Many of us, and especially those new to gardening, are often mystified by terminology that sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is.
I hope to encourage everyone to love their growing space, whatever the shape or size, and to make it a haven for themselves and for wildlife, so it’s important to make accessing information needed to do that, easy and fun. Just take a moment to think how many times you’ve been put off an idea, project, book or even TV show because it seems ‘too hard’ - gardening doesn't have to be!
As a regular or experienced gardener, we are all guilty of using terms specific to the task, which may well alienate someone who might otherwise have a keen interest. Although I try to write as clearly and jargon-free as possible, I know that I am as guilty as anyone of slipping in technical terms. This was brought home to me after a puzzled (and slightly worried) look from my son when I suggested some small scissors to use for deadheading would make a great gift.
Here, I’ve begun a list of commonly used gardening terms and briefly explained what they mean. I hope to add to this over time and would happily welcome any new additions you might think of.
Acidic soil: A soil that has a pH level between 0 and 7 (on a scale of 0.0-14.0).
Aeration: A method of introducing air circulation into soil.
Alkaline soil: A soil that has a pH between 7 and 14 (on a scale of 0.0-14.0).
Annual: A plant that flowers, produces seed, and dies all within a year.
Bareroot: A plant in its dormant phase that is without soil on its roots but is ready for planting.
Beneficial Insect: An insect that is valuable to your growing space, such as one that eats other insects and so reduces pests naturally.
Biennial: A plant that completes its full life-cycle within two years, producing leaves in the first and flowers in the second before producing seed and dying.
Biodegradable: Any substance or object able to break down or decompose through natural bacterial or fungal action. Organic matter is biodegradable.
Biological Pest Control: The use of living organisms such as beneficial insects or parasites to destroy pests without chemicals.
Cloche: A see-through cover that protects plants from the elements but still allows light and air to circulate.
Cold Frame: A low-level structure with a transparent top, often made with wood and covered with glass or plastic. They are unheated but protect plants from frost.
Companion Planting: Growing specific species of plants together so that they help each other to thrive, for example deterring pests, attracting pollinators or supressing weeds.
Compost: Organic matter that has completely decayed and can be used to improve your soil.
Cutting: A piece of plant leaf, stem, root or bud taken from a parent plant and placed into a growing medium to form roots, hopefully producing a new plant.
Damping Off: The death of young seedlings, usually as a result of a fungus, that is often caused by over watering or excessively damp conditions.
Dead Heading: The practice of removing dead or fading flowers from your plants either to make them look more attractive, prevent seeding or to promote new blooms.
Deciduous: A type of tree or shrub that sheds its leaves each year, usually in winter.
Deep or Full Shade: An area where there is less than 2 hours of dappled sunlight each day.
Direct Sowing: To grow seeds directly in the outdoor soil where they will stay, rather than starting them off in pots.
Division: Dividing or splitting an established plant, to produce multiple plants, each with its own leaves and root system.
Dormant: The phase when a tree, shrub or plant is not actively growing, usually winter.
Ericaceous: Plants that love acidic growing conditions, or a soil/compost that has this quality.
Evergreen: A plant, shrub or tree that does not die back or lose its leaves outside the growing season but remains ‘green’ all year long.
Fertiliser: An organic or artificial substance added to your soil or plant, that provides nutrients and promotes growth and productiveness.
Full Sun: An area which is unshaded and in the sunlight for most of the day.
Fungicide: A product used to kill fungus spores in gardens and growing crops, which could otherwise cause damage to the plants.
Germination: The start of growth in newly planted seeds, usually seen as sprouts or shoots just poking through the soil.
Groundcover: Any plant which spreads over an area of ground. These are useful to prevent weeds, minimise water loss from the soil and prevent erosion in heavy rain.
Hardening Off: The process of gradually introducing plants that have grown in a protected environment to cooler outdoor conditions.
Half Hardy: Plants that are able to survive occasional temperatures down to -5 degrees centigrade.
Hardy: Plants that are able to survive temperatures of -10 degrees centigrade.
Heavy Soil: A soil that does not drain freely and contains a high proportion of clay.
Herbaceous: These plants have a soft, green flexible stem rather than a woody one. They are usually biennials and annuals, only a few are perennials.
Herbicide: A product used to kill vegetation such as weeds in areas where they are not wanted.
Humus: A dark, rich type of soil that contains abundant nutrition, formed by the decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms.
Integrated Pest Control/Management: An environmentally friendly pest control plan that uses a variety of methods such as natural predators, pest-resistant plant varieties, biological controls and physical approaches to reduce potential damage in your growing space.
Leaf Mould: A type of compost produced after the full decomposition of leaves shed by deciduous trees and shrubs.
Macronutrients: Mineral elements that plants need to thrive, usually nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.
Micronutrients: Mineral elements that plants need in tiny amounts, sometimes referred to as trace elements.
Mulch: A material that is spread over the soil and around plants to enrich the soil and help to retain moisture and prevent weeds.
No-Dig Gardening: As the name suggests, this method advocates gardening with no digging or cultivation of the soil. Instead a mulch is regularly added around the plants and the worms are relied on to take the nutrients down into the soil. This saves heavy digging work and helps to prevent weeds.
NPK: These initials signify the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content of plant fertilisers. They are the macronutrients that plants need for healthy growth.
Organic: Something that has been derived from living organisms. The term is often used to describe a way of growing that doesn’t use chemical or man-made products.
Organic Gardening: A method of gardening based on a healthy soil that’s created using composting and other natural nutrients so that it can feed your plants with minimal intervention. Not only do healthy plants grow well but they are more resistant to pests and disease.
Perennial: A plant that grows, flowers and produces seeds for multiple years, not just one or two. They can be evergreen or die back to the ground each year in winter and then re-grow in spring.
Pesticide: A chemical product used to kill creatures that have the potential to damage plants.
PH Level: A scale from 0-14 that indicates the acidity or alkalinity of soil. Knowing this is useful as it informs your plant choices and helps you understand their needs in your space.
Pinching Out: A method of pruning, using your thumb and forefinger to remove the growing tip of a young plant in order to encourage branching and bushy growth.
Pollination: The transfer of pollen from one flower to the stigma of another to allow fertilisation.
Pollinator: Any insect that carries out pollination.
Potting Up: Planting, often in the case of seedlings, into a pot containing a growing medium.
Potting On: Transplanting from one growing space such as a pot to a larger one in order to provide sufficient root space for the plant to flourish.
Propagation: Producing new plants from seeds or cuttings taken from their parents.
Pruning: Cutting away unwanted, dead or decaying branches from a tree or shrub to help promote growth, productiveness and a pleasing shape.
Rhizome: A fleshy plant stem that sends out roots or runners horizontally under the ground.
Seedling: A young plant that has developed following germination.
Soil Test: To measure the levels of macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) and pH levels in your soil.
Stake: A sturdy cane or similar, used to support taller plants with weaker stems or heavy flowers to stay upright.
Tender: Plants that are unable to survive temperatures below 0 degrees centigrade.
Thinning Out: To remove seedlings that are too crowded in their growing space to ensure the healthiest survive and thrive.
Top Dressing: Applying fertiliser or soil improving materials after seeding or planting.
Top Soil: The upper level of soil where most biological activity takes place.
Transplanting: To move a plant from one growing medium, or space, to another.
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