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Climate & Growing Conditions

  • Cold Hardiness – A plant’s ability to tolerate low temperatures without significant injury.
  • Drought Tolerance – A plant’s ability to withstand periods of limited available moisture once appropriately established.
  • Exposure – The degree to which a planting site is affected by sun, wind, temperature fluctuations, and other environmental conditions.
  • Frost Heave – Uplifting of soil and roots due to freeze-thaw cycles.
  • Frost Pocket – A low-lying area where cold air collects, creating a greater risk of frost injury.
  • Hardiness Zone – Geographic zone defining plant survival limits in winter.
  • Microclimate – Local climate differing from surrounding areas.
  • Photoperiod – Day length influencing plant growth/flowering.
  • Prairie-hardy – Plant material selected or grown for its ability to perform under the challenging climatic conditions typical of the Canadian Prairies.
  • Windbreak – Row of trees/shrubs reducing wind impact.
  • Winter Desiccation – Moisture loss from plant tissue during winter when roots cannot replace water lost through foliage; particularly relevant to evergreens.
  • Winter Hardiness – A plant’s overall ability to withstand winter conditions, including cold temperatures, wind, freeze-thaw cycles, and desiccation.

Landscape & Turf

  • Annual – Plant completing its life cycle in one growing season.
  • Biennial – Plant completing its life cycle in two years.
  • Groundcover – Low-growing plants covering soil to reduce erosion/maintenance.
  • Hardscape – Non-living elements in landscaping (paving, walls, decks).
  • Mulch – Organic/inorganic material covering soil to conserve moisture, suppress weeds.
  • Perennial – Plant living for three+ years, flowering multiple times.
  • Sod – Pre-grown turfgrass harvested with roots and soil.
  • Softscape – Living plant materials in landscaping.
  • Topdressing – Applying soil/compost layer over turf to improve health.
  • Xeriscaping – Landscaping designed for minimal water use.

Landscape Establishment

  • Amendment – Material incorporated into soil to alter its physical or chemical properties.
  • Backfill – Soil returned to the planting hole around a newly installed plant.
  • Compaction – Compression of soil that reduces pore space and can restrict the movement of air, water, and roots.
  • Establishment – The period following planting during which a plant develops roots into the surrounding soil and adapts to its new growing environment.
  • Guying / Staking – Temporary support used where necessary to stabilize newly planted trees while roots establish.
  • Planting Depth – The depth at which plant material is installed; for trees, correct placement of the root flare is particularly important.
  • Site Conditions – The environmental characteristics affecting plant performance at a particular location, including soil, moisture, light, wind, drainage, exposure, and available rooting space.
  • Watering In – Thoroughly watering immediately after planting to settle soil around the roots and reduce large air pockets.

Nursery Production & Propagation

  • Acclimatization – Adjustment of a plant to the environmental conditions in which it is grown, including temperature, light, wind, and moisture.
  • Bare Root – Plants dug and sold without soil around their roots.
  • Ball and Burlap (B&B) – Trees/shrubs dug with soil around roots, wrapped in burlap.
  • Caliper – Trunk diameter measured 15 cm (6 in) above the ground for nursery stock.
  • Chinook – Warm, dry, westerly winds from the Rocky Mountains that affect Southern and Central Alberta and can cause sudden, rapid increases in temperature during the winter months.
  • Clonal Propagation – Producing genetically identical plants from cuttings or tissue culture.
  • Container Grown – Plant material grown and established in a container rather than harvested from the field.
  • Crop Rotation – Rotating production areas between different crops or uses to support soil health and long-term field productivity.
  • Cultivar – A cultivated variety of plant, selected for specific traits.
  • Division – Splitting one plant into two or more, each with roots and shoots.
  • Dormancy – Period of slowed plant growth, usually in winter.
  • Field Grown – Plant material grown directly in nursery fields and harvested for transplanting.
  • Grafting – Joining plant parts (rootstock + scion) so they grow as one plant.
  • Growing On – Continuing to grow younger or smaller plant material until it reaches the desired size or specification for sale.
  • Hardening Off – Gradual acclimation of plants to outdoor conditions.
  • Liner – Young plant grown for transplanting into larger pots or fields.
  • Overwintering – Practices used to protect container-grown or other vulnerable plant material through winter conditions.
  • Plug – Small seedling grown in a tray cell, used for transplanting.
  • Potting Up – Transplanting a plant into a larger container as it grows.
  • Provenance – The geographic origin or source of plant material, which can influence its adaptation to local growing conditions.
  • Root Ball – The mass of roots and surrounding soil retained when field-grown plant material is dug for transplanting.
  • Rootbound – When roots fill a container, circling and restricting growth.
  • Root Pruning – Intentionally cutting or managing roots during production to encourage a denser, more fibrous root system closer to the plant.
  • Stock Plant – Parent plant used for cuttings or propagation.
  • Transplant Shock – Stress plants experience when moved/repotted.

Nursery Stock & Sizing

  • Container Size (#1, #2, #5, #10, etc.) – A nursery industry designation used to identify container size or class; the number should not automatically be interpreted as an exact container volume.
  • Height – The vertical measurement of plant material, commonly used to specify evergreens, shrubs, and some other nursery stock.
  • Nursery Stock – Plants grown specifically for sale, transplanting, or use in landscape applications.
  • Specification – The required characteristics of plant material for a project, which may include species, cultivar, size, caliper, height, form, container size, or other quality requirements.
  • Spread – The approximate width of a plant measured across its canopy.
  • Substitution – An alternative plant, size, or specification proposed when the originally specified material is unavailable or another selection may better meet project requirements.

Plant Health & IPM

  • Abiotic Stress – Plant stress caused by non-living factors such as drought, frost, heat, salt, compaction, or nutrient imbalance.
  • Biocontrol – Use of natural predators/parasites to control pests.
  • Chlorosis – Yellowing of normally green plant tissue, often associated with nutrient availability, root stress, or other environmental factors.
  • Dieback – Progressive death of shoots, branches, or other plant tissue beginning at the tips.
  • Dormant Spray – A treatment applied while plants are dormant to help manage certain overwintering pests or diseases.
  • Fungicide / Herbicide / Insecticide – Chemicals targeting fungi, weeds, or insects.
  • IPM (Integrated Pest Management) – Combining cultural/mechanical, biological, and chemical methods to control pests, as well as considering seasonal timing and plant life cycles as well as pest type to create an effective system.
  • Noxious Weed – Plant species designated invasive/harmful under law.
  • Pathogen – Organism causing plant disease.
  • Pest Threshold – The level of pest activity at which management action may be warranted.
  • Pesticide Resistance – Pest population’s reduced sensitivity to a chemical.
  • Physiological Stress – A plant response to environmental conditions such as drought, excessive moisture, temperature extremes, or transplanting rather than a pest or disease.
  • Scouting – Regular inspection for pests/disease.

Shipping, Handling & Sales

  • Availability – Plant material currently available or expected to become available for sale; availability may change throughout the season.
  • Booking / Pre-booking – Reserving plant material in advance for a future season or project.
  • Cold Storage – Refrigerated storage to extend plant dormancy.
  • Digging Season – The period when field-grown nursery stock can appropriately be harvested based on plant dormancy, species, weather, and soil conditions.
  • Holding – Reserving available plant material for a customer or project for an agreed period.
  • Lead Time – The time required between placing or confirming an order and when the material can be prepared for pickup or delivery.
  • Phytosanitary Certificate – Legal document certifying plants are pest/disease free for shipping, particularly pertaining to geographic borders.
  • Special Order – Plant material sourced or produced specifically to meet a customer or project requirement outside regular inventory.
  • Substitution Request – A proposed change to specified plant material when the original species, cultivar, size, or form is unavailable.
  • Tagging – Labeling plants for identification and sale.
  • Wholesale Nursery – A nursery primarily producing and supplying plant material to landscape contractors, garden centres, municipalities, developers, and other industry professionals.
  • Wholesaler vs. Retailer – Wholesale sells in bulk to businesses; retail sells directly to consumers.

Soils & Growing Media

  • Aggregate – Sand, gravel, or crushed stone used in soil mixes or drainage.
  • CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) – Soil’s ability to hold nutrients.
  • Clay Soil – Soil containing a high proportion of fine clay particles; typically holds water and nutrients well but may drain slowly and compact easily.
  • Drainage – The movement of excess water through and away from soil or a planting area.
  • Growing Medium – Material used to support plant roots in container production, formulated to provide an appropriate balance of water retention, drainage, aeration, and physical support.
  • Infiltration – The process by which water enters the soil surface.
  • Loam – Balanced soil mix of sand, silt, and clay, ideal for plants.
  • Organic Matter – Decayed plant/animal material enriching soil.
  • Percolation – Downward water movement through soil.
  • pH – Measure of soil acidity/alkalinity.
  • Porosity – Space in soil for air and water.
  • Soil Structure – The way individual soil particles bind together into aggregates, influencing drainage, aeration, and root growth.
  • Soil Texture – The relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay within a soil.

Trees & Shrubs

  • Branch Structure – The arrangement and attachment of branches that contribute to the form and long-term structure of a tree.
  • Central Leader – A dominant, upright stem forming the primary trunk and structure of many tree species.
  • Co-dominant Stems – Two or more stems of similar size competing to act as the main leader of a tree.
  • Crown – The branches and foliage forming the upper portion of a tree or shrub.
  • DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) – Measurement of the diameter of an established tree trunk at approximately 1.4 m above ground; different from nursery-stock caliper measurement.
  • Form – Natural growth shape of a tree/shrub (upright, spreading, weeping, etc.).
  • Leader – The main upright stem of a tree.
  • Multi-stem – A tree or shrub grown with multiple primary stems originating near its base.
  • Pruning Cut Types – Heading cut (removes shoot tip), thinning cut (removes branch).
  • Root Collar – Transition zone between stem and root; must remain at soil level when planting.
  • Root Flare – The area at the base of a tree where the trunk widens and transitions into the major structural roots.
  • Structural Pruning – Selective pruning used to develop strong branch architecture, appropriate spacing, and desirable tree form.
  • Sucker – A shoot arising from the roots or lower portion of a plant.
  • Water Sprout – A vigorous, upright shoot developing from a trunk or branch.
  • Whip – A young, unbranched tree used for planting or grafting.

Water & Irrigation

  • Drip Irrigation – Water delivered slowly at the root zone.
  • Emitter – Drip irrigation outlet controlling water flow.
  • Evapotranspiration – Combined water loss from soil evaporation and plant transpiration.
  • Leaching – Movement of dissolved nutrients/water through soil.
  • Runoff – Water flow across the surface of soil when infiltration is exceeded.