Garden

The Ultimate Garden Glossary: 28 Gardening Terms Beginners Should Know

Foraying into the world of gardening starts with learning the lingo, from perennial and N-P-K ratio to native plant and deadheading.

By

Adrienne Jordan

and

Sarah Schreiber

Published on June 12, 2023

Soil Terms

flower gardening in the soil — ljubaphoto / GETTY IMAGES

Getting to know your yard's dirt will help you make all kinds of gardening decisions, from choosing which plants to grow to improving your earth's nutrient profile. Brushing up on these soil terms is a great place to start.

Fertilizer

From time to time (and at the correct points in the year), you'll need to feed the plants in your garden—and that's where fertilizer comes in. You'll come across two main options: synthetic and organic. The former is fertilizer that has been synthesized in a lab; it delivers a fast-acting and more refined, concentrated form of nutrients and can be incorporated into the soil in granular or water-soluble forms, says Lalicata. Organic fertilizers are derived from natural decomposed plant and animal materials and are often more beneficial to your soil's health long term.

Garden Soil

Yes, you know what garden soil is—but do you know what's in it? Composed of sand, silt, clay, and decayed organic material, this growing matter is best for gardening in the ground or planting beds—but it shouldn't be used in container gardening, says Lalicata.

Ground Cover

These are low-growing plants that spread to form a dense mat across the soil surface, says McFarlane; they fill in negative space in your garden beds and aid with weed control. You'll find 12 of our favorite ground cover varieties, from creeping thyme to alyssum, in this plant collection.

Mulch

Mulch is a type of topdressing. It's added to the surface of garden beds or trees to aid with moisture retention, weed suppression, or insulation (it can protect plants from winter's frost), says Lalicata. Want to learn when and how to add a layer of mulch to your garden beds? Head on over to our comprehensive mulching guide.

Mulching is important, but it's just as critical to know when not to mulch. Skip this step if you're growing ground cover or trailing plants—and though mulching can help prevent weeds over time, it's best to avoid spreading it over existing ones (it just makes them more vigorous!).

N-P-K Ratio

If you ever test your soil or shop for fertilizer, you'll come across N-P-K ratios. These three numbers indicate the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—the primary macronutrients plants need in order to grow efficiently, says Lalicata—in soil or a plant food formula. It's important to make sure that the ratio of your soil (or the fertilizer you choose) suits the plants you're hoping to grow.

Organic Matter

These are materials that are produced naturally, with either plant or animal byproducts, says Lalicata. They could include compost, leaf or animal manure, worm castings, or bone meal.

pH

Your soil's pH describes its measure of acidity and alkalinity; these affect plant nutrient availability. "pH is measured on a scale from 0 to 14 (7 is neutral, 0 to 7 is acidic, and 7 to 14 is alkalinic)," says Lalicata. The acidity or alkalinity of the soil plays a vital role in mineral nutrition and availability of nutrients—and it can also be amended to better suit the plant you want to grow (and can even change the color of its blooms).

Potting Mix

Container growers, this is the stuff you need. It contains organic and inorganic materials that are pest, disease, and weed free. Known as a soilless mixture—it doesn't have the conventional ingredients soil boasts, including silt and clay—potting mix is best plants grown in containers, since it has larger particles and pore spaces that allows for greater aeration and drainage, explains Lalicata.

Topdress

Like its name implies, topdress is fresh soil or fertilizer that is added to the existing soil of established plants. "This usually helps with nutrient retention and drainage," says Lalicata.

General Garden Terms

annual flowers surrounding blue garden chair — Darrell Gulin / GETTY IMAGES

Master the terms below to make informed decisions when you're perusing plants at your local garden center and completing basic gardening tasks, from watering and pruning to propagating.

Annuals

Annuals are plants that germinate from seed, flower, set seed, and die off in a single season, explains McFarlane—so you'll need to plant them again next year (and so on) if you want to enjoy their color and texture for seasons to come. Common annuals include begonias, cosmos, and zinnias. Interested in planting annuals in your garden? Read through our easy-to-grow and summer annual guides for inspiration.

Biennials

Biennials are somewhat in the middle: These plants take two years to complete their life cycle. "The first year is focused on germination and vegetative growth," says Lalicata. "The following year, they will grow, flower, and set seed before dying." Common biennials include forget-me-nots, foxglove, and sweet William; many edible plants, like kale, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower, are also biennial.

Bulbs

Some plants and flowers—including tulips, irises, daffodils, and crocus—are grown from bulbs. It's common to plant bulbs in the fall, before your region's first frost; they typically flower in spring. "These round, underground storage organs have a short stem with a growing point, which is encapsulated by thick, fleshy modified leaves called scale leaves," says Lalicata.

When you plant bulbs, pay close attention to the growing point's directionality: For example, tulip bulbs should be planted point-side up.

Garden Zone

The USDA plant hardiness zone map is an incredible tool for gardeners. It helps you determine which plants are most likely to thrive in your area based on the annual minimum winter temperature, says McFarlane.

Find Your Garden Zone Here

Native Plants

These plants occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction or intervention, says McFarlane. Native plants are an excellent choice from beginners, since they naturally thrive in your locale—and are a sustainable garden choice to boot, since they don't typically require additional irrigation or fertilizer. Head to a local garden center or your neighborhood's community garden to learn more about the varieties that are considered native to your region.

Nodes

These are the points on a plant's stems where leaves, aerial roots, and branches are formed, says Lalicata. You'll need to look for a plant's node when you're pruning (you commonly prune just above a node) or propagating.

Perennials

On the opposite end of the plant spectrum are perennials, which live longer than two years and usually bloom for one season each year, says McFarlane. Typically, these cold-hardy plants return every spring. It's important to fill your garden with perennials, since they reduce your workload during each growing season—though they aren't always hands off. Be sure to consider flower shade requirements, bloom time, and seasonality when you plant a perennial garden, which might include peonies, roses, delphinium, geraniums, and daylilies. We have a few more suggestions to help you get started:

Photosynthesis

Remember this from 8th-grade biology? "Photosynthesis is the process used by plants to convert light energy into chemical energy that is later used to fuel different plant processes," says Lalicata. "This occurs within a plant's leaves and involves the green pigment chlorophyll." In regular speak—plants need sunlight to grow, and this is they process they use to do it.

Propagation

Put simply, you propagate plants to make more of them. "This is the process of cultivating new plants from those existing in your collection, either by sexual (seeds) or asexual (vegetative growth) reproduction," says Lalicata.

Rhizomes

Think of rhizomes as underground stems. They grow horizontally below the soil (or sometimes above ground) and provide support and act as vehicles for nutrients, says Lalicata. Examples of rhizome plants include snake plants, ginger, bamboo, and calla lilies.

Transpiration

Plants are like us: In summer's heat, they need to keep cool, too. That's where transpiration—the process of water being evaporated through the stomata (pores) of plants in the form of water vapor— comes in. "Transpiration helps to transport water and minerals, which is important for biochemical processes and turgidity, and prevents plants from overheating," says Lalicata.

Flower Terms

yellow tulip in garden — Elena Popova / GETTY IMAGES

Learning about a flower's parts gives you insight into how your garden grows, from pollination all the way up to the deadheading phase.

Deadheading

Deadheading is the process of removing dead flower heads from a plant in order to encourage another flush of blooms, says Lalicata. This normally extends a flower's blooming cycle.

Deadheading and pruning are regularly confused or used interchangeably—but they're different. Pruning involves removing any part of the plant (including its branches or foliage). Deadheading calls for removing the flower heads only.

Flower

A flower is more than just a beautiful collection of petals. It's also a plant's reproductive structure; it produces pollen and eventually develops into seeds and fruit. "This structure is very useful in plant identification," says Lalicata.

Nectar

This is a sugary secretion made by plants within their flowers to encourage pollination, says Lalicata. Fun fact: This is also the part of the flower bees collect to make honey.

Petals

"Petals are modified leaves surrounding the reproductive structures of a flower," says Lalicata. They're purpose goes far beyond aesthetics: "The petals help to attract pollinators with their unique color, shape, or smell," she adds.

Pistil

A pistil is the female reproductive part of a flower where pollen is transferred to the stigma that eventually fertilizes the ovule, causing the flower to bear seeds and fruit, says Lalicata.

Pollination

Pollination is critical for a colorful, thriving garden—it's the process that results in lush flowers and ripe fruit: "The transfer of pollen, either carried out by the wind or by animal or insect pollinators, allows fertilization and encourages reproduction," says Lalicata. This is also why attracting and protecting pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is so important to not only the health of your garden, but your entire local ecosystem.