Basic Gardening Terms

Glossary of Gardening Terms

Every gardener needs to be familiar with some basic gardening terms in order to understand their garden. Here is a quick reference guide to some basic terms related to gardening.

Annuals
Plants that complete their growing cycle in one season.

Annuals will die every year and will need to be replaced the next growing season. They are great for people who want to try out new flowers each year. Typical annuals include petunias, cosmos and zinnias.

Biennials
A plant that needs two growing seasons to complete its life cycle. Generally, the plant will grow leaves the first year and flowers and seeds the second. Most biennials are crops such as carrots, but the hollyhock flower is also considered a biennial.

Blossom
To produce flowers before producing edible fruit.

Cultivate
Preparing the soil for planting, allowing water, air and fertilizer to penetrate. A hoe is the best-suited tool for this job.

Dividing
Increasing the amount of plants by splitting up roots that have grown together. This process will promote healthy and abundant plant growth and should be done to mature perennials every 3-4 years.

Fertilize
Using organic or inorganic food to nourish the soil and improve the quality of the plants.

Foliage
Leaves, flowers or vegetation of a plant, considered in a group.

Germinate
The beginning stages of seed growth, when the plant begins to bud, sprout or shoot above the soil.

Hardiness
The ability of a plant to withstand frost or low temperatures on its own, without artificial protection.

Perennials
Plants that live for more than two growing seasons, usually more. There are two types of perennials: herbaceous, which die back each year but sprout up again each growing season, and woody, like trees, which get bigger each season and do not die back. Some examples of perennial plants include iris, poppies and lilies.

Pinching Back
The process of removing the growing shoot of a flower by pinching it off with the thumb and forefinger. This promotes branching and flowering.

Pruning
Cutting off leaves or branches of plants to remove dead, damaged or diseased foliage. Pruning also helps to control the growth of the plant and can help to increase the amount and quality of fruits or flowers produced.

Root Rot
Plant diseases that lead to the devolution of a plant's roots, usually caused by fungi. Root rot develops as a result of poor drainage.

Self-Seeding
A plant's habit of shedding its seeds in its immediate area. These seeds usually germinate on their own. To prevent this, if desired, prune dead flower heads. Doing this will also result in more blooms. Both annual and perennial plants can self-seed.

Sowing
Scattering and planting seeds to be germinated.