F Glossary of Terms

Family—Groups of plants that share similar characteristics.

Fertilizer—Any plant food.

Fertilizer, water-soluble—Fertilizer that is mixed with water before applying.

Fireblight—A disease that strikes pyracantha, loquat, and other members of the rose family. It is characterized by the burned look of the tip growth.

Foliar feeding—The application of fertilizer by spraying the leaves of a plant with a mild liquid fertilizer solution.

Forcing—Hastening a plant to the flowering or fruiting stage out of its normal season; usually done by growing under controlled conditions indoors.

Foundation planting—Growing plants along the foundation of a building.

Friable—Loose and crumbly soil that permits air circulation and water drainage.

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