A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Acid	A pH reading lower than 7.0
Aeration	Action to increase air in the soil. Normally performed with a tined 'aerating' tool
Alkaline	A pH reading higher than 7.0
Annuals	Plants which bloom, product seed and die during the same season
B
Bare-rooted	A plant lifted from the ground with little soil around the roots. Common for roses, trees and shrubs for Winter planting
Base Dressing	An application of fertilizer before planting. It is raked into the surface soil
Biennials	Plants which need two seasons to arrive at full maturity. Sown in the open on reserve border in May or June, plants are set out in flowering quarters in Autumn
Blanching	The exclusion of light to whiten stems eg. Celery
Blind	A plant or shoot which fails to produce flowers or leaves
Bolting	The premature flowering and production of seeds. Generally brought on by stress or poor growing conditions
C
Chitting	The germination or sprouting of seeds before they are sown. It is often applied to 'seed' potatoes
Crop Rotation	Annual rotation of growing positions of any one type of crop. This reduces the build up of pests and diseases and minimises the amount of same plant foods being removed from the soil
Crown	The bud-like centre of a strawberry plant or the top of root-stock of hardy herbaceous plants
Cultivar	Term for variety that arises in cultivation
D
Dibber	A tool for making a planting hole for seedlings or plants
E
Earthing-up	Drawing up soil into a mound around the base of plants
Eye	A term used to describe the dormant buds on a potato tuber
F
F1 Hybrid	A cross between two unrelated plants. Seeds from F1 Hybrids will not produce replica parent plants
Friable	Fine, crumbly, relatively dry soil
Fungicide	A chemical used to prevent, control or eliminate a disease
H
Half-Hardy Annuals	Plants which, in their early stages of growth, need artificial heat. Later they are planted out in the open for flowering and seed ripening. Sown in a greenhouse or frame in January, February or March. Seedlings planted out of doors in May for Summer blooming
Harden Off	Gradually acclimatizing plants which have been grown in warmth to colder, outdoor conditions
Hardy Annuals	Plants which pass through all stages of growth in open ground, needing no protection. Sown in March or April for July and August blooms, or in August for June flowering
Herbaceous Plants / Perennials	Plants which continue to live and increase in the open for several years. Stems die down each season and grow up again from the crowns each Spring. Sow in greenhouse in March or in open in April, May or June
Herbicide	A chemical used to kill weeds
Humus	Derived from the decomposition of organic matter
Hybrid	A cross between two unrelated plants.
I
Insecticide	A chemical that kills insects
L
Loam	Fertile, well-drained  and good-quality top soil
M
Mulch	A covering layer of organic material or bleack plastic etc. Provides weed control, moisture retention and some food
Mutant	A natural deviation of part of a plant from the normal
N
Neutral	A pH reading of 7.0
O
Offsets	Small bulbs which appear around or at the base of the mother bulb
P
Pan	A hard, impervious layer beneath the soil's surface that prevents the drainage of water
Perennials / Herbaceous Plants	Plants which continue to live and increase in the open for several years. Stems die down each season and grow up again from the crowns each Spring. Sow in greenhouse in March or in open in April, May or June
pH	A measure of acidity or alkalinity of soil, assessed on a logarithmic scale which ranges from 0 - 14
Pinching Out	The removal of a growing tip to encourage sideshoots
S
Spit	The depth of a spade's blade, normally 25cm - 30cm
Sport	A natural deviation of part of a plant from the normal
Subsoil	The soil lying below that which is cultivated
Suckers	Useless shoots from the stock on which a tree or rose is budded. Common on both plum and lilac
Stolon	A creeping stem growing horizontally on the surface.
Sward	Another name for Turf
Systemic Fungicide	A fungicide that permeates the plant's sap and kills a disease from within the plant
Systemic Insecticide	An inscecticide that enters the plant's sap and kills insects when they feed on the plant
T
Tap-root	Main root of a tree or plant
Thatch	Dead grass, stoloniferous growth (of weeds or grasses), mosses (dead or alive), dead leaves, any organic matter laying on the surface of the soil in the sward.
Tilth	Fine, friable, surface soil
Truss	A term used to describe a cluster of flowers or fruits
Turf	A ground covering of grass which is kept mown and which will stand a reasonable amount of traffic.
V
Variety	A variation within a species that occurs naturally and not in cultivation
W
Wind Rock	The loosening of a plants roots by wind