Acid soil (see soil ph)
Any soil with a pH lower than 7.0 is considered an acid soil.
Alkaline soil (see soil ph)
Any soil with a pH higher than 7.0 is considered an alkaline soil.
pH Soil pH
pH is a measure of the acidity. In gardening pH is a measure of the amount of calcium in soil. pH is measured with a pH meter. Some plants prefer high acidity and others low acidity. Acidity is adjusted (lowered) by the addition of lime to the soil. Sulphur may be added to raise the acidity of soil.
Soil Amendment
When anything is added to soil to improve its structure, drainage, nutrient make up or drainage.
Humus
Decayed Organic matter in soil.
Composting
The process helping organic matter decay for use as a soil conditioner
Vermicaste
Nutrient rich castings from a worm farm used as a fertilizer
Annual
Annuals are plants that live for just one year and then die after flowering.
Biennial
A plant that lives for two years and then dies. Seed is sown in first year, the plant flowers in the second year sets seed and then dies. Some will self seed.
Perennial
A plant that lives for a number of years but dies back during winter.
Evergreen
A plant that keeps its foliage through winter. Some plants may be evergreen in some climates and deciduous in others.
Deciduous
A plant that drops its leaves in Autumn and grows new foliage in spring.
Herb
Plants that are used for cooking or medicinal purposes.
Herbaceous
Plants that die down during winter and reappear in spring.
Pruning
Cutting back the growth on any plant for cosmetic, height reduction or plant health reasons.
Pricking Out
Transplanting seedlings from where they germinated to individual or larger pots or trays
Hardening Off
Slowly introducing Greenhouse or Hothouse plants to the 'real climate' often using a Cold Frame.
Potting on (Potting up)
Removing a plant from a small container and placing it in a larger container to allow for growth
Pot bound
When the roots of a plant completely fill a pot, they circle around the inside of the pot and form a tight ball.Rots may begin to grow though the holes in the bottom of the pot. (time to pot up)
Root Ball
The soil that immediately surrounds the roots of a plant. When transplanting take as large an undisturbed root ball as possible.
Rooting Hormone - Rooting Powder.
A powder or liquid used for promoting new root growth on cuttings on plants.
Ball and Burlaped
Plants that are dug from the ground with an undisturbed root ball attached and then wrapped for sale (wrapped in burlap)
Bare rooted
Deciduous plants that are dug in winter with soil removed from the roots.
Dead Heading
Removing spent flower heads from plants to improve appearance and encourage new growth.
Disbudding
Removing side buds or smaller buds to encourage larger blooms in a main flower. Often associated with Dahlias and Chrysanthemums grown for exhibition
Grafting
Attaching on plant to another. Roses are often grafted onto stronger rootstock. Fruit trees are often grafted onto disease resistant or dwarfing rootstock.
Air Layering
Plant propagation by scaring the stem of a plant, wrapping in peat moss or similar and waiting for new roots to form. The stem is then cut and planted.
Insecticide
A spray or chemical dust that kills insects.
Fungicide
A spay or dust that controls diseases
Systemic Insecticide
An Insecticide that is absorbed into the plant itself and is used to control insect pests
Herbicide
A chemical used to control weeds
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