This gardening dictionary will equip you with the essential gardening vocabulary to confidently navigate your green thumb journey.

 

Plant types

Annuals: plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season

Perennials: plants that live for multiple years

Biennials: plants that take two years to complete their life cycle, such as Foxgloves

Herbaceous: flowering perennials that do not develop woody stems

Deciduous: plants that lose their leaves over winter

Ericaceous: plants that have adapted to thrive in a low soil pH and dislike lime, calcium or chalk

Hardy: plants that can survive the winter and cold temperatures

Evergreen: plants that retain their leaves all year round

Tender: plants that cannot survive freezing temperatures and may require protection

Bedding: plants grown to create a temporary, colourful display in gardens

Bulbs: plants that grow from fleshy plant bases which store energy for growth, like an onion or daffodil

Tuber: plants that grow fleshy storage containers allowing them to hold onto nutrients like a potato or dahlia

Growing terms

Germination: the process of a seed sprouting into a plant

Hardening off: gradually acclimating seedlings to outdoor conditions before planting

Damping off: the name for a group of pathogens that fester in damp conditions and kill off seedlings

Pollination: when pollen is transferred from the male part of a flower to the female part, enabling the plant to reproduce and create seeds

Self-Fertile: plants that can reproduce on their own without the need for another plant to pollinate them

Deadhead: removing dead or fading flowers to encourage more blooms

Pruning: the practice of cutting back plants to shape them and encourage growth

Liquid feed: a fertiliser that is diluted with water and when applied to plants, delivers a quick boost of nutrients

Granular feed: a slow-release fertiliser in pelleted form delivering key nutrients over a long period of time

Companion planting: the close planting of different plants that enhance each other’s growth or protect each other from pests

Overwinter: the steps taken to protect a plant through winter. Usually covering the plant or moving it to a frost-free location.

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