Key Plant Terms
Bare Root Plants - a plant that is sold with the roots exposed, rather than in a container. Bare root plants are sold dormant and should be planted as soon as possible.
Blight - a specific symptom affecting plants in response to infection by a pathogenic organism.
Chill Hours - The amount of hours that the temperature is less that 40 degrees but greater than 32 degrees. These chilling hours are required during dormancy to insure a fruit-bearing tree will blossom.
Cling stone - relating to a fruit, particularly some peach varieties in which the flesh adheres to the stone.
Container Plant - a plant grown and transported in a container. Container plants can be shipped and planted year-round.
Deep Watering - thoroughly soaking a plants root system. This can be done by turning the water source on a very slow flow and allowing it to run for a few hours, or as long as overnight. The soil will become damp all the way down deep where the root system of your plant lives. By driving the water this deep into the soil, you encourage roots to follow suit.
Deciduous - referring to any plants, trees, or shrubs that shed their leaves annually, seasonally, or at a particular stage of growth.
Evergreen - a plant that retains green leaves throughout the year.
Halophytic - salt Water Tolerant.
Hardy - able to survive outside during harsh seasonal elements.
Hedgerow - a hedge of shrubs and trees, typically bordering things such as a road, house, or field.
Leaf Nodes - the small swelling that is the part of a plant stem from which one or more leaves emerge.
Loamy Soil - soil composed of a mixture of sand, clay, silt, and organic matter.
Mulch - a protective covering such as leaves, straw, or moss, placed around plants to prevent the evaporation of moisture, the freezing of roots, and the growth of weeds.
Native Soil - plants that are native to a specific region can thrive where they were naturally grown.
Non - Invasive - referring to a plant that is not native to an ecosystem and will not cause harm to the environment or human health.
Open Habit - plants that have a moderate amount of stems that arch slightly upward that allow for more "open space" between the leaves.
Ornamental - referring to a plant cultivated for aesthetic properties used in show or decoration purposes.
Pruning - to trim a tree, shrub, or bush by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems to promote fruitfulness and growth.
Suckers - small branches that grow out of the base or root area of many trees and other plants. If left to grow, these suckers can grow as big as the parent plant.
Specimen Tree - referring to a tree being planted for people to enjoy for it's vibrant colors, texture of leaves, or fragrant aromas.
Tree Establishment - the process of correctly planting and caring for a tree, in it's beginning stages of growth to ensure its survival.
Variegated - exhibiting different colors as irregular patches or streaks.
Weeping - plants having slender hanging branches.
