 |
          |
| Learning the Lingo |
|
Okay, so you have all the tools that make you LOOK like a gardener, and now you want to SOUND like one. The following terms will make you sound like an expert in no time. Annual—a plant that completes its life cycle in 1 year or less Aeration—supplying the lawn soil with air by poking uniform holes in the ground thus helping water and fertilizer move into the root zone Bare-root—deciduous shrubs, trees and some perennials sold for planting with the soil removed from their roots Bedding Plant---any plant suitable for massing in beds for its colorful flowers or foliage—usually annuals Biennial—a plant that germinates and produces foliage and roots during its first season, then blooms, produces seeds and dies during its second season Cane—an elongated flowering or fruiting stem, usually arising directly from the roots Canopy—the height and width of a tree’s branch area Conifer—a more precise term for some of the plants many people simply call evergreens Cultivar—shorthand for “cultivated variety”—genetically distinct plants, maintained by human effort from selected varieties of plants that occur in the wild Deadhead—to remove spent flowers which prolongs the bloom season and eliminates unwanted seedlings Deciduous—any plant that naturally sheds all of its leaves at any one time—usually fall Dieback—occurs when a plant’s stems die for part of their length, beginning at the tips—causes may include inadequate moisture, nutrient deficiency, poor climate adaptation and severe injury from pests or diseases Drip Line—circle around a tree directly under its outermost branch tipsGenus—first word in a plant’s botanical name such as Rosa moschata—musk rose Growing Season—number of days between the average dates of the last killing frost in the spring and the first killing frost in the fall Harden Off—to adapt a plant that has been grown indoors to outdoor conditions through increasing periods of time spent outdoors Herbaceous—a plant with soft or fleshy or nonwoody tissueHybrid—a distinct plant resulting from a cross between two species, varieties, cultivars, strains, or any combination of the above Microclimate—the climate of a small area such as a backyard influenced by the amount of sun, wind or moisture received Mulch—various organic or inorganic material used to cover soil to prevent weeds and preserve moisture Organic Matter—any material originating from living organisms such as peat moss, compost or manure Perennial—a nonwoody plant that lives for more than 2 years and sometimes for many years Pruning—the removal of parts of the plant in order to improve its performance Root-bound—plant roots that have become tangled and matted and grow in circles from being grown in the same container for too long Species—a subdivision of a genus—second word in a plant’s botanical name such as Rosa moschata—musk rose Specimen Plant—a single large plant in a conspicuous location in the garden Stress—a condition endangering the health of a plant caused by inadequate or excessive water, wind or excessively high or low temperatures Sucker—a soft shoot of new growth originating from limbs or roots Thatch—a brown, spongy material consisting of dead grass stems and roots that may build up in a lawn Woody Plant—a plant with hardened (woody) stems or trunks For any questions you have on this article, or any topic of concern, email us—or better yet, come by and talk to one of our professional staff members. Remember, Phelan Gardens is open year-round For additional information, check the following links: |