Descriptionary

rosarian a rose expert or hobbyist.

rotation switching the location of plants in the gar­den each year to cut down on soil-borne spread of disease.

row covers any transparent cover used to trap heat and protect plants from harsh weather.

sen-tei a Japanese water garden.

scion a shoot or bud of a woody plant, used in grafting.

side-dress to place fertilizer on the soil around plants but not work it into the ground.

soaker hose a hose with hundreds of tiny holes from which water trickles gradually into a garden.

soil amendment any fertilizer or organic or inor­ganic matter added to soil to improve it for optimum plant growth.

spading fork a long-handled implement with long tines, used for loosening up hardened ground.

specimen plant any striking plant, often used in a landscape as a focal point.

staking tying plants, especially tall-growing ones, to wooden stakes sunken in the ground, to prevent blowdowns from strong winds.

succession planting to plant and replant on a weekly basis in order to keep a steady supply of crops or flowers later in the season.

sucker a shoot that grows out of the roots of a plant.

sunken garden a garden that is recessed below ground level, for visual interest.

sweet soil see alkaline soil.

terrace a raised portion of earth, like a step, on which plants are grown, often part of a series of such on a hill.

terra-cotta a type of fired clay commonly used for pots in gardens.

terrarium a glass or plastic box or bottle for grow­ing small plants.

thicket tangled undergrowth consisting of various shrubs, vines, and plants.

thinning the removal of smaller seedlings between larger ones to improve growth.

tokonoma a flowered alcove in a Japanese garden. Also, topiary hedges, shrubs, or trees pruned into fan­tastic or animal-like shapes.

top-dress to spread fertilizer or compost along the surface of the ground.

top soil

the top layer of soil, which is usually the most fertile.

transplant to uproot and move a plant from one location to another.

trellis a lattice frame for climbing plants.

trowel a small scooplike implement used for dig­ging holes for planting.

truck garden a garden from which vegetables, herbs, and flowers are sold at a market.

vernalization the extended period of cold climate some plants, such as apple trees, must be exposed to in order to bear buds in the spring.

victory garden a home or community garden grown to bolster the food supply during World War II.

vineyard a plantation of grapes, kiwi, or other vine crops.

volunteer a plant that spreads to an adjacent prop­erty, by wind, birds, or other means.

Garden Pests and Diseases

aphid a tiny greenish, sap-sucking insect that leaves behind a sugary dewlike substance that attracts ants.

black spot a fungal disease caused by moisture, most often seen on roses.

brown rot a common fungus that infects fruit.

canker a disease found on soft or rotten stems, caused by bacteria and fungi.

cutworm any of various caterpillars that cut down and feed on the tender new shoots of cabbage, corn, and other plants.

damping off fungal decay of a young seedling, often caused by overwatering or a soil-borne disease.

dieback the death of the tips of branches and shoots, caused by pests or disease.

dormant oil an oil used to coat fruit trees and kill insects and their eggs. Also known as horticultural oil.

fungicide a chemical solution used to control fungi and the diseases it causes.

fusarium a fungal disease of herbaceous plants.

gypsy moths destructive caterpillars which in the larval stage can defoliate entire trees.

horticultural oil see dormant oil.

insecticide natural or synthesized chemicals used to kill or ward off insects.

Japanese beetle extremely damaging insect, imported from Japan and now widespread in the United States. Its larvae eat the roots of grass and the adults eat holes in a massive variety of plants.

mildew damaging fungi that cover plant leaves with a downy or powdery white residue.

neem an organic insecticide that is not toxic to humans.

nematode a root-eating, microscopic roundworm.

root rot fungal disease affecting a plant's roots, caused by poor drainage.

rotenone an organic insecticide derived from the roots of tropical legumes.

scald discolored and injured plant tissue caused by overexposure to sunlight. Also known as sun scald.

verticillium a fungal disease that causes wilting and kills plants.

GEOLOGY AND LANDFORMS

A-horizon the zone of soil, rich in organic matter, immediately below the surface.