Creative Gardens Donaghadee & Bushmills

Gardening Glossary

Annual -  A plant which will not survive the winter e.g. summer bedding plants such as cosmos, surfinia, busy lizzie and petunia.

Bedding Plant -  Plants that are not permanent which are usually planted in a bed, border or pot for display e.g. Marigold, petunia and geranium during the summer and cyclamen, small conifers and ivy during the winter.

Climber -  A plant that climbs using other plants or objects such as trellis for support e.g. Clematis, Passiflora, Wisteria.

Conifer -  A cone bearing tree or shrub. Almost always evergreen. E.g. Juniper, Spruce or Pine.

Deadheading -  When flowers start to fade or die removing them (deadheading) will not only improve the look of the plant it will also encourage more flowering.

Deciduous -  Plants that shed their leaves at the end of the growing season. The leaves will return at the beginning of the following year e.g. birch tree or spiraea.

Double – Flowered -  Plants with multiple petals e.g. double busy lizzie.

Ericaceous -  Plants such as Rhododendron, Azalea, Camellia or Pieris, that do not like lime, require acid soil and like lots of peat.

Evergreen -  Plant that retains its foliage all year.

Germination -  The sprouting of a seed into a seedling.

Ground Cover -  Low-growing, spreading plants which are good for covering the ground and help to prevent weeds E.g. ceanothus repens or juniper horizontalis.

Hardy  -  Plants that will survive 'our winter' and able to withstand temperatures below -7C.

Herbaceous -  A non woody plant which dies down during the winter months and returns each spring e.g. Astillbe, Lupins, Salvia, Geum.

Herbicide -  A chemical used to kill and control weeds.

Loam -  Rich fertile soil with a balance of sand, clay and humus.

Mulch -  Loose organic matter placed over soil a protective covering e.g. chipped bark or pine bark.

Perennial -  A plant that will live in the garden or pots for years providing the conditions are suitable.

Variegated -  Irregular markings in yellow or white found on leaves of plants e.g. ivy or holly