HorticultureTerms

HorticultureTerms

          A
       Abscission = A natural dropping of leaves, flowers and other plant parts.
       Acid = A pH lower than 7.0
       Acre = A measure of land totaling 43,560 square feet.
A square acre is 208.75 feet on each side.
       Aerate/Aeration = Loosening or puncturing the soil to increase
the amount of air space for better water penetration.
       Air Layering = A specialized method of plant propagation
accomplished by cutting into the bark of the plant to induce new
roots to form.
       Alkaline = A pH higher than 7.0 is an alkaline
       Annual = Plants whose life cycle lasts only one year,
from seed to blooms to seed.
       Arboretum = A garden with a large collection of trees
and shrubs cultivated for scientific or educational purposes.
       Aquatic = Things grow in, live in, or live on the water.
       Axil = The location on a stem between the upper surface of
a leaf or leafstalk and the stem from which it is growing.
       Axilary buds = Buds that form in leaf axils.
          B
       Bare Root = Plants offered for sale which have had all
of the soil removed from their roots.
       Bedding Plant = Plants (mainly annuals), nursery grown
and suitable for growing in beds. Quick, colorful flowers.
       Biennial = A plant that usually only lives two years,
normally producing flowers and seed the second year.
       Bolting = Vegetables which quickly go to flower rather
than producing the food crop. Usually caused by late planting
and too warm temperatures.
       Bonsai = The art of growing carefully trained, dwarf plants in
containers.
       Botanical name = The Latin or "scientific" name of a plant,
usually composed of two words,the genus and the species.
       Bracts = Modified leaves growing just below a flower. Often
confused with the flower itself.
       Bud = Early stages of development of a flower or plant
growth.
       Broadcast = To simply scatter seed by hand over the area to be
seeded, rather than sowing in rows.
       Bud Union = The point where a plant has been grafted.
Usually indicated by a small knoblike growth on a tree, shrub, or
rosebush.
       Bulb = The thickened underground storage organ of the
group of perennials which includes daffodils and tulips.
        C
       Cambium Layer = The green growth layer (tissue within the stem,
branch, and trunk that continually forms nutrient and water-conducting
vessels) just under the bark.
       Candles (Pine) = New growth that has an upright habit and looks
similar to candles until it unfurls. The new growth on pines.
       Cane Berries = Types of berries that grow on canes (stocks)
rather than vines.
       Catkin = A slender, spikelike, drooping flower cluster.
       Chlorophyll = The green pigment in leaves. When present
and healthy usually dominates all other pigments.
       Coldframes = A frame or enclosure that is covered with plastic
or glass to create a greenhouse effect and provide sunlight and
warmth to seedlings prior to transplanting in your garden.
       Complete Fertilizer = A plant food which contains all three
of the primary elements... nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
(the three nutrients in which plants are most commonly deficient).
       Companion Planting = Companion planting, or companion
gardening is the practice of planting two different plants in close
proximity to each other on the theory that they help each other in
some way.
       Compost = An organic soil amendment resulting from the
decomposition of organic matter.
       Conifer = A plant that bears cones or similar seed cases.
Most are evergreen and have needle-like foliage.
       Container Gardening = The planting of flowers or vegetables in
a pot or other container. It is perfect for apartment owners and
people with small yards. The list of flowers and vegetables that
can be grown in containers is many and varied. It is limited by
the size of the container and the space you can afford it.
       Corm = A thickened underground stem which produces roots,
leaves and flowers during the growing season (food-storage organs).
       Cover Crop = A crop which is planted in the absence of the
normal crop to control weeds and add humus to the soil when
it is plowed in prior to regular planting.
       Crop Rotation
An important farming method for commercial growers and
home gardeners. Crop rotation concept teaches planting your
crops in a different area and rotating them over a three year cycle.
       Crown = The point at which a plants roots and top join.
(usually at soil level)
       Cultivate = Process of breaking up the soil surface,
removing weeds, and preparing for planting.
       Cuttings = A method of propagation using sections
of stems, roots or leaves.
        D
       Damping Off = A fungus, usually affecting seedlings
and causes the stem to rot off at soil level. Sterilized
potting soil and careful sanitation practices usually
prevent this.
       Dead Head = The process of pinching off used or
spent blooms to keep the plants well groomed and to
prevent them from setting seed. This will promote
continued bloom.
       Deciduous = Plants that shed all their leaves annually,
usually in the fall.
       Desiccation = Dehydration or loss of water.
       Dibble Stick = A pointed tool used to make holes
in the soil for seeds, bulbs, or young plants.
       Dethatch = Process of removing dead stems that
build up beneath lawn grasses.
       Dividing = The process of splitting up plants, roots
and all that have began to get bound together. This will
make several plants from one plant, and usually should
be done to mature perennials every 3 to 4 years.
       Dormancy = The yearly cycle in a plants life when growth
slows and the plant rests. Fertilizing should be withheld when
a plant is in dormancy.
       Dormant Oil = Oil sprayed on deciduous trees while they
are dormant. Dormant oils are used to kill overwintering insects
or insect eggs on plant bark.
       Double Digging = Preparing the soil by systematically
digging an area to the depth of two shovels.
       Double Flower = A flower with many overlapping petals
which gives it a very full appearance.
       Drip Line = The circle which would exist if you drew a line
below the tips of the outer most branches of a tree or plant.
        E
       Epiphyte = A plant which grows on another plant but
gets its nourishment from the air and rainfall. They do no
damage to the host plant.
       Erosion = The wearing away, washing away, or removal of
soil by wind, water or man.
       Espalier = Process of training a tree or shrub so its branches
grow in a modified pattern (like along a railing or trellis).
       Evergreen = Plants that maintain their leaves all twelve
months of the year.
       Eye = An undeveloped bud growth which will ultimately
produce new growth.
       Evaporation = Process by which water returns to the air.
Higher temperatures speed the process of evaporation.
        F
5-10-10 = Standard commercial fertilizer used for vegetable gardening.
All fertilizers have three numbers. The first is nitrogen, the second is
phosphorus, and the third is potash. Canadians often use 4-10-10 instead
       Fertilizer = Organic or inorganic plant foods which may be
either liquid or granular used to amend the soil in order to improve
the quality or quantity of plant growth.
       Flat = A shallow box or tray used to start cuttings or seedlings.
       Floating Row = Covers tender vegetables or those that can be
harmed or destroyed by frost. Floating row covers are very lightweight
coverings that can be quickly placed over a row of seedlings or plants.
Their light weight minimizes any damage to tender plants.
       Floating Greenhouse = Greenhouses that sit on top of the water
and go up and down as the water-levels fluctuate, at the same time, they
use the water both to irrigate the plants in the greenhouses and to
regulate the temperature.
       Foliar Feeding = Applying liquid solutions of fertilizer to the
leaves of plants, where they are quickly absorbed.
       Forcing = The process of hastening a plants growth to
maturity or bloom.   Common examples are Poinsettias and Christmas Cactus.
       Friable = An old gardening term for soil that is soft and crumbly.
       Frond = The term used to describe the branch and leaf structure
of a fern or members of the palm family.
       Frost = The condensation and freezing of moisture in the air.
Tender plants will suffer extensive damage or die when exposed to frost.
       Frost Free Dates = For areas that get frost and freezes, the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mapped out a number of areas for
the country and posted a normal range of dates for the last date there is a
chance of frost n the spring and the first date for frost in the fall. While a
great guide, it can vary significantly within a given zone due to many factors.
       Fungicide = A chemical that kills fungi or prevents them from infecting
healthy plant tissue.
       Furrows = A long, trench along the row where you will plant your seed
        G
       Germinate = The process of the sprouting of a seed.
       Girdle/Girdling = The choking of plant roots, stems, trunks or branches
resulting in a constriction of the plant part, or a reduction of water and
nutrient flow through the girdled plant part, often killing the plant.
       Grafting = To unite a stem or bud of one plant to stem or root of
another plant. This is often done to produce a hardier or more disease
resistant plant.
       Ground Cover = A group of plants usually used to cover bare
earth and create a uniform 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.
Vegetables and certain plants require a minimum number of days
to reach maturity, so be sure your growing season is long enough.
        H
       Hardening Off = The process of gradually acclimatizing
greenhouse or indoor grown plants to outdoor growing conditions.
       Hardpan = The impervious layer of soil or clay lying beneath
the topsoil.
       Hardiness = The ability of a plant to withstand low temperatures
or frost, without artificial protection.
       Heading Back = Cutting an older branch or stem back to a stub
or twig.
       Heeling In = Temporarily setting a plant into a shallow trench
and covering the roots with soil to provide protection until it is ready
to be permanently planted.
       Herbaceous = Describes a plant with soft rather than woody
tissues. (soft and succulent)
       Herbicide, Preemergent = A chemical that kills or retards plant
growth. Herbicides may kill the entire plant; or they may kill only the
aboveground plant parts, leaving the roots alive. (weed or grass killer
that kills seeds before they begin to grow)
      Herbs = Aromatic plants used for seasoning, medicinal purposes,
or garnishes. Aromatic herbs are the ones that have fragrant or smelly
leaves or flowers.
       Hills, Hilling = A gardening method where a small round hill is created
six or seven inches high and seeds are planted. This aids seeds to
germinate through better drainage and warmer soil.
       Honeydew = The sticky secretion produced by sucking insects
such as aphids.
       Humus = The brown or black organic part of the soil resulting from
the partial decay of leaves and other matter.
       Hybrid = The offspring of two plants of different species or varieties
of plants. Hybrids are created when the pollen from one kind of plant is
used to pollinate and entirely different variety, resulting in a new plant
altogether.
       Hydroponics = The science of growing plants in mineral solutions or liquid,
instead of in soil.
        I
       Internode = The section of stem between two nodes.
       Irrigation Method = Watering plants by letting the water run from the
hose on the ground around the plant puddling or soaking instead of sprinkling
        L
       Larva = An immature stage through which some types of insects must
pass before developing into adults. Caterpillars are the larvae of moths and
butterflies, and grubs are the larvae of beetles. Larvae are typically wormlike
in appearance.
       Lateral bud - A bud forming along the side of a stem or branch rather
than at the end.
       Lath = In gardening, an overhead structure of evenly spaced slats of
wood or other materials used to create shade.
       Layering = A method of propagation, by which a branch of a plant is
rooted while still attached to the plant by securing it to the soil with a
piece of wire or other means..
       Leaching = The removal or loss of excess salts or nutrients from soil.
The soil around over fertilized plants can be leached clean by large
quantities of fresh water used to 'wash' the soil. Areas of extremely
high rainfall sometimes lose the nutrients from the soil by natural leaching.
       Leaf Mold = Partially decomposed leaf matter, used as a soil amendment.
       Loam = A rich soil composed of clay, sand, and organic matter.
       Leggy Growth = New growth that is out of proportion to the rest of the plant.
        M
       Macronutrients - Nutrients required by plants for normal growth.
Macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are needed
in large quantities by most plants.
       Manure = Organic matter, mineral and nutrient rich by product of animals.
Green manurers are plant cover crops which are tilled into the soil.
       Maturity Dates = The normal average number of day for a plant to produce
fruit. It is normally counted from the day of germination or transplanting into
your garden.
       Medium = A soil or soil-less mix used to start or re-plant houseplants,
flowers, vegetables, and other plants
       Microclimate = Variations of the climate within a given area, usually
influenced by hills, hollows, structures or proximity to bodies of water.
(i.e. when it's raining at your house, and the sun is shining on the other
side of the street)
       Micro Nutrients = Mineral elements which are needed by some
plants in very small quantities. If the plants you are growing require
specific 'trace elements' and they are not available in the soil, they
must be added.
       Mites - A group of tiny animals related to spiders, many of
which feed on plants.
       Mottling of Leaves = Discoloration or spotting of leaves.
       Mulch = Any loose material placed over the soil to control weeds
and conserve soil moisture. Usually this is a coarse organic matter,
such as leaves, clippings or bark, but plastic sheeting and other
commercial products can also be used.
        N
       Native Plant = Any plant that occurs and grows naturally in a
specific region or locality.
       Naturalize = To plant randomly, without a pattern. The idea is to
create the effect that the plants grew in that space without man's help,
such as you would find wild flowers growing.
       Node = The part of a stem from which a leaf or new branch starts to grow.
       O
       Organic Gardening = The method of gardening utilizing only
materials derived from living things. (i.e. composts and manurers)
       Organic Material = Any material which originated as a living organism.
(i.e. peat moss, compost, manure)
        P
       Parasitic Plant = A plant which lives on, and acquires it's nutrients from
another plant. This often results in declined vigor or death of the host plant.
Pathogen - An organism capable of causing a disease. ( such as fungus,
bacterium, or virus)
       Peat Moss = The partially decomposed remains of various mosses. This
is a good, water retentive addition to the soil, but tends to add the acidity of
the soil pH.
       Perennial = A nonwoody plant which grows and lives for more than two
years. Perennials usually produce one flower crop each year, lasting anywhere
from a week to a month or longer.
       Perlite = A mineral, which when expanded by a heating process forms light
granules. Perlite is a good addition to container potting mixes, to promote
moisture retention while allowing good drainage.
       Pest = Any insect or animal which is detrimental to the health and
well being of plants or other animals.
       Petiole - A stalk that attaches the leaf to the stem; a leafstalk.
       pH = A scale used to measure the acid/alkaline In soil
it is the measure of the amount of lime (calcium) contained in
the soil. A soil with a pH lower than 7.0 is an acid soil, a soil pH
higher than 7.0 is alkaline soil. Soil pH can be tested with an
inexpensive test kit.
       Phloem - Nutrient-conducting vessels found throughout the plant.
Phloem vessels transport nutrients produced in the foliage down
through the stems, branches, or trunk to the roots.
       Photosynthesis = The internal process by which a plant turns
sunlight into growing energy. The formation of carbohydrates in
plants from water and carbon dioxide, by the action of sunlight
on the Chlorophyll within the leaves.
       Pinching Back = Utilizing the thumb and forefinger to nip
back the very tip of a branch or stem. Pinching promotes
branching, and a bushier, fuller plant
       Pistil = The seed-bearing organ of a flower, consisting of
the ovary, stigma, and style.
       Plant Hardiness Zones = The USDA has divided the U.S. into
several zones indicating different high and low temperature
ranges to aid in the selection of plants suitable for your area.
       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. Hybrids are created when the
pollen from one kind of plant is used to pollinate and entirely
different variety, resulting in a new plant altogether.
       Potting Soil = A soil mixture designed for use in container
gardens and potted plants. Potting mixes should be loose, light,
and sterile.
       Processed Manure = Sterilized, dried, and bagged manure.
Usually sold in 40- or 50-pound bags.
       Propagation = Various methods of starting new plants
ranging from starting seeds to identical clones created by
cuttings or layering.
       Pruning = The cutting and trimming of plants to remove
dead or injured wood, or to control and direct the new growth
of a plant.
        Q
        R
       Raised Beds = Planting areas that are mounded or boxed above
ground level. Hilling soil is another method of raising the soil level. Soil
dries out and warms up much more quickly permitting earlier planting
and later harvesting.
       Rank Foliage = New foliage that has grown too large.
       Relative Humidity = The measurement of the amount of moisture
in the atmosphere.
       Rhizome = A modified plant stem which grows horizontally,
under the surface of the soil. New growth then emerges from
different points of the rhizome. Irises and some lawn grasses
are rhizome plants.
       Root Ball = The network of roots along with the attached soil,
of any given plant.
       Rootbound = A condition which exists when a potted plant has
outgrown its container. The roots become entangled and matted
together, and the growth of the plant becomes stunted. When
repotting, loosen the roots on the outer edges of the root ball, to
induce them to once again grow outward.
       Rooting Hormone = A powder of liquid growth hormone, used
to promote the development of roots on a cutting.
       Runner = A slender stem growing out from the base of some
plants, (trailing stems) that form roots at their nodes when they make
contact with moist soil.The new plant may be severed from the parent
after it has developed sufficient roots.
        S
       Sandy Loam = A combination of sandy soil and loam. Sand
content provides good drainage. Loam contains more body and is a
combination of silt, sand, and clay.
       Scion = A short length of stem, taken from one plant which is then
grafted onto the rootstock of another plant.
       Seed Bed = A prepared bed where seeds are planted and seedlings
are nurtured prior to planting in your garden. It can be in or out of your
regular garden area.
       Seed Tape = This is popular with small seeds that are hard to space.
Seeds are on a bio-degradable tape, space the appropriate distance.
Make your furrow, roll out the tape and cover the seeds.
       Single Flower = A flower having only a minimum number of
petals for that variety of plant.
       Soil pH = Basically, pH is a measure of the amount of lime
(calcium) contained in your soil. A soil with a pH lower than 7.0 is
an acid soil, a soil pH higher than 7.0 is alkaline soil. Soil pH can
be tested with an inexpensive test kit.
       Soil Sour = The term used for soil that is acidic, or too low. Do not
worry, everybody gets these two terms mixed up.
       Soil Sweet = The term used for soil that is too high in alkaline.
       Soluble Capable = of being dissolved in water. Plants need
minerals and nutrients that are in your soil. But if they are in a form
that can not be dissolved in water, the plant can not ingest them.
       Spent Flowers = Dead or dying flowers.
       Sphagnum = A bog moss which is collected and composted.
Most peat moss is composed primarily of sphagnum moss. This
moss is also packaged and sold in a fresh state, and used for
lining hanging baskets and air layering.
       Spindly Growth = Leggy, long, or flimsy new growth that has
developed out of proportion to the rest of the plant.
       Spore = The reproductive cell of ferns, fungi and mosses.
(these plants do not produce seeds)
       Staking = The practice of driving a stake into the ground next
to, and as a support for a plant. When attaching the plant to the
stake, be sure that it is tied loosely so it doesn't strangle the stem.
When staking a potted plant, the stake should be set into the
planter before the plant is added.
       Stomates = Tiny pores located mainly on the underside of leaves.
Oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases move in and
out of the leaf through these pores.
       Sucker = A growth originating from the rootstock of a grafted
plant, rather than the desired part of the plant. Sucker growth
should be removed, so it doesn't draw energy from the plant.
       Systemic = A chemical which is absorbed directly into a
Succession Planting A great way to spread out your harvest!
Plant, smaller crops in one to two week intervals to prolong the
harvest over a long period of time.
plants system to either kill feeding insects on the plant, or to
kill the plant itself.
        T
       Tap Root = The main, thick root growing straight down from
a plant. (not all plants have tap roots)
       Tender Plants = Plants which are unable to endure frost or
freezing temperatures.
       Tendril = The twisting, clinging, slender growth on many vines,
which allows the plant to attach themselves to a support or trellis.
       Terminal buds = A bud at the end of a stem or branch
       Thatch = The layer of dead stems that builds up under many
lawn grasses. Thatch should be removed periodically to promote
better water and nutrient penetration into the soil.
       Thinning = Removing excess seedlings, to allow sufficient room
for the remaining plants to grow. Thinning also refers to removing
entire branches from a tree or shrub, to give the plant a more open
structure.
       Tilth = An old gardening term for the tilled condition of your soil.
       Topiary = A method of pruning and training certain plants into
formal shapes such as animals.
       Topsoil = The top layer of native soil. This term may also apply
to good quality soil sold at nurseries and garden centers.
       Transpiration = The release of moisture (evaporation of water)
from plant tissue to the atmosphere. Transpiration occurs mainly
through the stomates in the leaves.
       Transplanting = The process of digging up a plant and moving
it to another location.
       Transplanting Shock = When transplanting seedlings from one place
to another, the roots are often disturbed and occasionally the change in
climate can cause the plant to slow down or appear to stop growing.
This is transplant shock. It is really redirecting it's energy to re-grow
lost roots and to get accustomed to a change in temperature that it
hadn't experienced before.
       Tuber = A flat underground stem which stores food and plant
energy and from which a plant grows. (e.g. Dahlias)
       Twist Ties = Short lengths of wire encased in a protective coating;
they are less likely to damage or girdle branches, stems, and other
parts of plants.
        U
        V
       Variegated = Leaves which are marked with multiple colors.
       Vermiculite = The mineral 'mica' which has been heated to the
point of expansion. A good addition to container potting mixes,
vermiculite retains moisture and air within the soil.
       Volatile Action = An uncontrolled and unintended chemical
reaction to certain conditions. For example, if temperatures are too
warm, Casoron will vaporize and be lost into the air and/or is apt to
burn foliage due to the vapors.

V-Shaped Furrow = A planting trench made in the shape of the letter V.
It is wide at the top and pointed at the bottom.
        W
        X
       Xylem - Water-conducting vessels found throughout the plant.
Xylem vessels transport water and minerals from the roots upward
through the plant.

        Y
        Z