Glossary D

D
Damping-down	Increasing humidity with water either in the garden or greenhouse.
Damping-off	A fungus disease of seedlings.
Dead-heading	Removing dead flowers from the plant so it can concentrate on producing new ones. In a greenhouse it can prevent mould from forming in winter.
Deciduous	A plant that looses all its leaves at the end of the growing season.
Dibber	A tool for making a hole in which to put a seed, seedling or cutting.
Dibble	Describes the use of a dibber.
Dicotyledon	A plant that produces two seed leaves at germination.
Die-back	Branches or shoots that die from the tip backwards.
Diocecious	Bearing male and female flowers on different plants.
Disbudding	Removing excess buds or shoots, the plant can then concentrate its energies.
Disc	Central mass of flowers, like daisies.
Diurnal	Flowers that close at night and open during the day.
Division	Propagation by splitting the roots into one or more pieces.
Dormancy	A time when seeds or plants are resting.
Dot plant	Bedding plant used to give height to lower planting.
Double or semi-double	Flowers with more than the usual number of petals.
Double digging	Digging the soil over twice.
Double leader	Two shoots on a tree trying to be the dominent branch.
Draw-hoe	A hoe set on a curved tang used with a chopping motion.
Drawn	A weak stem that has become too long.
Dressing	Manure, fertiliser, sand or lime mixed in with the soil.
Dribble-bar	A sealed perforated tube attached to a watering can spout that enables weedkiller or other liquid to be dribbled on to the plants or soil.
Drills	Straight,narrow and fallow furrows in which to place seeds.
Dutch hoe	A hoe with a short blade, use with short movements whilst walking backwards.
Dutch light	A glass or plastic frame used on cold-frames and greenhouses.
Dwarfing rootstock	Fruit trees are normally budded on this rootstock so the eventual height of the tree is not too tall.
Dwarf pyramid	A way of pruning a tree so that it is shaped rather like a Christmas tree.