New to the gardening scene or looking to enhance your green vocabulary? No worries – we've got you covered with our A-Z Gardening Glossary. Whether you're planting your first seeds or just want to talk the talk, our guide will help you navigate the world of gardening terms like a seasoned pro.
Aerate: Aerate means to loosen or perforate the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to better reach plant roots.
Annuals: Plants that complete their life cycle within one growing season.
Aphids: Small, soft-bodied insects that can damage plants by feeding on sap.
Barefoot: Barefoot typically refers to walking or working in the garden without wearing shoes or protective footwear, allowing direct contact between the feet and the soil. It’s an ancient practice that carries deep significance across diverse cultures worldwide.
Biennial: Plants with a two-year life cycle, typically flowering and producing seeds in the second year.
Clean Cut: Using sharp scissors or pruners to harvest fruits, vegetables, or flowers cleanly without causing damage to the remaining plant.
Cold Frame: A cold frame is a low, enclosed structure with a transparent top, usually made of glass or plastic. It is used to protect plants from cold weather and extend the growing season by providing a sheltered environment that captures and retains solar heat.
Companion Planting: Planting different crops together to enhance growth, repel pests, or improve soil fertility.
Compost: Decayed organic matter used as a fertiliser and soil conditioner.
Deadheading: Deadheading refers to the practice of removing spent or faded flowers from a plant. This process is done to encourage further blooming, prevent the plant from producing seeds, and promote a neater appearance. Deadheading redirects the plant's energy from seed production to new growth and flower development.
Deciduous: Deciduous refers to plants that shed their leaves annually as part of their natural life cycle. Deciduous trees, shrubs, and plants typically lose their leaves in the fall, and they enter a dormant state during the winter months before regrowing new leaves in the spring.
Deep Watering: Providing water to penetrate deeply into the soil, encouraging deep root growth.
Direct Sunlight: Direct sunlight refers to sunlight that reaches a particular area without any obstruction or shading. A location is considered to receive direct sunlight when it is exposed to the full intensity of the sun's rays.
Drip Irrigation: A method of watering plants by delivering water directly to the base of each plant through a network of tubes or pipes.
Drought Stress: The negative impact on plants due to prolonged periods of insufficient water.
Drought Tolerant: Plants that can withstand extended periods of low water availability.
Fertiliser: A substance added to soil or plants to provide essential nutrients for growth.
Foliar Watering: Applying water directly to the leaves of plants, often done with a fine mist.
Full Sun: Plants that require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth.
Germinate: To germinate refers to the process by which a seed begins to sprout and develop into a new plant. This process involves the absorption of water, swelling of the seed, and the emergence of the embryo or seedling from the seed coat.
Grafting: Joining a part of one plant (the scion) with another (the rootstock) to create a new plant with desirable traits.
Graywater: Water from household activities (e.g., washing dishes) that can be reused for watering plants.
Half-Hardy: Half-Hardy refers to plants that are somewhat tolerant of cool temperatures but are not fully able to withstand frost or prolonged exposure to cold conditions. Half-hardy plants are typically more cold-sensitive than hardy ones.
Hardy: Hardy refers to plants that can withstand or thrive in challenging environmental conditions, such as cold temperatures, frost, or poor soil. Hardy plants are resilient and can endure adverse weather conditions without significant damage.
Hardening Off: Hardening off refers to the gradual acclimatisation of seedlings or young plants to outdoor conditions. This process involves exposing them to natural elements like sunlight, wind, and fluctuating temperatures, which prepares them for transplanting into the garden.
Hardiness Zone: A geographic area defined by climate conditions, used to select plants suitable for a particular region.
Herbaceous: Herbaceous refers to plants that have soft, non-woody stems that die back to the ground at the end of the growing season. Herbaceous plants may include annuals, biennials, and perennials, and they typically complete their life cycle within a single growing season.