Glossary- Gardening Terms

damping down

A method where the area, normally a greenhouse, is sprayed down with water in order to increase humidity and lower the air temperature.

damping off

When plants, normally seedlings, rot due to over watering or improper watering practices.

deadhead

Pinching off used or dead blooms to prevent them from setting seed and encourage further blooming.

deciduous

A plant that loses and regrows its leaves naturally during the course of the year.

desiccation

Damage to a plant or tree caused by dehydrating of leaves. This frequently happens most often on evergreen plants during the winter where cold winds virtually freeze dry the leaves.

determinate

A plant that only produces blossom on active growth branches and stop growing when the plant had set fruit.

dethatch

Removing dead grass and debris that builds up beneath lawn grasses.

dibble stick

A pointed tool for making holes in the ground for planting seeds, bulbs, or young plants.

dioecious

Plants that have male and female systems on different plants. For these plants, you will need both a male and female plant to produce fruit and seeds.

diploid

A plant that has a normal number of chromosomes, one from the male and one from the female parent.

disbudding

Removing extra flower buds on a plant to support the health and growth of other flower buds on the plant.

disease

An external force that causes a plant to lose vigor and health. Typically caused by bacteria or a virus.

dividing

Splitting a parent plant into two or more smaller plants for propagation purposes.

division

A section of a larger plant that has been separated in order to create a genetic copy of the parent. This is a common propagation method.

dormancy

A period where a plant stops all growth and reproduction. Frequently, the plant will lose leaves and look dead, when in fact it is simply “sleeping”.

double digging

A method of tilling where the soil in one row is turned and then moved to a second row. Typically during this process, organic material is added.

double flower

A flower that has mutated to have extra petals. This type of flowering usually results in a flower that looks fuller and rounder.

dried blood

A fertilizer supplement that is made by drying and powdering blood. It is used to add nitrogen to soil and is consider acceptable for organic gardening.

drip line

A type of irrigation that delivers water directly to the roots of plants through the use of small tubes that “drip” the water out to the base of the plant.

drupes

A type of fruit that has a fleshy outside and an hard inner shell or stone. Many drupes are eaten. Some examples include almonds, blackberries and cherries.