Expand Your Green Thumb Know-How with this Gardener’s Glossary

Whether you’re a budding gardener just getting your hands dirty or a seasoned pro looking to brush up on the lingo, this comprehensive gardening dictionary has got you covered. Consider it a little shortcut to speaking plant language fluently.

Gardening brings so much joy, but the terminology can sometimes feel overwhelming to keep track of. Not to worry! This handy guide breaks down some of the most common words and phrases used by backyard growers and botanical wizards alike.

From annuals to integrated pest management to loam soil, this cheat sheet will help you identify key terms related to plants, processes, growing conditions, and more. Understanding these key concepts unlocks the secrets to growing a thriving, healthy garden. Consider it a little shortcut to becoming fluent in dirt talk!

Soon you’ll go from saying “huh?” to happily exclaiming “I dig it!” when other gardeners start waxing poetic about proper transplanting techniques. So study up, get growing, and most importantly, have fun playing in the soil! This glossary was made for all experience levels to unlock the joy that comes from growing.

A

Aeration – The process of puncturing holes in the ground so air, water and nutrients can get in more easily. If the soil is compacted, your plants’ roots might not receive adequate nutrition and they can weaken or die.

Aeroponics – a plant-cultivation technique in which the roots hang suspended in the air while nutrient solution is delivered to them in the form of a fine mist.

Agriculture Extension – A program run by expert university agricultural staff to provide horticultural information and guidance to local gardening communities.

Annual – A plant that completes its lifecycle in one season, growing from seed to producing its own seed within a single year.

Aquaponics – A way of growing food that connects the farming of fish and other water creatures with growing plants in water. The plants get their food from the waste that the fish produce, which keeps the water clean for the fish while helping the plants grow.

B

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) – A naturally occurring bacteria that is used to control insect pests. Bt is a group of soil microbes that produce proteins that are toxic to certain insects.

Bare Roots –  A technique for harvesting an established plant while it’s dormant and removing most or all of the soil from its roots. The plant is then stored without soil around its roots and can be planted directly into the ground. 

Bone meal –  An organic fertilizer made from ground animal bones. It’s a byproduct of slaughterhouses that’s made by cooking, steaming, and crushing animal bones into a fine powder or granules. Bone meal can also include pork or fish bones.

Bolting – The term applied to vegetable crops when they prematurely run to seed, usually making them unusable. A cold spell or changes in day length initiates this behavior. It can affect a wide range of vegetables including lettuce, spinach and fennel.

Biennial – Plants that have a two-year life cycle. Biennial plants grow leaves, stems and roots the first year, then go dormant for the winter. In the second year the plant will flower and produce seeds before dying.

C

Cold Stratification –  also known as seed stratification, is a process that involves exposing seeds to cold and moist conditions to encourage germination.

Community Gardening – Neighborhood gardening initiative which involves a group of people gardening communally on a shared plot of land. Promotes food production and access.

Companion Planting – The practice of strategically grouping complementary plants in proximity to enhance combined growth through symbiotic relationships between the plants.

Compost – Decayed organic matter used to amend soil. Added to garden beds to increase soil fertility.

Cultivar – A cultivated variety of a plant that has been selectively bred for desired traits such as flower color.

D

Deadheading – the pruning practice of removing faded flowers or dried seed heads from plants. It involves pinching or cutting off the wilted flower stems down to the first set of full, healthy leaves.

Direct Sow – The process of directly planting seeds into the garden beds rather than starting seeds indoors and transplanting seedlings.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) – A white powder made from the fossilized remains of diatoms, microscopic organisms found in water. DE is a broad-spectrum pesticide that can be used to control a variety of pests, including soft-bodied insects like caterpillars and aphids, and hard-shelled insects like beetles, fleas, cockroaches, and bed bugs. 

Drip Irrigation – An efficient irrigation system that delivers low volumes of water slowly and directly to plant roots through flexible tubing and emitters that drip. Helps conserve water.

E

Ecosystem – (an) Ecosystem consists of all the living organisms and physical environmental factors functioning together in a specific area as an ecological unit. Energy flows and nutrients cycle to support the interdependent web of life.

F

Frost Date (last) – The average final spring frost in your growing location. This date and temperature varies greatly depending on your state, county, elevation – and even whether you live in an urban or rural environment.

Fertilizer – Any material added to soil to provide essential nutrients that plants need to grow and thrive.

G

Germination – The process by which seeds sprout and begin to grow after being sown. Viable seeds will germinate when right environmental conditions of moisture, temperature, soil, etc are met.

Grafting – A technique for joining two or more plants together. The upper part of the graft is called the scion, and the lower part is called the under stock. The scion becomes the top of the new plant, and the under stock becomes the root system or part of the trunk.

H

Hardening off – The process of gradually exposing seedlings and transplants to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days. This toughens them up before fully planting them outside.

Harvest – The process or period of gathering in crops

Herb Garden – Section of the garden designated just for growing culinary, medicinal, or ornamental herbs. Herbs are versatile plants valued for their flavor, fragrances, and health properties.

Herbicide – Chemicals used to manipulate or control undesirable vegetation. Herbicide application occurs most frequently in row-crop farming, where they are applied before or during planting to maximize crop productivity by minimizing other vegetation.

Hydroponics – Plants are grown in a water-based nutrient solution, rather than soil. Hydroponics can include an aggregate substrate, or growing media, such as vermiculite, coconut coir, or perlite

Hydrophobic Soil – Soil that repels water. It can form when a thin layer of soil becomes hydrophobic after intense heating.

I

Insecticide –  Chemicals used to control insects by killing them or preventing them from engaging in undesirable or destructive behaviors.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)- Uses a variety of least-toxic methods for controlling pests, including growing healthy plants, correctly identifying pests, monitoring infestations, physical controls, biological controls, and proper use of pesticides as an absolute last resort. Goal is pest deterrence rather than eliminating pests completely.

J

K

L

Loam – The ideal type of soil composition. It has relatively equal parts sand, silt, and clay along with ample organic matter. Loamy soil is loose and drains well while still holding moisture and nutrients that plant roots need.

M

Macro-Nutrient – Any of the chemical elements and compounds that are essential in large amounts for plant growth and development.

The primary macronutrients include:

• Nitrogen (N) – supports lush vegetative growth
• Phosphorus (P) – aids flowering, root growth, and climatic adaptation
• Potassium (K) – controls water regulation, immune health, movement of sugars
• Calcium (Ca) – provides cell wall structure
• Magnesium (Mg) – enzymatic reactions, also part of chlorophyll
• Sulfur (S) – proteins, oils and chlorophyll production

Master Gardener – someone who has comprehensive knowledge and expertise in general gardening and horticulture practices.

Mulch – A protective material placed on top of the soil to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil conditions as it breaks down. Organic mulches include wood chips, grass clippings, bark, etc.

Microclimate – In gardening refers to the specific environmental conditions present in a small, localized area within your garden landscape. Understanding microclimates is very useful for garden planning and care

Micronutrient – Essential plant nutrients that are needed in small amounts. They are found in trace amounts in tissue, but play an important role in plant growth and development.

N

Native Plants – A plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.

Nematodes – Microscopic, thread-like roundworms that are common soil pests that affect plants. They can be found in soil, fresh and salt water, and in crop fields and landscapes.

Nitrification – Fertilizers often contain high levels of nitrogen compounds like ammonia and urea. When used in excess, these nitrogen chemicals can run off into streams, rivers, and other water bodies. In the water, microbes will then rapidly convert the ammonia into nitrites and nitrates through a process called nitrification.

This is problematic because the buildup of nitrates in water systems promotes algae blooms and excessive plant growth. As the algae multiply, large populations will eventually die off. The decaying algae consume oxygen in the water leading to “dead zones” where fish and other aquatic life cannot survive due to the oxygen depletion.

Nursery – Place where plants are grown for transplanting, for use as stock for budding and grafting, or for sale.

Nursery Stock – Plants that are already partially grown and sold at retail garden centers rather than started by the gardener from seed. Usually sold in pots or containers.

O

Organic Garden – Gardens that uss materials derived from plants, minerals, and animals, without the use of fossil fuels. This includes avoiding synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. 

Organically Grown – Plants are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organic farmers also don’t use genetically modified components or expose food to irradiation.

Organic Matter – Biological material that is decaying or decomposing. It is made up of living, dead, and decomposing plants, small animals, and microorganisms.

P

pH – The acidity or alkalinity of soil. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH of 7.0 is considered neutral, while soil with a pH below 7.0 is acidic and soil with a pH above 7.0 is alkaline.(pH stand for potential of Hydrogen)

Perlite – A lightweight, white, granular material that can be used as a soil amendment or as a medium for hydroponics. It’s also used in soil-less growing mixes, as a carrier for fertilizers, and for pelletizing seeds.

Permaculture – A way of planning and growing that aims to take care of the earth while producing food. It’s about creating gardens and farms that fit in with nature, are good for the planet, and can keep going for a long time.

Perennial – Plants that live more than two years, often resprouting from their rootstock even after going dormant in winter.

Pesticide – A chemical or biological agent that controls unwanted plants, insects, rodents, or plant diseases. Pesticides can be chemicals, such as herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, and fungicides. They can also be biological agents, such as viruses, bacteria, antimicrobials, or disinfectants. 

Propagation – The various processes of initiating and multiplying new plants. This includes methods like sowing seeds, taking cuttings, separating offshoots, grafting, layering stem branches to generate roots before separating, etc.

Pruning – Selectively trimming back parts of a plant, typically branches and buds, to remove damaged growth and shape the plant.

Q

R

Raised Bed – A garden where the soil is raised above ground level and usually enclosed. The raised beds can be made from wood, rock, concrete, or other materials. They can be any size or shape, and can be anywhere from a few inches tall to waist-high or higher.

Row Covers – Fabric sheets placed over plants and crops to protect them from cold weather, pests, or wind damage. Allow air, light, and water to penetrate.

S

Seedlings – Young plants that have just germinated and emerged from the seed. At this early stage of growth they are small and delicate, with underdeveloped root systems.

Soaker Hose – A porous flexible hose that seeps moisture into the soil slowly along its entire length. It supplies plants with water directly to roots with high efficiency.

Soil – A growing medium that provides nutrients for plants. It is a loose surface material that covers most land and is made up of inorganic particles and organic matter. Soil is formed from the weathering of rocks and is made up of mineral particles, organic materials, air, water, and living organisms.

Soil Compaction – Occurs when soil particles are compressed too tightly, reducing the space between them. 

Soil Composition – The ideal soil composition for gardening is 45% minerals, 5% organic material, 25% air, and 25% water. The mineral portion should be loam, which is 20–30% clay, 30–50% silt, and 30–50% sand.

Soil Friability – The crumbly structure and loosely compacted condition of optimal healthy garden soil that allows for good drainage and root penetration through the soil. Supported by high organic matter.

Soil Structure – The arrangement of soil particles into aggregates. The eight main types of soil structure are:

• Blocky
• Crumb
• Columnar
• Granular
• Massive
• Platy
• Prismatic
• Single grain

Soil Testing – A soil-management tool that analyzes soil samples to determine their quality. It can help gardeners measure their soil’s health and fertility, and determine the best lime and fertilizer requirements for crops. This test can be conducted by collecting a soil sample and sending it to a local agriculture extension for testing, for a small fee.

Succession Planting – Repeatedly planting crops in intervals so harvests are continuous versus all at once. As one crop is winding down, another is just beginning.

T

Transplant – Moving a plant, usually a seedling or cutting that has started in one spot, and replanting it in another spot to allow continued growth.

U

Urban Garden – A garden grown on a small plot of land in a city or heavily populated town, typically taking advantage of small or non-traditional spaces. May focus on aesthetic plants or food production.

V

Vermicompost – A homemade compost product created by the breakdown of organic matter using special worms. The worm castings serve as an extra nutritious organic fertilizer.

W

Watering Can – A container with a spout used to gently water plants and avoid washing out seeds or damaging delicate seedlings.

X

Xeriscaping – Landscaping in a way that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation. Using native drought tolerant plants suited for dry conditions.

Y

Yield – The amount of crop produced by a plant or grouping of plants. Used to calculate productivity.

Z

Zero-waste – An eco-friendly way of gardening that focuses on resource conservation. It means that nothing in your garden will go to waste, and will be used again in another fertile life.

Zone – Regions defined by climatic conditions to help determine which plants are best suited to thrive in those locations.

This glossary will be updated periodically.

-Gray