A
Aeration: The process of loosening soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach plant roots.
Annual: A plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season.
Amendment : A material added to soil to improve its structure and fertility.
B
Biennial: A plant that takes two years to complete its life cycle.
Bolting: When a plant prematurely produces flowers and seeds, often making leaves bitter.
C
Chlorophyll: The green pigment in plants that allows photosynthesis.
Cold Frame: A transparent enclosure that protects plants from cold weather.
Compost: Decomposed organic material used to enrich soil.
Companion Planting: Growing plants together that benefit each other. learn more
D
Damping Off: A disease that causes seedlings to rot and die.
Deadheading: Removing old flowers to encourage more blooms.
Decomposers: Organisms (like worms and fungi) that break down dead plants and enrich the soil.
Decomposition: The process of organic matter breaking down into compost.
Direct Sow: Planting seeds directly into the soil instead of starting them indoors.
Dormancy: A resting period when a plant stops growing, often in winter.
Drip Irrigation: A watering system that slowly delivers water to plant roots to save water.
Drought-Tolerant: Plants that require little water to thrive.
E
Edging: A technique used to create clear borders between garden beds and lawns.
Edible Landscaping: Growing plants that are both decorative and provide food.
Erosion: The loss of soil due to wind, water, or human activity.
Evaporation: The process of water turning into vapor, which can dry out soil.
Evergreen: A plant that stays green all year and doesn’t lose its leaves in winter.
Exotic Plant: A plant that is not native to your area but can still be grown there.
F
Fertilizer: A substance added to soil to provide nutrients for plants.
Full Sun: A plant that needs at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Frost Date: The average date of the first and last frost in a region.
G
Germination: The process of a seed sprouting into a plant.
Grafting: Joining two plant parts together so they grow as one.
Greenhouse: A structure that traps heat to grow plants in controlled conditions.
H
Hardening Off: Gradually exposing indoor-grown seedlings to outdoor conditions before planting them in the garden.
Hardiness Zone: A geographic area that indicates a plant's ability to survive winter temperatures.
Hardy: A plant that can survive cold weather.
Honeydew: A sticky substance left behind by pests like aphids.
Hybrid: A plant bred by combining two different plants for better traits.
I
Irrigation: A system of supplying water to plants artificially.
Invasive Plant: A plant that spreads aggressively and harms native species.
J
K
Kitchen Garden: A small garden near the home for growing vegetables and herbs.
L
Leggy: A plant that grows tall and thin due to not getting enough sunlight.
Loam: Ideal garden soil made of sand, silt, and clay.
M
Mulch: A layer of material (like straw or wood chips) added to soil to retain moisture and prevent weeds.
N
Native Plant : A plant naturally found in a specific region.
Nectar: A sweet liquid found in flowers that attracts pollinators like bees.
Nitrogen: A key nutrient that helps plants grow green and leafy.
O
Offshoot: A young plant that grows from the base of a parent plant.
Open Pollination: When plants are pollinated naturally by wind, insects, or birds.
Organic Gardening: Growing plants without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
Overwatering: Giving plants too much water, which can lead to root rot.
P
Perennial: A plant that lives for multiple years.
Pesticide: A chemical used to kill or repel garden pests like insects, fungi, or weeds.
Pest: Bugs or animals that damage plants.
Phosphate: A nutrient that helps plants develop strong roots and flowers.
Pollination: The process of pollen moving from flower to flower, allowing plants to produce fruit or seeds.
Pollinator: An insect or animal that helps plants reproduce by spreading pollen.
Pruning: Cutting off dead or overgrown parts of a plant to keep it healthy.
Q
Quarantine: Keeping a new or sick plant separate to prevent spreading pests or diseases.
R
Raised Bed: A gardening method using elevated soil beds for better drainage and easier access.
Rootbound: When a plant’s roots grow in circles inside a pot, restricting its growth.
Root Rot: A fungal or bacterial disease that occurs when plant roots are waterlogged, causing them to decay. Symptoms include mushy, dark roots, yellowing leaves, and a foul smell.
Rust: A fungal disease that appears as orange, yellow, or red spots on leaves.
S
Seedling: A tiny baby plant that has just sprouted.
Self-Pollinating: A plant that does not need another plant or insects to produce fruit (ex. tomatoes, peas)
Soil pH: A measure of how acidic or alkaline soil is, which affects plant growth.
Succulent: A plant that stores water in its leaves, like aloe or cacti.
T
Thinning: Removing extra seedlings so the remaining plants have more space to grow.
Topsoil: The nutrient-rich upper layer of soil.
Transplanting: Moving a plant from one location to another.
Trellis: A structure, usually in a unique shape is used to support climbing plants like beans, peas, and vines.
U
V
Vermiculite: A lightweight, absorbent mineral used in gardening to improve soil by boosting aeration, moisture retention, and root growth. It's great for seed starting, potting mixes, and hydroponics. Vermiculite is pH neutral, sterile, and eco-friendly. Shop now.
Vertical Gardening: Growing plants on walls, trellises, or stacked planters to save space.
Vining Plant: A plant that grows long, trailing stems and needs support (like cucumbers or beans).
W
Warm Season Crops: Plants that grow best in warm weather, like tomatoes and peppers.
Waterlogged: When soil holds too much water, leading to root rot.
Weed: Any unwanted plant that competes with your garden plants for space and nutrients.
Weeding: Removing unwanted plants from the garden.
Weed Barrier: A material (like fabric or mulch) used to stop weeds from growing.
Wilt: When a plant droops because it needs water or is too hot.
Winterizing: Preparing plants for cold weather by mulching, pruning, or covering them.
Woody Plant: A plant with hard, permanent stems, like trees and shrubs.
Worm Castings: Nutrient-rich waste produced by worms, used as organic fertilizer. Shop now.
X
Y
Yield: The amount of fruit, vegetables, or flowers a plant produces.
Z
Zero-Waste Gardening: A gardening approach that minimizes waste by composting and reusing materials.
Zinc: A micronutrient plants need for healthy growth.
Zone (Growing Zone): A guide that tells you what plants grow best in your area based on climate.
