Gardening Glossary
Definitions for gardening terms that start with S
- sapwood
The layer of wood just under the bark that the sap of the tree is transported through.
- scion
A slice of bark and sapwood that has a bud on it. It is then grafted onto another plant.
- seedling
A young, newly sprouted plant.
- seed pod
A mature ovary of a flowering plant that has several seeds in it.
- single flower
A flower that has only one layer of petals.
- slow-release fertilizer
Fertilizer that releases its nutrients slowly over a period of time in order to avoid burning the plants it is used on.
- softwood cuttings
A piece of a plant that is taken from new, green, non-woody growth and is used to propagate the plant.
- soil pH
The acidity level of the soil.
- soil sterilizing
Using a method to kill all living organisms in the soil.
- sour soil
Soil whose acidity level is so high that it actually takes on a sour smell.
- sphagnum
A type of moss that grows in bogs and, after it dies and starts to decompose, becomes peat moss.
- spore
A seed like reproductive cell that is produced by non-flowering, asexual plants in order to reproduce.
- staking
A method by which a plant is held up off the ground, normally by means of a long stick or stake.
- stamen
The male part of a plant that creates pollen.
- succession planting
Planting fast growing vegetable plants a designated time apart so that you can enjoy continuous harvest through the season.
- sucker
An offshoot that comes off the root of a plant.
- sulphur
A mineral that is added to the soil in order to lower the pH of the soil. It also helps with growing more disease resistant plants.
- sweating plants
A method used to break a plant out of a dormant state.
- sweet soil
Soil that is very alkaline and has a high pH.
- synthetic
A man made substance that is not found in nature.
- systemic
This refers to anything that affects the whole plant.
