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As a novice home gardener, you know some of the basics — garden hoses come in lengths between 25 feet and 100 feet, the optimum amount of water for a lawn is about one inch per session — but you’ve still got a lot to learn. To get you started, here is a brief glossary of some essential gardening terms.

10 Basic Gardening Terms

Aeration: This is the practice of perforating the soil to allow air to circulate and water and nutrients to reach the growing plant.

Annual: An annual is a plant that completes its entire life cycle from germination to seed production in just one year. Examples of annuals include peas, watermelon, petunias, and zinnias.

Biennial: A biennial is a plant whose life cycle spans two growing seasons. they produce leaves in the first year and flowers in the second. Examples of biennials include angelica, evening primrose, and pansies.

Bolt: This term refers to a plant that seeds prematurely.

Cold frame: A cold frame is a structure made of wood and glass or plastic that is used to protect plants from frost. They are a useful tool to extend the life of a plant as the seasons change.

Companion planting: This is the practice of planting different crops next to one another that enhance each other’s growth and/or protect one another from pests. A classic example is what Native Americans called the Three Sisters; they planted corn, beans, and squash in the same field to encourage healthy growth.

Direct seed: This is the practice of planting seeds directly in the soil instead of starting them indoors.

Perennial: A perennial is a plant whose life cycle lasts more than two years. Examples of perennials include tomatoes, rosemary, strawberries, dahlias, and daisies.

pH: A scale from zero to 14 describes the acidity or alkalinity of the soil.

Tilth: This term refers to the health of the soil. When the soil is healthy, it is described as being in “good tilth.”

A devoted gardener should be well-versed in agricultural lingo, even if gardening is just a hobby. If you’re a novice home gardener and you’d like to learn more, feel free to post any questions in the comments section below.