| ACID |
The rate of acidity in the soil is rated as PH and is measured in a scale of 1 to 14. The lower the PH the more acid the reading |
| AERIAL ROOT |
An aerial root emerges from the stem at some distance above the soil level |
| ALKALINE |
Has a PH value of more than 7, some plants will not tolerate alkaline soils |
| AROMATIC |
Plants that emit a fragrance through leaves or flowers |
| ASTRINGENT |
Sharp biting taste, sour or bitter like lemons |
| BARE ROOTED TREE |
Bare rooted trees are dug up and stored without any soil around their roots. Without extra labour & materials they cost the seller & buyer less, it also weighs little, so it’s easy to move and plant |
| BIENNIAL |
Completes a life cycle in a 2 year period. Growing the 1st year and flowering in the 2nd year |
| BORER |
Damage is caused by feeding activities of larvae from beetles, moths or wasps |
| CHLOROSIS |
Is a yellowing of leaf tissue due to lack of chlorophyll |
| CLONES |
A group of genetically identical plants |
| COMPANION PLANTING |
Are plants that are mutually compatible e.g Garlic and Roses. Usually herbs or strong smelling flowers like marigolds that repel insects |
| COMPOST |
Is the end product resulting from the breakdown of organic matter by bacteria and micro-organisms assisted by insects and earth worms. |
| CORM |
Solid swollen part of a stem usually developing underground |
| DEAD HEAD |
To remove spent flower heads to promote further growth or flowering, prevents seeding or improve appearance |
| DECIDUOUS |
Loses leaves annually at the end of the growing season |
| DEFOLIATE |
Strip or deprive a plant of its leaves or foliage |
| DENTATE |
With toothed margins |
| DIE-BACK |
Is a fungal disease where a plant begins to die back from the tips |
| DIS-BUD |
To remove surplus buds to promote further flowers or fruits |
| DOLOMITE |
A form of lime, much used to improve soil without greatly affecting its acidity |
| ESPALIER |
A useful technique for growing plants where little room is available, like against walls, usually trained on horizontal wires |
| EVERGREEN |
Keeps leaves all year |
| FROND |
Leaf-like part of a fern |
| GERMINATE |
Begin to grow from a seed, to sprout or send out roots |
| GRAFTING |
When a bud or shoot is cut from its parent plant and joined to a rooted section of another plant |
| GYPSUM |
Is a form of calcium, it can nullify the effects of sea water |
| HUMUS |
Decayed matter in the topsoil of mature soil |
| HYBRID |
Cross breeding of 2 different plants |
| INVASIVE |
A plant that spreads quickly either by seed or roots and chokes out other plants |
| LATERAL |
A side growth that arises from the side of a shoot or root |
| LEADER |
The vertical stem at the top of the trunk of a tree |
| LOAM |
An ideal soil, evenly balanced with sand and clay elements with the addition of organic matter |
| MARGINAL |
A plant grown in soggy, over-wet soil on the edge of a pond or submerged in shallow water |
| MULCH |
A soil covering to conserve moisture, prevent root damage by heat or frost, reduce the growth of weeds and enrich the soil. Can be organic matter, pebbles, or sugar cane, or bark |
| NODE |
The place on a stem where one or more leaves are attached |
| PANICLE |
A branching cluster of flowers |
| PICOTEE |
A flower variety which the outer margin of the petals is a contrasting colour, usually red or white |
| PINCH OUT |
Prune soft leading shoots with fingernails to encourage branching |
| PLANT BREEDERS RIGHTS |
PBR is often found on a label which indicates the developer of the plant has sole rights on who grows their plant and gets royalties from the sale |
| PLEACHING |
Is a process that involves weaving tree branches together for ornamental purposes |
| PROSTRATE |
A general term to indicate lying flat on the ground |
| REVERTING |
To return to its original state, like when a variegated plant leaf starts to shoot plain green leaves as well |
| RING BARKING |
Where the bark is removed in a ring around the trunk of a tree which can kill the plant. Usually made by mowers and whipper snippers |
| ROOTSTOCK |
A rooted section of plant used as the base onto which a piece of another plant is grafted onto |
| RUNNERS |
Plants which produce runners include strawberries, violets and spider plants. Easily propagated by detaching and potting new plants |
| SPHAGNUM |
Dried parts of moisture loving moss, very water retentive |
| STANDARD |
A tree or shrub with a clear length of bare stem below the first branches, usually pruned into a ball shape |
| SUCCULENT |
A plant with thick, fleshy leaves and or stem. Don’t need a lot of water, sometimes flower, easy to propagate from cuttings |
| SUCKER |
A shoot that arises from below ground level directly from the root, can be invasive |
| TAP ROOT |
The main, downward growing root of a plant and giving off small lateral roots |
| TEMPERATE |
A mild climate, often coastal |
| TENDRIL |
A twisting thread-like extension which a plant uses to cling or attach itself to a support for climbing |
| VARIEGATED |
The natural green of foliage is broken by other colours |
| VERMICULITE |
Excellent additive to Potting mixes especially those which tend to dry out quickly. Is able to absorb and hold water for long periods. Lightweight, inorganic substance |
