Gardening looks easy; buy plants, put plants in soil, water, enjoy all the fruit or gawk at the beauty of the flowers...I wish it was that easy but even I forget to water often. I forget how much gardening is an art as well as science and both of those coupled with a little plant biology will enhance your gardening success! Plants are divided into two categories within the Angiosperm category of the clarification system: monocots and dicots. Knowing these foundational distinctions can help you select the right plants, care for them appropriately, and design a thriving garden. When looking at plants defined as monocot and dicots, there are notable differences, cotyledons, leaf venation, stems, roots, and flowers. I want to draw your attention to the cotyledons, leaves, and root systems.
• Cotyledons are the first sign of a monocot or dicot. Did you forget what you planted? You can narrow it down by looking at the first solar panel (cotyledon) that emerges from the soil. Single leaf like a grass blade? That’s a monocot!
• Just like humans, plants have to move nutrients throughout the entire system via veins. Monocots typically have parallel veins seen in grasses, corn, and onions. Dicot leaves have a complicated network of veins which makes their leaves more resistant to tearing. Examples are tomatoes and squash. Leaves can be used to identify the species and varieties of horticulture plants. They often have a unique shape, venation pattern, and leaf arrangement that can be helpful when you don’t know what plant you have.
• The root system plays an important role in the uptake of nutrients but did you know there was a difference in monocot vs dicot? Monocot roots are fibrous meaning they spread out widely and can help with soil erosion whereas dicot roots have a single root growing deep into the soil and can find nutrients lower in the profile.
So why do knowing monocots and dicots even matter?
Mixing monocots and dicots in your garden or landscape creates a biodiverse garden that can attract pollinators ensuring a thriving ecosystem. Monocots are known to be typically lower maintenance, making them a great choice for gardeners of any skill. Monocots are great to use as ground cover, borders, and structural elements. Dicots usually require more attention due to pruning and pest management, however, their vibrant blooms can create a visually dynamic garden. Take caution when using chemical herbicide applications (selective vs. nonselective) to reduce the risk of damaging neighboring plants. Be sure to read the herbicide label carefully.
Vegetable Planting Calendar Zone 7 - Lubbock https:// lubbockmastergardener.org/wpcontent/ uploads/ 2022/ 01/ vegetable- planting-calendar.pdf For more information on identifying monocots and dicots or want to talk more about horticulture, please contact Kristie Keys at Kristie. keys@ ag. tamu. edu or 325-665-8790.