Accent Plant- A plant to catch attention because of the color or form.
Alkaline Soil- Soil with a PH level of 7 or more.
Annuals- Plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season.
Anchor root- A large root that holds a plant in a physical soil mass.
Aphids- Small sap sucking insects.
Aquatic- plant which grows partially or completely in water.
Arborist- A tree doctor.
Bare Root- Plants that have been dug out of the ground when dormant.
Biennial- A plant that requires two growing seasons to complete its life cycle.
Blanch- To keep light from the leaves and stems, keeping the plant tissue soft.
Bolt- Annual vegetables which quickly go to flower and seed rather than produce food crop.
Calcium Nitrogen- A quick-acting fertilizer with about 48% calcium and 16% nitrogen.
Compost- A mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter, used for fertilizing and mulching.
Conifer- A cone-bearing plant that may be evergreen, that has tiny needle like leaves.
Container Gardening- Using containers to grow plants rather then an actual garden plot.
Container Grown- A plant grown raised in a pot, by or at a nursery which can be bought and planted.
Crop- Any cultivated fruit or vegetable which is harvested.
Crown- Part of the plant at the surface of the ground from which new shoots are produced.
Dead-Head- The act of removing dead flowers with a sharp instrument, or by pinching off.
Direct Seeding- Sowing of seeds directly into the ground.
Drip Irrigation- The process of applying a calculated small amount of water slowly and evenly.
Edging- Aline that creates visual interest and separation.
Erosion- The wearing/washing away of soil created by wind,water or man.
Exotic- A plant which not native to your growing region.
Ever blooming- Flowers that bloom more or less continuously through out their growing season.
F1 Hybrid- A first generation offspring of two purebred strains.
Foliage- Leaves or vegetative tissue in the collective sense or mass.
Frost-Free Date- The approximate date of the last killing frost of spring.
Frost Date- The last date for frost for your area.
Frost Hardy- Plants that can survive frost.
Full Sun- A plant that is described as needing more than six hours of direct sun,daily.
Germinate- The beginning of growth in seeds, the action of Sprouting, budding or shooting above the soil.
Growing Season- The period of time from the last frost date in the spring to the first date in the fall.
Hardiness- Ability of a plant to withstand low temperatures or frost without artificial protection.
Hardiness Zone- An index relating geographic regions to a plant's ability to withstand annual minimum winter temperatures and/or lengths of growing seasons. (The new USDA Hardiness map is available on this blog.)
Hardening off- Gradual acclimatization to toughen plants by exposing them to outside temperatures.
Harvesting- Removal of a desirable plant part,usually for eating.
Heirloom Plant- Open-pollinated plants,veggies or seeds that must have a history of their own and have been grown for at least 50 years.
Horticulture- The art and Science of gardening.
Humus- Latin word meaning ground, humus is the brown or black organic part of the soil,resulting from the partial decay of leaves and other matter within the garden.
Hybrid- The offspring of two plants of different species,subspecies or varieties of plants.
Hydroponics- The science of growing plants in water containing dilute nutrients instead of in soil.
Indeterminate- A plant whose stem does not terminate in flowering but continues to grow forever.
Indigenous- Plant species that are to and occur in that region.
Intercrop- A crop which is grown with, but matures at a different rate to another crop.
Invasive- An introduced plant that spreads quickly disrupting the local ecosystem.
Kitchen Garden- The practice of planting a garden close by the kitchen for easy accessibility.
Knocking Out- Temporary removal of a plant from its pot in order to check the condition of the root ball.
Light Shade- Plants growing best in light shade prefer less than three hours a day of direct sunlight.
Leggy- Term used to describe a plant, or a portion of a plant, that has grown long, thin stalks.
Loam- A humus rich soil composed of 25 percent clay,50 percent silt, and less than 50 percent sand.
Manure- Manure is decomposed animal waste material.
Microclimate- A physical area with a set of conditions different from those of the surrounding area.
Micronutrients- Mineral elements which are needed by some plants in very small quantities for the proper growth and health of that plant.
Mircoorganisms- Animals and plants that are too small to be seen with the naked eye but are the soil enablers helping to improve the soil.
Mulch- An organic soil covering such as leaves or straw placed around plants to maintain soil temperature and moisture and prevent the freezing of roots, and the growth of weeds.
Naturalize- To plant randomly, without pattern.
Neem Oil- Pressed from the seed of the neem tree, Neem oil has been used for centuries as a safe and effective growth regulator and antifeedant for more than 200 insect pests.
Nematode- Mostly microscopic worm-like organisms that damage plant roots.
Nocturnal- Night blooming plants.
Organic-Fertilizers and chemicals that have been obtained from a source which is or has been alive.
Organic Gardening- The method of gardening utilizing only materials derived from living things.
Overseeding- Planting on top of an existing garden or lawn.
Overwinter- The process of bringing frost tender plants indoors for the winter months.
Pathogen- An organism causing a plant disease.
Peat/Peat Moss- The preserved and compressed remains of a dead bog plants or moss, rich in nutrients and with a high water retention.
Perennials- Plants that live for more than one growing season, three years or more under normal conditions.
Perlite- Porous, hard white granules of a treated volcanic rock mineral, usually mixed with potting soil to improve drainage and promote moisture retention.
Pest- Any insect or animal which is detrimental to the health of plants or other animals.
pH Level- The potential of Hydrogen. The ph of soil is a measurement of the concentration of hydrogen ions.
Pollen- The yellow dust produced by flowers when blooming.
Pollination-The transfer of pollen from the stamen(male part of the flower) to the pistil(female part of the flower),which results in the formation of a seed.
Potting Mix/Potting Soil- Pre-packaged ready to use soil mixture that may include sand, compost,etc.
Pruning- The process of cutting off leaves or branches within limits in order to remove dead,injured or diseased foliage or branches. Also used to control or direct growth,increase yield of flowers or fruit, and to ensure growth position of main branches to enhance structural strength, beauty and to avoid winter damage.
Raised Bed- Elevated garden bed offering better drainage and warmer soil than a conventional bed.
Rebloomer- A plant with two or more flowering periods.
Renewal Pruning- Removal to the ground of one to two year old growth to make room for younger, more vigorous growth.
Resting Period- The time when a plant has naturally stopped growing but when there is little or no leaf fall.
Root- The descending axis of a plant that penetrates the soil , absorbs moisture and nutrients, and acts as support and anchor for the stem. ( Also meaning to cause to put out roots and grow.)
Root Ball- Matted roots plus enclosed soil when you take a plant from its container.
Root Bound- A condition which exists when a potted plant has outgrown its container.Growth becomes stunted.
Root Rot- Plant diseases, usually caused by fungi, that lead to the degeneration of roots.
Root Zone- The area of ground under which the tree's roots spread. Often the root zone covers the area which the leaves above hang over.
Sapling- A very young tree.
Seed- A ripened plant ovary capable of germinating to produce another plant.
Seedling- A young plant grown from seed or division. (Also called a transplant or"Start".)
Self-Pollination- The use of a plant's own pollen upon it's own stigmas to produce.
Septum- A partition of a fruit.
Shade- An area that blocks ten percent or more of the sunlight.
Shoot- The above ground or stem portion of a plant that bears leaves,buds, and flowers.
Shrub- A woody plant usually under 15 feet tall, with a framework of branches and little or no central stem.
Sod- The surface layer of a lawn or other stretch of closely cut grass.
Soil Amendment- Ingredients added to soil to improve its texture.
Soil pH- The amount of lime (calcium) contained in your soil.
Taprooted-Having one main root that extends straight down into the soil.
Temperate Zone- Northern hemisphere of the world opposite of tropical zone.
Tender Annual-An annual plant whose seedlings are killed by the spring frosts.
Tender Perennial- Perennial plants that are permanently damaged or killed by subfreezing temperatures.
Thin/Thinning- To reduce the number of excess seedlings (discarding the weakest ones) to allow freer air circulation and increase the light foliage. Thus encouraging remaining plants to thrive.
Topsoil- The surface layer of soil, consisting of good loam and organic matter,the most fertile layer of soil.
Transplant- To remove plants from one place and replant them in another, or from a container into the ground.
Transplant Shock-The stage a plant goes through when transplanted. The plant may look "ill" while it adjusts to it's new location.
Till- To work the soil by cultivating or digging it over.
Trellis- A decorative latticework used to support climbing plants.
Tuber- A storage organ used for propagation and food storage. (Example: Potatoes)
Tuberous- Having tubers or parts resembling them.
Tuberous Root- The food-storing portion of roots.
Trunk- The stem or axis of a tree.
Urban Horticulture- Study of stresses affecting city trees and landscapes.
USDA- United States Department of Agriculture.
USDA Zone- U.S.D.A classifications according to annual minimum temperatures and/or lengths of growing seasons.( Also referred to as Hardiness Zones.)
Virus- A plant disease that can't be eliminated by a chemical means.
Water-logged-Said of soil that is over saturated with water.
Winter Annual- An Annual plant that usually germinates in the fall,overwinters as a seedling, and flowers the following Spring.
Weed- An uninvited and usually unattractive plant that surfaces in gardens.
Woody- Having hard,tough tissues that persist from year to year and capable of producing shoot or flower buds.
Zone- Regions that share similar climatic and rainfall conditions producing similar growing seasons.
