A - D top |
| Contains little or no lime and has a pH level of less than 6.5. (Also called sour soil.) |
| The loosening of soil by digging or other mechanical means to allow air to pass freely. |
| In reference to compost heaps, describes organisms living only in the presence of oxygen. |
| Soil that has a pH level of about 7.0 or more. (Also called sweet soil.) |
| In reference to compost heaps, describes organisms living when oxygen is absent. |
| A plant which completes its life cycle within one year of germination. |
| Plants, usually annuals, suitable for massing in beds for their colorful flowers or foliage. |
| A plant which completes its life cycle in two seasons. |
| The Latin scientific name of a plant is its botanical name.There is only one botannical name per plant. |
| A storage organ, usually formed below ground level, used for propagation. A true bulb consists of fleshy scales surrounding the central bud, but the term is often loosely applied to rhizomes and tubers. |
| A common material used for 'liming' soil that has an acid level that is too high. This type contains calcium carbonate and is commonly used. |
| Decomposed and partially decomposed organic matter (leaves, grass clippings, dead plants) used to amend the soil by increasing its water-holding capacity and by providing a nutrient source for microorganisms which in turn release nutrients to your plants. |
| A piece of a plant (leaf, stem or root) which can be used to produce a new plant. |
| (dichloro-diphenyl-trichlorethane) An insecticide extensively used after World War II that is now outlawed in theUnited States and most of the industrialized world. |
| Remove the faded heads of flowers. |
| Plants which lose their leaves at the end of the growing season. |
| A plant which bears either male or female flowers. |
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| A plant which retains its leaves in a living state during the winter. |
| A first generation offspring of two purebred strains. An Fl hybrid is generally more vigorous than an ordinary hybrid. |
| A root system which contains many thin roots rather than a single tap root. |
| A flower head made up of a central stem with the flowers growing directly on it. |
| A primitive form of plant life which is known to the house plant grower as the most common cause of infectious disease -- powdery mildew. sooty mould and area mould. |
| Anyone can call oneself a garden designer. Most begin from a love of gardening and years of experience. Consider layout of beds, borders, patios and paths. Then specific plants for each location and pros and cons of each. |
| Used when naming plants, it is the plant equivalent of our surnames. When followed by the name of the 'Species' you have it's botanical name. Usually in Latin. |
| The first stage in the development of a plant from seed. |
| A plant used to provide a low-growing carpet between other plants.Often used as a grass substitute. |
| An indoor plant which requires a minimum temperature of 50"-55"F for healthy growth. |
| A plant which can withstand prolonged exposure to temperatures at or below 45"F. |
| A plant grown for flavoring or medicinal purposes. |
| A plant with a non-woody stem. |
| A substance that is fatal to plants or selected plants. |
| A dark colored, stable form of organic matter that remains after most of plant or animal residues have decomposed. |
| A plant with parents which are genetically distinct. The parent plants may be different cultivars, varieties, species or genera but not different families. |
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| A chemical or fertilizer which is not obtained from a source which is or has been alive. |
| Any substance, either organic, inorganic, botanical or microbial that is used to destroy insects. |
| Study architecture, construction, urban design, horticulture and landscape design. May be knowledgeable about plants but not necessarily. Many are trained for designing things like parking lots, drainage systems, and retaining walls or for siting buildings. Should be licensed. |
| Professionals who through education, training and experience engage for a fee in the consultation, planning, design and/or construction of exterior spaces by utilizing plant materials and incidental paving and building materials. |
| Partially decayed leaves used in some potting mixtures. It must be sieved and sterilized before use. |
| Good quality soil with adequate supply of clay, sand and fiber. |
| Any loose, usually organic material placed over the soil as a protective covering or for decorative purposes. Common mulches are ground bark, saw dust, leaves or straw. |
| Plants best adapted to the local climate and once established, seldom need watering, mulching, protectin from frost or continuous mowing. |
| Neither acid nor alkaline; pH level of 6.5-7.5. |
| The transformation of nitrogen from an atmospheric gas to organic compounds in the soil, then to compounds in plants and eventually the release of nitrogen gas back into the atmosphere. |
| The capture and conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds, stored in the soil, that can be used by plants. |
| The point on a stem where a leaf or bud is attached. |
| A chemical or fertilizer which is obtained from a source which is or has been alive. Also the general term used for a type of gardening using no chemical or synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. |
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| Partially decomposed sphagnum moss or sedge used in making composts. Valuable for its pronounced air- and water-holding capacity and its freedom from weeds and disease organisms. |
| Herbaceous (non-woody) plant that dies to the ground each fall and returns each spring. Technically, this plant will live three years or more under normal conditions. |
| A mineral expanded by heating to form very lightweight, porous white granules useful in container soil mixes to enhance moisture and air retention. |
| Chemicals which include insecticides, herbicides and fungicide. Used to control weeds, insects and other pests. Toxic to some degree, they can kill beneficial earthworms and organisms and can pose a threat to people and pets if overused or carelessly applied. |
| A measure of the acidity and alkalinity in the soil on a scale from 0 - 14. Below pH 6.5 is acid or low pH; above pH 7.5 is alkaline or high pH. Soil tends to be acidic in areas of abundant rainfall and in forest areas, especially pine and oak. Limestone brings alkaline moisture to plants. |
| The removal of the growing point of a stem to induce bushiness or to encourage flowering. |
| In gardening usage, this refers to the many different ways of starting new plants. |
| A method of cutting off leaves or branches within limits in order to remove dead or diseased foliage or branches. Also used to control or direct growth, increase quality or yield of flowers or fruit. |
| A thickened stem which grows horizontally below or on the soil surface. |
| A creeping stem which produces small plantlets along its length. |
| A method of spreading undecomposed organic materials over the soil's surface, then working them into the soil to decompose, rather than piling them and spreading the resulting compost. |
| A woody plant with a framework of branches and little or no central stem. |
| Used when naming plants to designate a specific species of the 'Genus.' It is best described as the plant worlds equivalent to our first name. Follow the Genus name, usually in Latin. |
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| A strong root, sometimes swollen, which grows vertically into the soil or compost. |
| An indoor plant which requires a minimum temperature of 60"F. |
| A thread-like stem or leaf which clings to any nearby support. |
| A plant which grows in the soil. |
| A woody plant with a distinct central trunk. |
| A storage organ used for propagation. It may be a fleshy root or a swollen underground stem. |
| A green leaf design which is blotched, edged or spotted with yellow, white or cream color. |
| This is a mineral called mica that is heated and puffed up to form lightweight, sponge-like granules capable of holding both water and air. |
| An uninvited and usually unattractive plant that surfaces in gardens. |
| A patented name that stands for water-conserving landscapes. |
