Gardening

In his retirement, Rahul spends his mornings tending to a small garden, growing flowers and vegetables with Priya.

Meanings in Rahul, Priya, Neighbor

Key words and phrases

gardena piece of land used for growing plantsHe waters his garden every morning.

seeda small object from which a plant growsHe planted tomato seeds this week.

soilthe loose material in which plants growGood soil helps plants grow strong.

water the plantsto give plants water to help them growHe waters the plants every evening.

pruneto trim a plant by cutting off extra branchesHe prunes the rose bushes carefully.

fertilizera substance added to soil to help plants growHe added fertilizer to the soil.

bloomto produce flowersThe roses bloomed beautifully this spring.

harvestto gather crops or vegetables that are readyThey harvested fresh tomatoes from the garden.

gardening toolsequipment used for gardening, like a spade or shearsHe keeps his gardening tools in the shed.

peaceful hobbya calming activity done for enjoymentGardening has become his peaceful hobby.

weedan unwanted wild plant growing among garden plantsHe pulled out the weeds before planting new seeds.

compostdecayed organic matter used to enrich soilThey made compost from kitchen waste.

watering cana container with a spout used to water plantsHe filled the watering can from the tap.

saplinga young treeThey planted a mango sapling in the corner.

shadean area sheltered from direct sunlightFerns grow well in the shade.

pestan insect or small animal that damages plantsHe sprayed the plants to keep pests away.

pota container used to grow a plantShe grows herbs in small pots on the balcony.

flower beda section of a garden planted with flowersThe flower bed near the gate was full of marigolds.

sunlightlight from the sun, needed by most plants to growThe vegetable patch gets plenty of sunlight.

greenhousea glass structure used to grow plants in a controlled environmentHe kept the delicate seedlings in the greenhouse.

Useful sentences

Ask What are you planting in the garden this time?
Answer Some tomato seeds and a few flower plants.
Ask How often do you water the plants?
Answer Every morning and evening.
Ask Should we add some fertilizer to the soil?
Answer Yes, that will help the plants grow faster.
Ask When will the roses bloom?
Answer They should bloom by next month.
Ask Can we harvest the tomatoes today?
Answer Yes, they look ripe and ready.
Ask Should I pull out these weeds first?
Answer Yes, then we can add some fresh compost.
Ask Where should we plant this new sapling?
Answer Somewhere with plenty of sunlight, near the fence.
Ask Are the pests damaging the flower bed again?
Answer A little, I'll spray something safe this evening.
Ask Should these herbs stay in pots or go in the ground?
Answer Let's keep them in pots near the greenhouse for now.
Ask Do the ferns need to stay in the shade all day?
Answer Mostly, they only need a little morning light.

Dialogue

PriyaRahul, the garden is looking so lovely this year.

RahulThank you. I've been pruning the roses every week.

NeighborYour garden always looks so well cared for.

RahulThank you. It has become such a peaceful hobby for me.

PriyaShould we harvest the tomatoes today?

RahulYes, they look perfectly ripe. Let's do it together.

NeighborI noticed some pests near your flower bed the other day.

RahulThank you for telling me. I'll spray something safe this evening.

PriyaWe should also add some compost before the rains come.

RahulGood idea. I'll pull out the weeds first, then mix in the compost.

Common mistakes

Saying "I am doing gardening" instead of "I garden" or "I do gardening in my free time" (both are acceptable, but avoid awkward continuous forms).
Saying "Cut the plant" instead of "Prune the plant" (use the specific gardening term "prune").
Saying "Flowers are coming" instead of "The flowers are blooming" (use "bloom," the correct verb for flowers opening).
Saying "remove the weed" for many unwanted plants instead of "pull out the weeds" or "weed the garden," using the plural or verb form.
Saying "put compost" instead of "add compost" or "mix in compost" when improving soil.
Saying "the plant get sunlight" instead of "the plant gets sunlight," forgetting the third-person singular "-s."

Quick quiz

1. What word means to trim a plant by cutting off extra branches?

2. Complete: "They ___ fresh tomatoes from the garden."

3. What word means a calming activity done for enjoyment?

4. What is a "weed"?

5. Complete: "They made ___ from kitchen waste."

6. A glass structure used to grow plants in a controlled environment is called a ___.

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