another plant (with no damage to the host)

Espalier – the art of training a tree or plant to grow (usually against a wall) in a flat, exposed pattern (by tying, pinching, and pruning the branches)

Exposure – the optimum amount of sun or shade that a plant requires to thrive

•                 Full sun:  at least six hours of direct sunlight per day
•                 Part sun:  two to five hours of direct sunlight per day
•                 Light shade:  sunlight under tall trees, or under trees with sparse foliage
•                 Full shade:  no direct sunlight

Fertilizer – nutrient-rich plant food (which can be organic or synthetic, liquid or granular) that improves plant growth

Foliage – plant leaves

Foodscaping – landscaping with edibles such as kale, Swiss chard and cabbage

Forcing – hastening a plant’s growth to maturity or bloom

Frost – condensation and freezing of moisture in the air, which can cause damage or death to tender plants (in temperatures ranging from 29 to 32 degrees F)

Gazebo – a roofed structure (normally free-standing, circular or octagonal, and open on all sides) that provides shelter, shade and ornamentation in a park or garden

Genus (plural:  genera) – a category in plant naming that comprises a group of related species

Germination – the beginning of plant growth, when an embryo within a seed transforms into a seedling (“emergence” is when it pops through the soil)

Grafting – the uniting of two different plants, often to produce a hardier, more disease-resistant plant

Green manure – a crop grown so that it can be turned over and incorporated into the soil as a fertilizer

Green roof – a roof of living plants

Greenhouse – a  building for cultivating tender plants or for growing plants out of season

Ground cover – low-growing plants that suppress weed growth and create a uniform (carpet-like) appearance

Growing season – the number of days between the average date of the last killing frost in spring and the first killing frost in fall

Guerrilla Gardening – gardening without permission on land that you don’t own, often in an effort to beautify public space

Habit – the overall shape, appearance, and growth pattern of a plant (e.g., trailing, climbing, weeping, pendulous, columnar)

Hard freeze – below 25 degrees F for 4 or more hours

Hard pruning – cutting away most of a shrub’s top growth, leaving just the stubs

Harden off – the process of gradually acclimatizing indoor-grown plants to outdoor growing conditions

Hardiness – a plant’s ability to tolerate winter cold or summer heat without protection (refer to a map of Hardiness Zones to see which zone you live in, but also keep in mind that there are innumerable microclimates within each zone)

Hardscape – non-living, man-made fixtures of the yard area, such as walls and pathways

Heading back – cutting an older branch or stem back to a stub or twig

Heavy soil – contains lots of clay and has poor drainage

Heeling in – temporarily setting a plant in a shallow trench, with the roots covered with soil, to provide temporary protection before its permanent planting

Hell strip – one of the many names given to the strip of grass between the sidewalk and street which is notoriously difficult to garden

Herbaceous – describes plants with soft, rather than woody, top growth

Herbicide – a chemical used to kill plants

Honeydew – a sticky, honey-like secretion produced by sucking insects such as aphids

Horticultural oil – a non-toxic pesticide that eliminates insects primarily through suffocation

Humus – the brown or black organic part of soil made from decayed plant or animal matter (not to be confused with hummus, a delectable Middle Eastern dip containing chickpeas and tahini)

Hybrid – the offspring of two genetically different “parents” resulting in a new plant altogether (usually produced in cultivation, but occasionally happening naturally)

Hydroponics – the science of growing plants in mineral solutions or liquid rather than in soil

Invasive plant – a plant that spreads (usually by runners) and dominates adjacent plantings

Landscape fabric – synthetic fabric that serves as a weed barrier (often used under mulch)

Leggy – describes plant growth that is spindly and weak

Lime – garden lime (calcium carbonate) is a soil amendment used to make soil less acidic and to supply calcium for plant growth

Loam – the ideal soil for gardeners:  crumbly, dark, moist, sweet-smelling, mineral-balanced, and rich in earthworms

Macronutrients – the major essential nutrients that plants need in large amounts for their growth and health:  nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)

Manure – animal poop that is used as a fertilizer and soil amendment.  Green manures are plant cover crops that are tilled into the soil.

Mulch – a protective covering (usually a coarse organic matter such as wood chips) placed around plants, shrubs and trees that has multiple purposes:  it conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, insulates plant roots, serves as a decorative accent, etc.

Native – a plant that grows naturally in a given area and therefore is well-suited to the local climate and growing conditions

Naturalize – to plant randomly, without pattern, to create the effect of natural growth

Nectar – sweet liquid protein found in many flowers that provides food for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds and encourages pollination

Nemophilist – one who is fond of forests or forest scenery (for its beauty and solitude)

Node – the point on a stem where one or more leaves, branches or flowers start to grow

Nomenclature (naming) – plants and flowers are identified by a botanical (Latin) name that has two parts:  genus (like a last name) and species (like a first name).  Botanical names might also include the variety (“var.”) and the cultivar (cultivated variety).  Common names (like nicknames) are what plants are commonly called.

Obelisk – a tall four-sided garden tower, often made of wood, that adds vertical dimension to a garden and provides support for climbing vines

Organic – derived from living organisms

Organic gardening – gardening with no chemical or synthetic fertilizers or pesticides

Organic material – something that originated as a living organism (such as peat moss, compost, and manure)

O.W.D. – Obsessive Weeding Disorder (a neurosis that afflicts some gardeners)

Parasitic plant – lives on and acquires its nutrients from another plant, often resulting in death or decline of the host plant

Peat moss – partially decomposed remains of various mosses (used to improve garden soil)

Perennial – a plant that lives at least three seasons, usually flowering once a year

Pergola – a structure that provides a shaded walkway, passageway or sitting area, and also a framework for climbing plants

Perlite – a very lightweight mineral often added to container potting mixes for moisture retention and drainage

Permaculture – sustainable land use design

pH – the pH scale (ranging from 0 to 14) explains the degree of acidity or alkalinity of soil; 7.0 (pure water) is neutral; most plants prefer pH 6.5 – 7.0.  Do-it-yourself pH test kits are available at garden supply stores

Pinching back – a type of pruning of young plants to promote bushier and fuller plants

Pod – a dry fruit that contains seeds

Potting soil – a loose, light, and sterile mixture for potted plants

Pruning – the cutting and trimming of plants to remove dead and injured parts and to control and direct growth

Raised bed – a garden bed that is raised up from the ground and often framed with wood

Rhizome (also called rootstock) – a plant stem that grows horizontally, usually underground, and sends out roots and shoots

Root ball – the roots and surrounding soil that are visible when a plant is removed from a container or from the ground

Root bound – a plant that has grown too large for its container, resulting in matted, tangled roots

Runner – a long thin stem that grows horizontally, as on a strawberry plant, and sends out roots and shoots

Season extenders – techniques and equipment (such as row covers, hotbeds, cold frames and greenhouses) used to protect tender plants and extend the growing season

Soaker hose – used in drip irrigation, a soaker hose is made of a porous material that seeps water all along its length

Soil amendments – materials you add to soil (such as compost, peat moss, and manure) to improve its capacity to support plant life

Soil pH – a measure of a soil’s acidity or alkalinity, on a scale from 0 (extreme acid) to 14 (extreme alkaline)

Soil-less planting mix – a lightweight mixture of peat moss, perlite and compost

Specimen plant – a plant that is featured in a prominent position

Stolon (or runner) – underground horizontal stem that helps a plant propagate

Succulents – plants native to arid climates that have fleshy, thick, water-retaining leaves

Sucker – an extra stem that grows out from the roots

Tap root – the main root of a plant

Tender – used to describe plants that don’t tolerate excessive cold

Tendril – the slender, coiling part of a plant that stretches out to wrap around a suitable support

Thriller-filler-spiller – a good rule of thumb for container gardening:  let a tall, central “thriller” be the main attraction; “fillers” are the supporting cast; and “spillers” cascade down over the container.

Thug – a plant that grows vigorously and chokes out other plants

Top dressing – mulch that serves to decorate and protect

Topiary – the art of pruning and training plants to grow into formal, ornamental shapes

Transplanting – moving a plant from one growth medium to another

Trellis –a support for vertical climbers (usually a wooden frame and latticework)

Tuber – a swollen root that provides food storage for dormant plants

Variegated – multicolored (usually refers to leaves that contain the colors white, cream or gold)

Variety (var.) – a naturally occurring variant of a wild species

Vermicomposting – the use of worms to convert organic waste into fertilizer

Vermiculite – a sterile soil amendment found in container potting mixes

Vertical gardening – growing things upwards rather than outwards, often along walls

Volcano mulching – a gardening no-no that involves piling mulch up against a tree trunk

Weeping – having slender hanging or drooping branches

Wet feet – a plant with “wet feet” doesn’t mind its roots being constantly wet

Worm casting – the digested organic waste of red worms, considered to be very nutrient-dense compost

Xeriscaping – low-maintenance, low-water landscaping (with the use of drought-resistant plants)

Xerophytes – plants (such as cacti, aloes, agaves and yuccas) that need very little water (because they have adapted to an arid environment)

And finally, we will conclude this list with a bit of garden slang:

Zeroscaping – xeriscaping that is poorly done and which has zero aesthetic appeal

HAPPY GARDENING!