Gardening Glossary
Not sure what all those gardening words mean? Our Garden Glossary is here to help. This easy-to-read guide explains common garden terms like annual, perennial, mulch, compost, pruning, deadheading, hardiness zone, full sun, and more in plain English.
It’s perfect for beginner gardeners, new homeowners, or anyone who wants to feel more confident reading plant tags, care guides, and garden advice. No fancy talk — just simple gardening words explained in a way that actually makes sense.
Acidic Soil
Soil with a lower pH number. Some plants, like hydrangeas, azaleas, blueberries, and camellias, often like acidic soil.
Amend
To improve your soil by adding things like compost, pine bark, manure, or organic matter.
Annual
A plant that grows, blooms, sets seed, and dies in one growing season. You usually replant annuals every year.
Bare Root
A plant sold without soil around the roots. These are often shipped while dormant.
Bloom Time
The season or time of year when a plant normally flowers.
Bud
A small growth on a stem that may become a leaf, flower, or new branch.
Compost
Broken-down organic material that helps improve soil. It can come from leaves, grass clippings, food scraps, or aged plant material.
Cut Back
To trim a plant down by removing stems or old growth. This is often done to refresh the plant or control size.
Deadheading
Removing old, faded flowers. This can make the plant look cleaner and may encourage more blooms on some plants.
Deciduous
A plant that loses its leaves in fall or winter and grows new leaves in spring.
Deer Resistant
A plant deer usually avoid, though no plant is truly deer-proof when deer are hungry enough.
Dormant
A resting period when a plant is alive but not actively growing. This usually happens in winter.
Drainage
How well water moves through the soil. Good drainage keeps roots from sitting in soggy soil.
Evergreen
A plant that keeps leaves or needles year-round.
Fertilizer
Plant food that adds nutrients to the soil. Too much fertilizer can cause leafy growth with fewer blooms.
Full Sun
Usually means 6 or more hours of direct sun per day.
Hardiness Zone
A guide that helps gardeners know which plants can survive winter temperatures in their area.
Hydrangea
A flowering shrub known for large blooms. Different types bloom on old wood, new wood, or both.
Mulch
A layer of material placed on top of soil. Mulch helps hold moisture, cool roots, reduce weeds, and improve the look of a bed.
Native Plant
A plant that naturally grows in a region without being introduced from somewhere else.
New Wood
Fresh growth from the current season. Some hydrangeas, like panicle hydrangeas, bloom on new wood.
Old Wood
Stems that grew the previous year. Some hydrangeas bloom on old wood, so pruning at the wrong time can remove future flowers.
Part Sun
Usually means about 4 to 6 hours of sun per day.
Perennial
A plant that comes back year after year when grown in the right conditions.
pH
A number that shows how acidic or alkaline your soil is. Soil pH can affect plant health and hydrangea bloom color in some types.
Pollinator Friendly
A plant that helps bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, or other pollinators by providing nectar, pollen, or habitat.
Pruning
Cutting away stems, branches, or old growth to shape a plant, improve health, or encourage better growth.
Root Ball
The main mass of roots and soil around a plant when it comes out of a pot.
Shrub
A woody plant that usually has several stems and stays smaller than a tree.
Soil Test
A test that tells you what nutrients and pH your soil has. It helps you know what your soil actually needs.
Spent Bloom
A flower that has finished blooming and is starting to fade, dry, or turn brown.
Transplant
To move a plant from one place to another.
Well-Drained Soil
Soil that holds some moisture but lets extra water drain away. Most shrubs do best in well-drained soil.
Zone
Another way of referring to a plant hardiness zone, which helps determine what can survive winter in your area.
Southern Gardener’s Note
Around here, gardening words can sound fancier than they need to. Most of the time, they’re just simple ideas with big names. Once you understand the basics — sun, soil, water, pruning, and bloom time — you’re already ahead of the game.