VOA慢速英语:Beauties in the Garden: Growing Ornamental Trees and Bushes

短语讲解：

1. Trees and plants are called ornamentals if their main job is to add beauty and interest to a garden.

add… to… 把…加到…
例句：I'd like to add some pepper to the bean curd. 
我想在豆腐里加一点辣椒粉。

2. Some also smell good and can be used to make scented oils -- for example, lavender and lilac.

be used to do 被用来做…
例句：It is said that the plant can be used to treat hepatitis. 
据说那种植物可用来治肝炎。

3. But master gardener Bob Orazi says, "Most of them take care of themselves after the first six months."

take care of 照顾
例句：They appointed her to take care of that old man.
他们委派她照顾那位老人。

4. Some ornamentals and other plants are sold with their roots in a ball of dirt held together with burlap.

hold together 使结合，捆在一起
例句：I held your luggage together with mine.
我把你的行李和我的捆在一起了。

5. So his advice is to pull the plant out of the container, then cut the bottom half of the root ball into four parts.

pull out of 把…从…中拉出来
例句：A good holiday should pull him out of this feeling of sadness.
好好地度一个假，会使他从悲伤中振作起来。

6. This process is known as "butterflying."

be known as 被认为是，被称为
例句：He is known as a gifted orator. 
众所周知,他是一位天才演说家。 

7. But you do have to remember by butterflying, you are cutting down the overall height of that root ball.

cut down把…砍倒〔割掉〕
例句：She cut the grass down.
她把草割掉。
缩减，削减
例句：They have to cut down the office staff.
他们不得不裁减办公室的职员。

8. Make sure you do not dig it too deep so the plant is sitting below the soil line.

make sure 确保
例句：Make sure you are firmly strapped in before the plane takes off. 
飞机起飞前务必系好安全带。