How to Read Plant Labels, Gardening terms and Garden Terminology

Learning to read a plant label can save a gardener a great deal of time and money, not to mention frustration. Plant labels may however, contain a number of gardening terms specific to the hobby. This article will consider some of the most common garden terms to help the reading of an ordinary plant label.

Garden Terms Associated with Plants

Tree – Trees are plants which form a woody structure, usually after the first year of growth. A tree is technically a tree, not due to its size but rather the fact that the plant will emerge from a single point of growth.

Shrub – Like a tree, the shrub is also defined by its ability to form wood, usually after the first year of growth. However, unlike a tree the shrub will emerge with multiple growth points. The line can often be difficult to draw between trees and shrubs; the Japanese Maple (Acer) is a classic example. The specimen is often grown as a tree however, the plant is actually a shrub.

Herbaceous – Herbaceous plants are those which will never form wood; herbaceous plants may grow for just a single season, alternatively others may grow in perpetuity.

Annuals – Annuals are plants which complete the entire life cycle in a single season. As such annuals, if treated correctly will always flower in the same year as they are planted. The downside is that annuals need to be re-sown each year.

Perennials – Perennials are plants which will grow for a number of seasons in succession, as such not all perennials will flower in the first or early years of planting. Perennials vary in their winter behaviour, some specimens die back during the winter and then send up fresh growth during the spring. Other specimens grow consistently, regardless of the weather conditions.

Biennials – Biennials are a half way house between the annual and perennial. Biennials are plants which complete their life cycle over a two year period. As such the first years growth will be constituted of foliage only, the second year will see the plant come into flower. After setting seed in the second year a biennial will not return for a third season.

Garden Terminology Associated with Soil

Acid soil – Acid soil is a soil with a low PH level. Acidic soils are typically associated with landscapes including peat bogs, heathland and woodland settings. Acidic soils support a variety of well loved plants, from fruiting berries to rhododendrons and azaleas. Bog plants such as the Venus Flytrap are also acid lovers.

Alkaline soil – Alkaline soils have a high PH and are typically found in clay bearing areas. Alkaline soils, such as clay often have the ability to retain large amounts of nutrient and as such are good for hungry plants such as roses. Alkaline soils also suite a variety of other specimens, most notably stoned fruits such as cherries and others in the Prunus family.

Free draining – A soil which does not retain water for an extended period of time. A soil may be encouraged to exhibit free draining behaviour, by incorporating sharp sand or gravel. Free draining soil suits a wide variety of plants, especially those of a Mediterranean origin such as Lavender shrubs and Olive trees.

Peat – Peat is a soil harvested from peat bogs around the world. Peat is naturally acidic and has a spongy texture and good moisture retaining qualities. Whilst peat makes an excellent base for a compost or soil, there are concerns about the effect of such harvesting on the environment. As such many commercially available soils and composts are now peat free.

Clay – Clay is a sedimentary soil type, made of the ancient sea beds. Clay can be difficult to garden on, prone to water logging in the winter and cracking in the summer. Despite the disadvantages of clay, soils are typically extremely high in nutrient and retain any additional nutrition added for an extended period. Clay soils are often alkaline in nature.

Read more on gardening:

• Creating Ground Cover
• Acid Loving Plants
• Cat Deterrents

Sources:

Hessayon, D, G. 2007. The tree and shrub expert. Expert books.