Terms of the Trade

A glossary of nursery and landscape terms

Special Advertising Section

Photo courtesy of Yardscapes, Inc.

Annuals: Flowers and plants that are planted each spring (in Minnesota, usually in May) and do not survive the winter. Annuals can provide a great deal of color.

B&B (Balled and Burlapped): Larger trees, shrubs, and other plants grown and dug out of the ground; their roots and soil then are wrapped in burlap.

Bare Root: Trees or shrubs that have no soil on their roots. Bare root stock must be planted while it is dormant (in Minnesota, usually no later than June 1).

Bedding Plant: Plants (mainly annuals), nursery grown and suitable for growing in beds.

Bulbs: The thickened underground storage organ of the group of perennials, such as daffodils and tulips.

Container Grown: Trees, shrubs or perennials grown in plastic containers.

Dead Head: The process of pinching off used or spent blooms to keep plants well groomed and to prevent them from setting seed. This will promote continued bloom.

Ground Cover: A group of plants usually used to cover bare earth and create a uniform appearance.

Hardiness: The ability of carious plants to survive in a climatic region. Most of the southern half of Minnesota is in Zone 4 and the northern half is in Zone 3. Ask your nursery or garden center whether the trees, shrubs or perennials you plan to buy are hardy for your area.

Hardscaping: The installation of non-plant features in the landscape. These can include retaining walls, paver walks, and driveways.

Landscape: The “lay of the land,” including plants and other physical features such as lawn or meadow areas, waterways, pavement, utilities, structures, etc. The term often is mistakenly used to refer only to plantings.

Master Gardeners: Community volunteers trained through the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Master Gardeners cooperate with service agencies and community groups on a wide range of gardening projects. They provide training and demonstrations for home gardeners, clubs and organizations.

Minnesota Grown: A registered trademark of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. “Minnesota Grown Hardy Nursery Stock” refers to trees and shrubs that are grown in Minnesota nurseries and will survive through the state’s harsh winters. Perennials and annuals propagated and grown in Minnesota greenhouses can also be labeled “Minnesota Grown.”

Native Plants: Plants that are indigenous to a local area or climate before general settlement by non-Native Americans (in Minnesota, before 1850). Native plants can be excellent choices for landscapes because they often require little maintenance and fertilization. However, in some city landscapes, the “native” climate has been so altered by humans that non-native species may perform better.

Pavers: Small, shaped concrete pieces (typically brick- or cobble-shaped) that are available in a variety of shapes and colors and can be used to form a walkway, patio or driveway.

Peat Moss: The partially decomposed remains of various mosses. This is a good water retentive addition to the soil.

Perennials: Flowering, herbaceous (non-woody) plants die to the ground each fall and come up again each spring for at least three years or more. Familiar examples include irises, day lilies,
and hostas.

Potting Soil, Topsoil: Potting soil is used for growing plants in containers on patios or window boxes; topsoil, or “black dirt,” is used in the yard or garden.

Propagation: Various methods of starting new plants ranging from starting seeds to identical clones created by cuttings or layering.

Root Ball: Mass of roots at the base of plant held in a container or burlap bag.

Wall Blocks: Earth-toned concrete blocks that are used to build walls and borders. Each has a “lip” that can lock it into an adjoining block.

Wood Plants: Any plants that have a woody stem, such as trees, shrubs, and evergreens.

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