Intensive Course

Adaptable as a Houseplant – This means the plant can be grown indoors at least through the winter, but likely all year.

Annual – A plant that grows, flowers, produces seed all in one season, and then does not survive the winter.  It must be planted each year.  Many plants we call annual may be perennial in warmer locations.

Balled and Burlapped (B&B) – Generally larger trees or shrubs that were grown in the ground at a nursery.  When ready for sale they are dug, wrapped in burlap and then sold.  Some plants may be placed in wire baskets in addition to being wrapped in burlap.

Bare Root – These are plants, usually trees and shrubs, that are sold with little to no soil around the roots.  Some perennials are also sold as bare root plants. This is most common with mail ordered plants.

CEC – Cation Exchange Capacity, is a measure of how much fertilizer your soil can hold and release over time.  A high CEC is good because it means your soil will hold a lot of fertilizer.  Clay soils have high CEC.  A low CEC means you will have to fertilize more often.  Sandy soils have low CEC.

Clay Soil – Soil composed of many tiny plate-like soil particles that can compact with time to form a hard, solid mass that makes shoveling difficult, digging holes more laborious, and often results in poor drainage.

Climbing – Plants that climb fences or other structures by using roots or stem structures to grip. Vines are climbers.

Clump Forming – Plants that form clumps of foliage, often spreading to form other clumps close by.

Cool-Season Grass – These grasses put on most of their growth in spring before temperatures begin exceeding 75 degrees Fahrenheit and in the fall when temperatures cool down. They generally maintain good color through the summer but won’t grow much when it is hot.

Compost – Compost is the decomposition of plants and other formerly living materials into a soil-like substance that is high in organic matter, an excellent fertilizer, and capable of improving almost any soil.

For more in depth composting information click here.

Container Plant Style – Plants used in combinations are sometimes classified as thrillers, fillers, and spillers to identify what role each plant fulfills in a combination design.  Container plant style identifies this designation.

Controlled Release Fertilizer – Also called Time Release Fertilizer. Fertilizer comes in pellets and is an improved version of Slow Release Fertilizer.  Fertilizer is released based on soil temperature itself (not microbe action) and tends to be more exact than Slow Release Fertilizer.

Dappled Shade – Areas where there is a mixture of sun and shade, generally because a deciduous tree is nearby. Dappled shade is similar to partial shade.

Dead-head – to remove the old spent blooms and seed heads from a plant to help keep plants blooming longer.

For detailed information on deadheading click here.

Deciduous – Trees or shrubs that lose their leaves in fall and winter.

Deer Resistant Plants – Plants that deer are less likely to nibble on.  Hungry deer (or rabbits, ground hogs, squirrels etc…) will, however, eat almost anything if they are hungry.  Deer tastes also vary by region so trial and error may be necessary to choose deer resistant plants for your area.

Drought Avoidance – Plants that have developed storage capacity or other characteristics that enable them to weather severe drought without wilting, such as cacti, succulents etc…

Drought Resistant – Plants that can withstand periods with little to no supplemental water when planted and established in the landscape.  No plant in a pot is truly drought resistant as they all need some water.  All plants will need to be watered while getting established.  Annuals and perennials need 2 to 3 weeks to establish, shrubs and trees need a year to become established.  Often used interchangeably with drought tolerant although their definitions are different.

Drought Tolerant – Plants that deal with severe drought on a regular basis, and recover from repeated wilting.  All plants will need to be watered while getting established.  Annuals and perennials need 2 to 3 weeks to establish, shrubs and trees need a year to become established.  Often used interchangeably with drought resistant although their definitions are different.

Dry – Water only when the soil is quite dry.  Plants that prefer dry conditions may be susceptible to root rot disease if kept too wet.  Dry plants will need little to no supplemental water once established, if they are planted in the ground.

Dry to Normal – Water when the top of the soil in a pot is dry to the touch, but err on the side of dry rather than wet.  While these plants will be more tolerant of moist conditions than dry plants, they still do not like constantly moist soil.  Dry to normal plants will need little to no supplemental water once established if they are planted in the ground.

EC – a measure of how much salt is in your soil.  High EC can mean that you have a problem from salt water or snow removal.  Soils with very high EC can burn plants.  A low EC means you need to fertilize (fertilzer is essentially make up of different types of salt).  The salts that make up fertilizer are good for your plants (although too much can be bad).  The salt from the ocean or snow removal is bad for plants.

End of the Hose Plant – A plant that is generally tough, is considered low water usage, and generally needs little maintenance.  End of the hose plants are great for the far corners of the garden where the hose doesn’t reach.

Exposure – the optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive

Full Sun – 6 or more hours of direct sun a day

Partial Sun or Partial Shade – 4 to 6 hours of direct sun a day

Full Shade – less than 4 hours of direct sun a day

Dappled Shade – areas where there is a mixture of sun and shade, generally because a deciduous tree is nearby. Dappled shade is similar to partial shade.

For more in depth information on exposure click here.

Evergreen Grass – These grasses are usually plants that look like grasses but aren’t actually classified as grasses. Plants like the sedges and carex are grass-like but not grasses.

Fertilizing – To add nutrition to your plants using either commercial or non commercial fertilizers or compost.

Controlled Release Fertilizer – Also called Time Release Fertilizer.  Fertilizer comes in pellets and is an improved version of Slow Release Fertilizer.  Fertilizer is released based on soil temperature itself (not microbe action) and tends to be more exact than Slow Release Fertilizer.

Heavy Feeders – Plants that need a lot of fertilizer for optimal performance. Regular applications of fertilizer are necessary for continued performance.

Light Feeders – Plants that do not need a lot of fertilizer for optimal performance.  Over feeding Light Feeders can cause toxicity.

N-P-K – Ratio of Nitrogen to Phosphorous to Potassium in a fertilizer.  These are the main nutrients required by plants.

Slow Release Fertilizer – Fertilizer that comes in pellets and is slowly released based largely on microbes which are more or less active based on soil temperatures.

Time Release Fertilizer – Also called Controlled Release Fertilizer.  Fertilizer comes in pellets and is an improved version of Slow Release Fertilizer.  Fertilizer is released based on soil temperature itself (not microbe action) and tends to be more exact than Slow Release Fertilizer.

Trace Elements – Nutrients that plants need in small amounts.  Common trace elements include Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, and Zinc.  These elements are usually included in most commercial fertilizers.

Water Soluble Fertilizer – Fertilizer that either comes in liquid form or comes in crystal form that is dissolved in water.

For in depth information on fertilizing click here.

Filler – Plants that fill in the middle area of a container connecting the spillers and fillers and making the container look full.

Frost-Free Date – Average date in spring when your area no longer experiences frost and the average date in fall for when your area experiences the first frost.  This date is important for knowing when to plant in spring. Knowing both spring and fall frost dates will help you determine the length of your growing season.

Full Shade – less than 4 hours of direct sun a day

Full Sun – 6 or more hours of direct sun a day

Genera – The plural form of genus, see below.  It is used when referring to more than one plant genus.  For instance, “the Petunia and Verbena genera have great garden applications.”

Genus – The first part of the two-part scientific name that is used for plants on our website.

Habit – The general structure of the plant.

Climbing – Plants that climb fences or other structures by using roots or stem structures to grip, vines are climbers.

Clump Forming – Plant that forms clumps of foliage, often spreading to form other clumps close by.

Mounded – Plants with a rounded appearance, they are usually wider than they are tall.

Spreading – Plants that grow low and spread along the ground, rooting at nodes along the stem.

Trailing – Plants that trail along the ground or out of pots but do not root at nodes along the stem.

Upright – A plant that is taller than it is wide with straight (more or less) edges, these plants often have a somewhat spikey appearance.

“Hair Cut” – Using a sharp pair of scissors or shears to trim the ends of the branches off a plant, cutting an even amount off all parts of the plants, like your stylist giving you a haircut.  If there are long pieces trailing or sticking out these would be trimmed back more so that at the end the plant is nicely even.  A haircut will neaten the plant and encourage branching.

Harden Off – A process whereby a plant is gradually introduced to cold temperatures giving it a chance to build cold tolerance.  Plants are naturally hardened off in the fall as temperatures grow colder.  Hardening off is often used to acclimate greenhouse grown plants to cooler outdoor temperatures in spring.  Hardening off will generally take several weeks.

Hardiness Zone – Temperature zones are based on the lowest average temperature each area is expected to receive during the winter.  Hardiness zones are used to determine whether a plant is likely to be perennial in your area.

For in depth information on Hardiness Zones click here, to determine what zone you live in click here.

Head-space – Space left between the top of the soil and the top of the container.  This space helps keep soil from washing out and help channel water into the container when watering.  Without head space water can easily run off the top of the container.

Heat Tolerant – Plants that flourish despite hot temperatures.

Heavy Feeders – Plants that need a lot of fertilizer for optimal performance. Regular applications of fertilizer are necessary for continued performance.

Height, Medium – Plants that are between 10 and 24 inches in height.  These plants are often used in the center (or between the tall and short plants) in a mixed bed or as filler in a container.

Height, Short – Plants that are 10 inches or less in height.  These plants are often used in the front of mixed beds or the edges of pots.

Height, Tall – Plants that are 24 inches or more in height.  These plants are often used at the back of mixed beds or in the center of containers.

Lawn Substitute – Plants that can take light foot traffic and may be used as substitutes for “normal” lawn grasses.  While these plants cannot tolerate heavy foot traffic they will work in some areas.

Light Feeders – Plants that do not need a lot of fertilizer for optimal performance.  Over feeding Light Feeders can cause toxicity.

Micro-climate – Microclimate can be applied to a variety of things.  For our  purposes, it is a spot within a garden that differs from the general environment.  Some examples would be a wet spot where water collects during rain, a spot that remains warmer in the winter – often due to a structure, a spot that is sheltered from the wind, a spot that is affected by ocean salt spray etc…

Mounded – Plants with a rounded appearance, they are usually wider than they are tall.

Mulch – It is a substance applied to the top of the soil around plants.  It can be organic or inorganic and may serve several different purposes.  Mulch is often made of bark or compost.  Mulch helps retain soil moisture, decreases weeds, reduces erosion, helps cool plant roots, adds organic matter (provided organic mulch is used), increases the attractiveness of the landscape, and protects plants from adverse winter conditions.

For in depth information on Winter Mulch click here.

N-P-K – Ratio of Nitrogen to Phosphorous to Potassium in a fertilizer.  These are the main nutrients required by plants.

Needs Good Drainage – These plants do not do well if they remain wet for extended periods of time and should be planted in locations or containers where water quickly drains.

Normal – Water when the top of the soil in a pot is dry to the touch.  For in ground plantings they will need some supplemental water if there is an extended dry spell but will not need constant watering.

Normal to Wet – Water when the top of the soil in a pot is dry to the touch but err on the side of wet rather than dry.  Plants that like Normal to Wet conditions will prefer that the soil be constantly moist and will not tolerate dry soils well.  These plants are often good planted at pond edges.  For in ground plantings you will need to provide an inch of water each week if mother nature doesn’t do it for you.

Over-wintering – This is a process where a plant that is not cold hardy is taken indoors or otherwise manipulated to keep it alive through the winter

For in depth information on Over-wintering click here and here.

Partial Sun or Partial Shade – 4 to 6 hours of direct sun a day

Perennial – Plants that are cold hardy and will return again each spring.  Some will flower the first year they are planted and some will need to mature before flowering.  Some perennials are very long lived and others will survive only a few years.

Pet Friendly – Plants that are unlikely to be harmful to pets.

pH – A measure of how acidic or basic your soil is.  A pH of 7 is considered neutral.  Acidic soils have a pH less than 7.  Basic soils have a pH greater than 7.  Most plants prefer a pH between 6 and 7.  Some plants, called acid loving (azalea, camellia, citrus), will take a pH between 5 and 7.  pH is Important because plants don’t like soils that are too acidic or basic.  pH can be adjusted using amendments.

Pinch – Removing a portion of the plant, often just the very tip of the shoots, to encourage branching.  Often this is done by using your finger nails to pinch off the newest growth but scissors, pruning shears, or a knife can also be used.

Prune – Using pruning shears, scissors, a knife, or loppers to shape or rejuvenate a plant, not to increase branching.  Generally pruning is much more drastic than pinching.  Pruning is most commonly used on shrubs, trees, and perennials.

Right Place, Right Plant – A philosophy for planting a garden that relies on choosing the plants that are best suited to each specific location in your garden making it much easier to have a successful garden and will generally lower input of time and chemicals.

For in depth information on Right Place, Right Plant  click here.

Root Bound – A plant that has been in a pot a long time may have roots that circle around the edges of the pot.  These roots may not grow out into the soil.  To encourage good root growth cut or break up the roots to separate them.

Root Rot – Fungal disease caused by several different types of fungi that causes the roots of a plant to turn brown, grey, and/or slimy.  Root rot impairs a plants ability to uptake water and will often kill plants that are infected.  Root rot is often caused by chronic over-watering.  The most common symptom of root rot is a plant that is wilting even though the soil is wet.

For in-depth information on Root Rot click here.

Sandy Soil – Sandy soil is composed of many irregular to rounded tiny grains of sand, as opposed to the many tiny plate-like soil particles that make up a clay soil. Sandy soil drains very quickly and doesn’t hold on to fertilizer well.

Saturation – This is when the entire root zone of a plant is moist after watering.

Scorch – When plants receive too much sun, pesticide or fertilizer the foliage may look brown or yellowish.  The foliage in these cases is said to be scorched.

Self-cleaning – A term used when a plant sheds old blooms without human help.  This is not the same as dead-heading which involves removing seed heads to prevent seed set.

Slow Release Fertilizer – Fertilizer that comes in pellets and is slowly released based largely on microbes which are more or less active based on soil temperatures.

Spiller – Plants placed along the edge of a combination container to spill or trail out of the pot.

Spreading – Plants that grow low and spread along the ground, rooting at nodes along the stem.

Supplemental Water – Water added through irrigation using drip irrigation, soaker hoses, or other non-natural means.

Tender Perennial – Plants that are perennial in warm locations but are not winter hardy in cold locations.  These plants are often treated as annuals in cold climates or may be in the house plant section.

Thriller – Plants that are placed in the center or back of a combination planter to add drama and height to the combination.

Time Release Fertilizer – Also called Controlled Release Fertilizer.  Fertilizer comes in pellets and is an improved version of Slow Release Fertilizer.  Fertilizer is released based on soil temperature itself (not microbe action) and tends to be more exact than Slow Release Fertilizer.

Toxicity – When a plant does not react well to something it is often called Toxicity.  Toxicity could refer to too much fertilizer, too much sun, sensitivity to insecticides etc…

Taxonomist – A scientist whose job it is to classify plants, or other organisms, into their correct Scientific classifications.  We use Genus and Species on this site.  With new information available via DNA information there is currently a fair amount of reclassification happening.

Topsoil – the upper layer of soil that you plant in.  It varies in depth from place to place, but will almost always be less than a foot deep and can be as little as 2 inches deep

Trace Elements – Nutrients that plants need in small amounts.  Common trace elements include Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, and Zinc.  These elements are usually included in most commercial fertilizers.

Trailing – Plants that trail along the ground or out of pots but do not root at nodes along the stem.

Upright – A plant that is taller than it is wide with straight (more or less) edges, these plants often have a somewhat spikey appearance.

Variegated Foliage – Foliage with different colors, usually but not always random, alternating on the foliage.

Warm-season Grass – These grasses won’t start growing until mid to late spring or even early summer. Their major growth and flowering happens when the weather is hot. They will usually turn shades of brown for the winter.

Watering – Plants differ somewhat on how much water they require and will generally fall into 5 categories.  These categories are most relevant for plants in containers but also apply to in ground plantings.

Dry – Water only when the soil is quite dry.  Plants that prefer dry conditions may be susceptible to root rot disease if kept too wet.  Dry plants will need little to no supplemental water once established if they are planted in the ground.

Dry to Normal – Water when the top of the soil in a pot is dry to the touch but err on the side of dry rather than wet.  While these plants will be more tolerant of moist conditions than Dry plants they still do not like constantly moist soil.  Dry to Normal plants will need little to no supplemental water once established if they are planted in the ground.

Normal – Water when the top of the soil in a pot is dry to the touch.  For in ground plantings they will need some supplemental water if there is an extended dry spell but will not need constant watering.

Normal to Wet – Water when the top of the soil in a pot is dry to the touch but err on the side of wet rather than dry.  Plants that like Normal to Wet conditions will prefer that the soil be constantly moist and will not tolerate dry soils well.  These plants are often good planted at pond edges.  For in ground plantings you will need to provide an inch of water each week if mother nature doesn’t do it for you.

Wet – These plants need soil that is constantly moist to wet. Plants in the wet category also will do well on pond edges or as pond plantings.  They do not tolerate dry soils.

For in depth information on watering container plants click here and for in depth information on watering landscape plants click here.

Water Plant – Plants that can grow on pond edges or in ponds or streams.

Water Soluble Fertilizer – Fertilizer that either comes in liquid form or comes in crystal form that is dissolved in water.

Water Wise – A plant that does well in a landscape that manages water sensibly, using moisture zones and managing water use.  Includes other aspects such as mulching, reduction of turf grass etc…

Wet – These plants need soil that is constantly moist to wet. Plants in the wet category also will do well on pond edges or as pond plantings.  They do not tolerate dry soils.

Wet Feet – When the soil in a container or the landscape stays wet, plants may be referred to as having wet feet.  The roots on some plants do not like to be constantly wet and we might say that the plant doesn’t like to have wet feet.  Conversely, the roots on some plants don’t mind being constantly wet and we might say tthat the plant doesn’t mind having wet feet.

Xeriscape – a landscape style that employs drought-resistant plants to help conserve water.

acid soil	A soil with a pH lower than 7.0 is an acid soil. (a soil pH higher than 7.0 is alkaline) Basically, pH is a measure of the amount of lime (calcium) contained in your soil.
acre	A measure of land totaling 43,560 square feet. A square acre is 208.75 feet on each side.
aerate	Loosening or puncturing the soil to increase 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 soil	A soil with a pH higher than 7.0 is an alkaline soil. (a soil pH lower than 7.0 is acidic) Basically, pH is a measure of the amount of lime (calcium) contained in your soil.
annuals	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 plants	Plants which grow in, live in, or live on the water.
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.
bipinnate	Compound leaf structures with a feather-like formation of leaflets arranged in pairs, with each leaflet also pinnately divided into pairs.
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 scientific name of a plant, usually composed of two words,the genus and the species.
bract	Modified scale-like leaves, usually growing just below a flower or flower cluster. Often confused with petals or the flower itself, as in the case of Dogwoods or Poinsettias.
bud	Early stages of development of a flower or plant growth.
bulb	The thickened underground storage organ of the group of perennials which includes daffodils and tulips.
cambium	The thin membrane located just beneath the bark of a plant.
catkin	A slender, spikelike, drooping flower cluster.
chlorophyll	The green pigment in leaves. When present and healthy usually dominates all other pigments.
cladode	A flattened stem or branch with green tissue scales that replace the function of leaves in performing the process of photosynthesis. Many plants with cladodes have no true leaves at all and if they do the leaves are miniscule and short lived.
complete fertilizer	A plant food which contains all three of the primary elements… nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
compost	An organic soil amendment resulting from the decomposition of organic matter.
conifer	A cone bearing tree with tiny needlelike leaves.
corm	A thickened underground stem which produces roots, leaves and flowers during the growing season.
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.
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.
damping off	A fungus, usually affecting seedlings and causes the stem to rot off at soil level. It can also rot seeds before they even germinate. Sterilized seed starting mixes and careful sanitation practices can usually prevent this. Use care not to over-water. Provide good air circulation.
deadheading	The process of pinching or snipping off used or spent blooms to keep the plants well groomed and to prevent them from setting seed. This will promote continued bloom.
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.
dioecious plant	Plants bear male flowers on one plant and female flowers on another. In order to produce fruit and viable seeds, both a female and male plant must be present
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.
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.
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	The process of training a tree or shrub so that its branches grow in a flat, exposed pattern by tying, pinching and pruning the branches.
evergreen	A plant which never loses all of it’s leaves at one time.
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.
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 cover	A lightweight fabric that is spread or floated over a row of plants to trap heat during the day and release it at night. Use them to get a jump start in the spring, fend off pests, and extend your fall growing season.
foliar feeding	Fertilizer applied in liquid form to the plants foliage in a fine spray.
forcing	The process of hastening a plants growth to maturity or bloom.
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.
germinate	The process that transforms the embryo within a seed into a seedling.
girdling	The choking of a branch by a wire or other material, most often in the stems of woody plants that have been tied to tightly to a stake or support.
grafting	The uniting of a short length of stem of one plant onto the root stock of a different 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.
harden off	The process of gradually acclimatizing greenhouse or indoor grown plants in stages to different temperatures or 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.
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.
inflorescence	The structure that carry the flowers on a plant.
J	Jasmine plant smell really good
K	Potassium for the plants necessary element to fruits
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.
manure	Hmmmm…… Organic matter, excreted by animals, which is used as a soil amendment and fertilizer. Green manures are plant cover crops which are tilled into the soil.
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.
monoecious plant	Plants bearing separate male and female flowers on the same plant
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.
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 point on a stem where one or more leaves, branches or flowers start to grow.
organic gardening	The method of gardening utilizing only materials derived from living things. (i.e. composts and manures)
organic material	Any material which originated as a living organism. (i.e. peat moss, compost, manure)
palmate	Shaped like a hand, with segments radiating from a central point, like fingers
panicle	A loose, airy, multi-branched cluster of flowers
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.
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 non-woody 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 granuals. 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.
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
pinnate	A compound leaf structure with a feather-like formation of leaflets arranged in pairs or alternating along the main stem.
pistil	The seed-bearing organ of a flower, consisting of the ovary, stigma, and style.
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.
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.
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.
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raceme	A single stemmed inflorescence with flowers on individual stalks along a stem. The bottom flowers open first as the raceme continues to elongate. Snapdragon and Delphinium flowers grow on racemes.
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 or liquid growth hormone, used to stimulate a plant cutting to send out new roots from a stem node.
rosette	A cluster of leaves or flowers forming a compact, circular arrangement
runner	A slender stem growing out from the base of some plants, which terminates with a new offset plant. The new plant may be severed from the parent after it has developed sufficient roots.
relative humidity	The measurement of the amount of moisture in the atmosphere.
scarification	Scratching or nicking of a seed’s shell to facilitate germination.
scion	A short length of stem, taken from one plant which is then grafted onto the rootstock of another plant.
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.
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.
spore	Spores are the reproductive cell structure of ferns, fungi and mosses. Fern spores develop inside small green capsules on the underside of the fronds, called sporangia. These types of plants do not form flowers nor 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.
stolon	An above ground spreading stem or runner that often produces a new plant at the tip. (example: Strawberry plants)
stratification	A process used to break the dormancy of a seed. This usually requires that the seeds be placed in a moistened rooting medium and kept in the refrigerator or freezer for a designated length of time
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 plants system to either kill feeding insects on the plant, or to kill the plant itself.
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.
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.
top-dress	To evenly spread fertilizers or other soil amendments over the surface of the 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 through the leaves of a plant.
transplanting	The process of digging up a plant and moving it to another location.
tuber	A flat underground stem which stores food and plant energy and from which a plant grows. (e.g. Dahlias)
umbel	A mostly flat topped flower cluster in which individual flower stems radiate from a common point, like the ribs of an umbrella.
variegated	Leaves which are marked with multiple colors.
vermiculite	A sterile soil amendment created when the mineral ‘mica’ has been heated to the point of expansion, like popcorn. A good addition to container potting mixes, vermiculite retains moisture and air within the soil.