Gardening Glossary

Common gardening terms explained in plain language. 50 terms.

A B C D F G H L M N O P R S T V

A

Acidic Soil

Soil with a pH below 7.0. Many plants like blueberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons prefer acidic soil.

Alkaline Soil

Soil with a pH above 7.0. Some plants like lavender and clematis prefer slightly alkaline conditions.

Amendment

Any material added to soil to improve its structure, drainage, or nutrient content. Common amendments include compost, peat moss, perlite, and bone meal.

Annual

A plant that completes its entire life cycle — germination, flowering, seed production, and death — in a single growing season. Must be replanted each year.

B

Bare Root

A plant sold without soil around its roots, typically while dormant. Common for fruit trees, roses, and strawberries. Usually cheaper than potted plants.

Biennial

A plant that takes two years to complete its life cycle. It grows leaves the first year, then flowers, sets seed, and dies the second year.

Bolt

When a plant prematurely sends up a flower stalk and goes to seed, usually triggered by heat or long days. The leaves often become bitter after bolting.

C

Companion Planting

Growing certain plants near each other for mutual benefit — like pest control, pollination, or improved growth. The opposite is also true: some plants inhibit each other.

Compost

Decomposed organic matter (food scraps, leaves, grass clippings) used to enrich soil. Adds nutrients, improves soil structure, and helps retain moisture.

Cover Crop

A crop planted primarily to protect and enrich the soil rather than for harvest. Cover crops prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and add nutrients when tilled under.

Crown

The point where a plant's stem meets its roots, usually at or just below the soil surface. Some plants are sensitive to being planted too deep at the crown.

Cultivar

A plant variety that has been selectively bred for specific traits like size, color, disease resistance, or flavor. Short for 'cultivated variety.'

D

Damping Off

A fungal disease that kills seedlings shortly after germination. The stem rots at the soil line and the seedling topples over. Caused by overly wet, cool conditions.

Days to Maturity

The approximate number of days from planting (or transplanting) until a crop is ready to harvest. Listed on most seed packets.

Deadhead

Removing spent flowers from a plant to encourage more blooms and prevent the plant from putting energy into seed production.

Direct Sow

Planting seeds directly into the garden soil where they will grow, rather than starting them indoors and transplanting. Best for plants that don't transplant well or grow quickly.

Drip Line

The imaginary circle on the ground directly below the outermost reach of a tree or shrub's branches. This is where feeder roots are most active, making it the best place to water and fertilize.

F

First Frost Date

The average date in fall when your area first drops to 32°F (0°C). Used to calculate when to harvest tender crops and when the growing season ends.

Frost Hardy

A plant that can survive light frost (28–32°F / -2–0°C) without protection. Hardy plants can often be planted earlier in spring and left later in fall.

Full Sun

A location that receives at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Most vegetables, herbs, and flowering plants need full sun.

G

Germination

The process of a seed sprouting and beginning to grow. Requires the right combination of moisture, temperature, and sometimes light.

Green Manure

A cover crop that is grown specifically to be tilled back into the soil to add organic matter and nutrients, especially nitrogen.

H

Hardening Off

The process of gradually acclimating indoor-grown seedlings to outdoor conditions over 7–10 days. Start with a few hours of shade, then increase sun and wind exposure daily.

A geographic area defined by its average annual minimum temperature, used to determine which plants can survive winter in that location. The USDA system ranges from Zone 1 (coldest) to Zone 13 (warmest).

Heirloom

An open-pollinated plant variety that has been passed down for generations (typically 50+ years). Heirlooms are prized for flavor and genetic diversity but may be less disease-resistant than hybrids.

Hill / Mound

A small raised area of soil used for planting, especially for vining crops. Improves drainage and warms soil faster in spring.

Hybrid

A plant created by crossing two different parent varieties to combine desirable traits like disease resistance, yield, or uniformity. Seeds from hybrids won't grow true to the parent.

L

Last Frost Date

The average date in spring when your area has its final freeze. The key date for planning when to transplant tender crops outdoors.

Loam

An ideal garden soil that's a balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay. Loam drains well but retains enough moisture and nutrients for healthy plant growth.

M

Mulch

A layer of material (straw, wood chips, leaves, or compost) spread on the soil surface to retain moisture, suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature, and add organic matter as it breaks down.

N

N-P-K

The three numbers on fertilizer labels representing the percentage of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Nitrogen promotes leaf growth, phosphorus supports roots and flowers, and potassium aids overall health.

Native Plant

A plant that occurs naturally in a specific region and has evolved there over thousands of years. Native plants are adapted to local conditions and support local wildlife.

O

Open-Pollinated

Plants pollinated naturally by insects, wind, or self-pollination. Unlike hybrids, seeds saved from open-pollinated plants will grow true to the parent variety.

P

Partial Shade

A location that receives 3–6 hours of direct sunlight per day, or dappled sunlight throughout the day. Good for lettuce, spinach, and many herbs.

Perennial

A plant that lives for more than two years, returning each growing season from its root system. Many perennials die back to the ground in winter and regrow in spring.

pH

A measure of how acidic or alkaline soil is, on a scale from 0 to 14. Most garden plants prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil (6.0–7.0). Soil pH affects nutrient availability.

Pinch Back

Removing the growing tip of a stem with your fingers to encourage the plant to branch out and become bushier rather than tall and leggy.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part, which is necessary for fruit and seed production. Can be done by insects, wind, or by hand.

R

Raised Bed

A garden bed built above ground level, typically framed with wood, stone, or metal and filled with soil mix. Offers better drainage, warmer soil, and easier access.

Row Cover

A lightweight fabric draped over plants to protect them from frost, wind, insects, or excessive sun. Also called floating row cover or garden fabric.

Runner

A horizontal stem that grows along the ground and produces new plants at its nodes. Common in strawberries and some ground covers.

S

Seed Starting Mix

A lightweight, sterile growing medium designed specifically for germinating seeds. Finer and lighter than potting soil, with good moisture retention and drainage.

Side Dress

Applying fertilizer alongside growing plants during the season, rather than mixing it into the soil before planting.

Succession Planting

Planting the same crop at staggered intervals (every 2–3 weeks) to ensure a continuous harvest throughout the season rather than one large harvest.

Sucker

A shoot that grows from the base of a plant or from the junction between a branch and the main stem. On tomatoes, suckers grow in the 'armpit' between the main stem and a branch.

V

Vernalization

A period of cold exposure that some plants require to trigger flowering or bulb formation. This is why some seeds need cold stratification before planting.