Gardening Terms

Accumulation of soluble salts in soil that can impair plant growth. Learn more.

A winged achene that is dispersed by wind, as in maples. Learn more.

Soil dominated by large particles with rapid drainage and low nutrient-holding capacity. Learn more.

the removal or destruction of diseased plant material and contaminated tools to prevent spread. Learn more.

A watery fluid that circulates through a plant’s vascular system. Learn more.

A plant or fungus that obtains nutrients from decaying organic matter. Learn more.

a condition in which soil pores are completely filled with water. Learn more.

a wasp-like insect whose larvae resemble caterpillars and feed on foliage. Learn more.

A plant disease causing rough, corky lesions on fruit, leaves, or tubers, often fungal in origin. Learn more.

Small, immobile insects that attach to plant stems and leaves, feeding on sap and excreting honeydew. Learn more.

The process of breaking or softening a seed coat to encourage germination. Learn more.

Physically or chemically weakening a seed coat to encourage germination. Learn more.

The shoot or bud used in grafting that forms the above-ground part of the plant. Learn more.

Strengthening plant tissue with thick, lignified cell walls that provide rigidity to stems and leaves. Learn more.

A fungal disease producing cottony white growth and black sclerotia on stems and fruit. Learn more.

browning or burning of leaf margins due to stress, disease, or heat. Learn more.

Grass-like plants of the family Cyperaceae often used in ornamental plantings. Learn more.

The mature ovule containing an embryo and stored nutrients for germination. Learn more.

The protective outer covering of a seed. Learn more.

A state in which viable seeds fail to germinate until specific conditions are met. Learn more.

A sterile, fine-textured medium optimized for germinating seeds. Learn more.

A young plant that has recently emerged from a seed. Learn more.

The process of choosing plants with desired traits for breeding or cultivation. Learn more.

Fertilization of a flower by its own pollen, ensuring genetic uniformity in offspring. Learn more.

A planter with a reservoir that supplies water to the soil via capillary action. Learn more.

The outermost floral organs that typically protect the developing flower bud. Learn more.

the outer floral parts that form the calyx and protect the developing bud. Learn more.

A fungal disease causing small, dark-bordered spots on leaves of tomato and other crops. Learn more.

tooth-like edges along a leaf margin. Learn more.

Attached directly without a stalk, as in sessile leaves or flowers. Learn more.

Fabric used to reduce sunlight and heat for plants in greenhouses or outdoor beds. Learn more.

A planting designed for low-light conditions beneath trees or structures. Learn more.

A structure covered with shade cloth that reduces sunlight exposure for delicate or shade-loving plants. Learn more.

A plant’s capacity to grow under reduced light levels. Learn more.

tubular structures that encase or protect other plant organs, such as leaf bases. Learn more.

A layering technique using cardboard and organic matter to smother weeds and build soil. Learn more.

a curved symptom of shoots resembling the handle of a cane, often from disease. Learn more.

small round holes in leaves formed when diseased tissue falls out. Learn more.

a hard mineral compound (silicon dioxide) present in plant tissues. Learn more.

An elongated seed capsule that splits open when mature, typical of the mustard family. Learn more.

Fine soil particles intermediate between sand and clay in size. Learn more.

A leaf that is not divided into leaflets. Learn more.

feeding damage that removes leaf tissue but leaves the veins intact. Learn more.

Coarse mineral material used to improve drainage and aeration. Learn more.

Soft-bodied mollusks that feed on leaves and seedlings, leaving slime trails and irregular holes. Learn more.

A group of fungal diseases that produce black, powdery spores on cereals and grasses. Learn more.

A porous hose that releases water slowly along its length for irrigation. Learn more.

The natural medium for plant growth composed of minerals, organic matter, water, and air. Learn more.

The carbon stored in soil organic matter, vital for fertility and climate regulation. Learn more.

Compression of soil that reduces pore space, limiting air and water movement. Learn more.

The continued capacity of soil to function as a living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. Learn more.

A distinct layer of soil with specific physical and chemical characteristics, forming part of a soil profile. Learn more.

The organic fraction of soil derived from decomposed residues and organisms. Learn more.

The vertical section of soil showing all its horizons, revealing structure, texture, and composition. Learn more.

The arrangement of soil particles into aggregates influencing porosity and root growth. Learn more.

The system used to classify soils based on their physical, chemical, and biological properties. Learn more.

Analytical assessment of soil properties to guide fertilization and amendments. Learn more.

The proportion of sand, silt, and clay in soil, determining water retention and aeration. Learn more.

Using clear plastic to trap solar heat and reduce soilborne pests and weeds. Learn more.

A complex of superficial fungal blemishes on apple fruit surfaces. Learn more.

Black fungal growth that develops on honeydew deposits from aphids and scale insects. Learn more.

A thick, fleshy spike of flowers often enclosed by a spathe, as in arums. Learn more.

A large bract that encloses a spadix. Learn more.

Tiny arachnids that feed on plant sap, causing stippling, webbing, and leaf discoloration. Learn more.

An unbranched, elongated inflorescence with sessile flowers. Learn more.

An unbranched inflorescence with sessile flowers along the stem. Learn more.

the small flower clusters that make up a grass or cereal inflorescence. Learn more.

a type of unbranched flower cluster with sessile flowers along the main stem. Learn more.

occurring irregularly or unpredictably, such as periodic pest outbreaks. Learn more.

A reproductive unit capable of developing into a new organism without fusion with another cell. Learn more.

reproductive cells produced by fungi, ferns, and some plants capable of developing into a new organism. Learn more.

The diploid stage of a plant that produces spores by meiosis. Learn more.

Applying water to crops by spraying it into the air and letting it fall like rain. Learn more.

The male reproductive organ of a flower producing pollen. Learn more.

the pollen-producing male reproductive organs of a flower. Learn more.

Fungal infection causing decay at the base or crown of plants, leading to collapse. Learn more.

unable to produce viable seed, pollen, or offspring. Learn more.

The sticky tip of the pistil that captures pollen during fertilization. Learn more.

tiny pale or yellow spots on leaves caused by piercing-sucking insects like mites or leafhoppers. Learn more.

small leaflike appendages at the base of a leaf stalk. Learn more.

A horizontal above-ground stem that takes root at points along its length. Learn more.

A horizontal stem that grows along the surface and produces new plants at nodes. Learn more.

horizontal above-ground stems that root at their nodes to form new plants. Learn more.

A microscopic pore in leaves and stems that regulates gas exchange. Learn more.

Exposing seeds to moist chilling or other conditions to break dormancy. Learn more.

The slender stalk of the pistil connecting the stigma to the ovary, guiding pollen tubes. Learn more.

The gradual process of change in species composition and community structure over time. Learn more.

A plant with thickened, water-storing tissues adapted to arid conditions. Learn more.

A shoot arising from a plant’s root system or base, often removed to direct growth. Learn more.

Farming that meets current food needs without compromising the environment or future generations. Learn more.

The level of resource harvest that can be maintained without degrading the ecosystem. Learn more.

visible signs or changes in a plant resulting from disease or stress. Learn more.

referring to a substance or infection that moves internally through plant tissues. Learn more.