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You are here: Home / Beginners / Garden Lingo: A Glossary Of Essential Gardening Terms

Garden Lingo: A Glossary Of Essential Gardening Terms

in Beginners, Gardening, Vegetable Gardening on 01/16/23

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Gardening is a relaxing and enjoyable hobby for many people. It can also be a great way to get some exercise and fresh air. However, it is important to remember that gardening is a bit of a technical hobby.

There are a lot of terms that are used to describe different aspects of gardening, including tools and equipment. This can be confusing for people who are new to gardening or who don’t have a lot of experience with it.

Someone digging in garden soil with a hand shovel
Gardening is fun, but there are terms you’ll need to know.

What is Garden Lingo?

If you’re new to gardening, it can feel like everyone else around you knows a secret language. All those abbreviations, Latin names and specialized terms can be daunting, but don’t worry – we’re here to help you decode garden lingo.

Learning some key gardening terms will help you ask the right questions, get the right advice and most importantly, help you get the most out of your garden.

Garden lingo is the language that gardeners use to communicate with each other. It includes terms for plants, tools, and techniques.

Why is Learning Garden Lingo Important?

Learning garden lingo is important because it can help you communicate with other gardeners. For example, if you’re at a garden center and you see a plant you like, you can ask the staff about it using the plant’s scientific name. Or, if you’re reading a gardening book and come across a term you don’t understand, you can look it up in a gardening dictionary.

rows of colorful flowers
Knowing the common garden terms will help you to be a better gardener

These are Just a Few of the Essential Gardening Terms You Need to Know to Get Started.

Annual

Annual plants are those that complete their life cycle in just one growing season. This means that they will seed, grow, flower, and die all within the span of a few months.

Many gardeners enjoy growing annuals because they can be a lot of fun and very rewarding. They can also add a lot of color and interest to your garden. Since annuals only live for one season, you’ wi’ll need to replant them each year.

A plantbed with assorted plants
Since annuals only live for one season, you will need to replant them each year.

Biennial

Biennials are plants that take two growing seasons to complete their life cycle. This means that they will seed in their first year, then grow and flower in their second year.

After flowering, they will produce seeds and then die. Many biennials, such as carrots and beets, are grown as annuals because they will not flower and produce seeds until their second year.

A ground full of celery plant
Since celery is a biennial, it should continue to produce after being planted.

Hardy

Hardy plants are those that can survive in cold weather or even frost. Many hardy plants are native to colder climates and have evolved to survive in harsher conditions. Hardy plants can be a great choice for gardens in areas with cooler weather.

Perennial

Perennials are plants that live for more than two years. This means that they will come back year after year without needing to be replanted. Many gardeners consider perennials to be a low-maintenance option because they only need to be planted once.

Pots of herbs and tomato plants
Tomatoes are a favorite plant of many gardeners, but they are considered annuals in most climates.

Companion planting

This is the practice of planting different types of plants next to each other to benefit both plants. For example, planting tomatoes and basil together can help to deter pests.

Compost

Compost is decayed organic matter that’s used to improve the soil. It’s rich in nutrients and helps to promote drainage.

Cultivar

A cultivar is a plant that’s been bred for specific characteristics. For example, there are cultivars of roses that have been bred to be disease-resistant.

Determinate

Determinate plants are those that grow to a certain size and then stop. Indeterminate plants, on the other hand, continue to grow and produce fruit or flowers throughout the season.

Herbs

Herbs are plants that are used for their flavor, scent, or medicinal properties. Many herbs can be used in cooking to add flavor to dishes. Others, such as lavender, can be used for their scent.

Some herbs, such as echinacea, are even used for their medicinal properties.

Planting herbs in the ground
Whether fresh or dried, herbs are just the leaves of a plant that are used in cooking and have many more uses.

Shrubs

Shrubs are woody plants that are shorter than trees. Many shrubs are used for their ornamental value in gardens. They can add structure and interest to your landscape. Some shrubs can even be trimmed to grow in certain shapes.

Tree

Trees are woody plants that are taller than shrubs. They can provide shade and beauty to your landscape. Trees can also be a great source of food, with many fruits and nuts being produced by trees.

Vine

Vines are plants that grow by clinging to a support or structure. Many vines, such as ivy and morning glories, can be used to add beauty to your garden. Others, such as grapevines, can be used to produce food.

Vines can also be a great way to add privacy to your garden.

Another term that you should know is “hardiness zone.” This is a term that is used to describe the climate in which a plant can grow.

The United States is divided into different hardiness zones. Each zone has a different range of temperatures that a plant can tolerate. This is important to know because it will help you choose plants that will be able to survive and thrive in your climate.

Takeaway

It isn’t rocket science to learn garden lingo. It takes the 3 P’s-practice, patience, and passion to understand, learn and master these gardening terms.

You don’t need to be a pro to start gardening, but it won’t hurt either if you put in the effort to get to know the things you enjoy doing.

Garden lingo is the language that gardeners use to communicate with each other. Click through NOW to learn more...

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Hi! I'm Dian, a wife of 20+ years, Mom to 4 grown kids, and "Nana" to 5. I LOVE reality shows & vegetable gardening & talking about both. I am currently pursuing my Master Gardener Certification.... Read more about Dian & Learning To Grow Your Own Food.

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