Glossary

Gardening Terms Explained: A Guide to Gardening Vocabulary

Soil Moisture Terms

• Moist - Soil that forms a ball when pressed but crumbles easily with gentle pressure. It is damp but not sticky, indicating an ideal moisture level for most plants.  
• Dry - Soil that feels loose and flows through fingers, crumbling easily into a powdery texture. It lacks sufficient moisture and does not hold together well. 
• Wet - Soil that is fully saturated with water, leaving little to no room for air. It feels sticky and cohesive when rolled, which can limit oxygen availability for roots.
• Well-Drained - Soil that drains excess water quickly, allowing air to reach plant roots and preventing waterlogging. Ideal for plants requiring moderate moisture without saturation.

Sunlight Exposure Terms

• Full Sun - A location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, ideally with some exposure during peak afternoon hours for optimal growth.
• Part Sun - A location that receives 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily, with some tolerance for afternoon sun exposure.
• Part Shade - A location that receives 3-6 hours of direct sunlight daily but requires protection from intense afternoon sun.
• Full Shade - A location that receives less than 3 hours of direct sunlight or filtered light throughout the day.

Plant Growth Habit Terms

• Mounded - Mounded plants have thick, upright stems that spread outward and upward, forming clumps or mounds. This habit is valued in landscape design for its full, rounded appearance. Plants with mounded growth also tend to produce more flowers than other types of plants.
• Upright - Upright plants grow primarily vertically with minimal lateral branching, creating a columnar shape often used as accents or structural elements in garden design.
• Spreading - Spreading plants grow outward and downward, covering large areas. They are ideal for ground cover and erosion control, offering a natural, expansive appearance.
• Climbing - Climbing plants use specialized shoots, tendrils, or leaf stalks to attach to supports such as stems, wires, or poles, allowing vertical growth. Some may need guidance to establish direction, and they are often used as focal points in gardens, as their climbing growth draws the eye upwards and adds visual interest.
• Vining - Vining plants lack specialized climbing structures and instead use long shoots to drape over supports. With maturity, these plants can eventually climb a suitable support with minimal input from the gardener. Vining plants are often used as a backdrop for other plants and to cover chain link fences or walls, adding visual interest to a garden.
• Semi-Trailing - Semi-trailing plants have a restrained trailing habit, with stems reaching up to 2 feet, making them well-suited for use in container gardens and other small spaces to add a cascading effect to hanging baskets and window boxes.
• Trailing - Trailing plants have long, tendril-like growth, often extending up to 4 feet. Their cascading growth is popular in containers and hanging baskets for added visual impact.
• Sprawling - Sprawling plants have a low, spreading growth habit, rather than a upright or vertical form. This type of habit is common in ground cover plants.

Soil Type Terms

• Clay - Clay soil contains a high proportion of fine clay particles, offering high water retention and nutrient capacity, but can become compacted and restrict root growth. To improve clay soil: (1) add organic matter like compost, manure, or leaves to improve drainage; (2) aerate the soil or add gypsum to break up clay particles; and (3) incorporate sand to enhance structure and reduce clay density.
• Silt - Silt consists of fine particles between sand and clay in size, holding moisture well and contributing to soil structure when mixed with other soil types.
• Loam - Silt consists of fine particles between sand and clay in size, holding moisture well and contributing to soil structure when mixed with other soil types.
• Sandy - Sandy soil is made up of large, coarse particles that drain quickly but lack nutrient retention, requiring more frequent watering and fertilization. To improve sandy soil: (1) add organic matter like compost or leaves to enhance water retention and nutrient levels; (2) apply mulch to retain moisture and add nutrients; and (3) incorporate clay to balance composition and improve drainage.
• Salty - Salty soil has high salt concentrations, often due to irrigation or nearby saline environments, leading to poor plant growth by affecting water absorption. To reduce soil salinity: (1) remove salt-laden topsoil and replace with fresh, non-salty soil; (2) add organic matter to absorb excess salt; (3) apply gypsum to replace sodium with calcium, making it less harmful to plants; and (4) irrigate with fresh, non-saline water to flush out salts. 

Plant Type Terms

• Heirloom - An heirloom plant variety is one that has been preserved and passed down through generations, maintaining its original characteristics. Heirlooms are open-pollinated, meaning they can be replanted each year while retaining unique traits, such as specific flavors or appearances that are sometimes diminished in hybrids.
• Hybrid - A hybrid plant results from cross-pollinating two distinct varieties within the same species to produce desired traits from each parent plant, such as disease resistance or improved yield. Many hybrids are sterile, meaning they cannot produce viable seeds and may require propagation by other methods.
• Open-Pollinated - An open-pollinated plant is pollinated naturally by wind, insects, or animals. These plants produce seeds that retain the parent plant's genetic traits, allowing for consistent replanting without genetic alteration.
• Evergreen - An evergreen plant retains its foliage year-round, adapting to various climates to continue photosynthesis and growth during winter. They add year-round color to gardens and are often crucial for wildlife habitat.
• Bare Root - A bare root plant is sold without soil, typically during dormancy. The roots are kept moist during transport, and prompt planting is required to prevent dehydration. Bare roots establish quickly with proper care.
• Bulb - A bare root plant is sold without soil, typically during dormancy. The roots are kept moist during transport, and prompt planting is required to prevent dehydration. Bare roots establish quickly with proper care.

Production Time Terms

• Short Season (Determinate) - A short season (determinate) plant grows to a set size, then stops and produces its entire fruit crop over a 2-4 week period. These plants require less pruning and are ideal for canning and preserving due to their concentrated harvest.
• Long Season (Indeterminate) - A long season (indeterminate) plant continues growing and branching throughout the season, producing fruit continuously until killed by frost. Indeterminate plants require more upkeep but offer multiple harvests over time, making them suitable for large or long-season gardens.

Gardening Season Terms

• Early Spring - Includes March and April, or sometimes February in warmer areas. It's a prime time for preparing soil, planting hardy vegetables like broccoli and kale, and pruning shrubs and trees.
• Mid Spring - Includes April and May, sometimes starting in March in warmer areas. This period is ideal for planting warm-season vegetables like tomatoes and peppers as the soil warms.
• Late Spring - Includes April, May, and sometimes June. This is an optimal time to plant summer vegetables such as corn and cucumbers, and to begin adding summer-blooming flowers like zinnias.
• Early Summer - Includes June and July, when gardeners focus on watering, fertilizing, and enjoying early blooms while managing weeds and pests.
• Mid Summer - Includes July and August, and is the time to tend to established plants, harvest early vegetables, and start fall plantings for a continued growing season.
• Late Summer - Includes August and September, and is the period for continued vegetable harvests and planting late-blooming flowers. It's also an ideal time to prepare for fall with bulbs and perennials.
• Fall - Includes September, October, and November, and is the season for harvesting the last of your vegetables, planting fall bulbs for spring blooms, and cleaning up the garden.