Glossary of Landscaping Terms

1. Accent plants - plants that provide interest and generally stand out in the landscape due to
their color, texture, and/or blooms; positioned near a grouping of other plants in order to
create interest or capture attention.
2. Access - a way to approach an area or garden feature.
3. Acid medium - a type of compost that is devoid or contains little lime and has a ph level
that falls below 6,5. Gardeners also refer to it as "sour" soil.
4. Acid rain - rainwater that is unusually acidic. It is caused by the chemical reaction of
compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides mixing with water, oxygen, and other
chemicals in the air.
5. Acid soil - any kind of soil that has a ph of less than 7. Individual plants that thrive in acidic
soil include gardenias, willow oaks, and calladium, among others.
6. Acre - an area of land that measures 43,560 square feet.
7. Adventitious - root growth occurring from any point other than the root as from a stem or a
leaf.
8. Aeration - the process of piercing holes to the soil to increase its air content and for nutrients
to reach plants better. A pitchfork is usually used in this process.
9. Aerial root - roots that develop above the surface such as with orchids that take water
directly from the air.
10. Aesthetics - very subjective, this is the perception of beauty or attractiveness of a garden
space or design. No matter how practical a garden needs to be it also needs to meet a certain
threshold of aesthetics. “aesthetic” may also be used to describe a chosen style or look for
the landscape.
11. Aggregate - sand, crushed stone, and gravel used in the manufacturing of concrete mixtures
such as mortar and concrete with a textured finish
12. Aggregate culture - a method that uses solid materials such as gravel, sand, and rockwool
to grow plants.
13. Air layering - a propagation method where you partially cut a branch or tree and wrap it
with moist medium to stimulate and form new roots. This method is usually practiced in
bonsai cultivation.
14. Alkaline soil - any type of soil that has a ph of 8,5 and above.
15. Amend - adding beneficial organic material to your garden’s native soil to improve it for
plants. Usually this is done by mixing in some compost as we install plants.
16. Annual – flowering plants that bloom for a single season and will need to be replanted each
year.
17. Aquatic plants - plants that grow in water such as water lilies, lotus, and floating heart.
18. Arbor - a garden structure generally used to support climbing plants or vines. They can be
part of a fence, gate, or free standing.
19. Arboretum - a dedicated land planted with trees or shrubs used for study or display.
20. Arborist - basically a tree doctor that is trained in the care and maintenance of trees.
21. Asexual propagation - the process of using the body tissue of a parent plant to generate a
new plant that is identical to one parent
22. Atrium - an open area in the middle of a house or building, which is typically open-roofed
or glass roofed.
23. Auxin - any type of hormone or substance responsible for the development and growth of
plants. Auxin is also responsible for cell elongation in plant shoots.
24. Backfill - gravel or dirt used to fill behind a retaining wall or other landscape feature.
25. Balance - a design concept, where elements in the landscape are in “balance” with one
another. The size, orientation, and perceived mass of elements all play a role. This is highly
subjective.
26. Balled and burlapped - field dug tree with the root ball wrapped in burlap.
27. Bare root - a type of arboriculture technique where plants are cleared of soil for
transplanting.
28. Barrier plants – these plants have thorns or other unappealing characteristics that help keep
bad guys out of your yard, keep kids from walking through your yard on their way home
from the bus stop or keep your dogs from digging in your vegetable garden.
29. Bedding plant - a plant that is grown in flower beds and laid in the ground when it's
blooming or near-blooming. Bedding is usually done to create a seasonal display of colorful
flowers.
30. Biennial- plants that require two years to complete its lifecycle, then dies.
31. Bipinnate - plants with pinnate leaflets that grow opposite of each other.
32. Biophysical - includes living things (bio), such as plants and animals, and non-living things
(physical), such as rocks, soils and water.
33. Block plan - a plan drawn to scale showing the size, shape and measurements of any piece
of land and the position thereon of any existing and proposed buildings and drainage
installation or portion thereof. a site plan generally shows in more detail the contents and
extent of the site for an existing or proposed development, whereas a block plan shows less
detail of the site and more of the surrounding area
34. Bolting - an occurrence when a plant stops its growth stage and turns to seed production.
35. Bonsai - a japanese art of growing dwarfed and miniaturized trees and shrubs.
36. Boulder - large stone. In general a stone over 125 lbs would qualify as a boulder.
37. Bract - brightly colored leaves usually found below the area of a flower and are used to
protect the embryo of the flower and to attract pollinating insects.
38. Bubbler - a style of water feature with a large drilled stone usually serving as the
centerpiece.
39. Bud - a part of a plant that grows into a flower or leaf.
40. Bud eye - a bud that has started to swell and can grow into a new stem.
41. Bud union - found near the base of the plant, a bud union is the area of a grafted plant where
the scion and rootstock meet.
42. Bulb-an underground storage component of the plant, containing the stem covered by scales;
bulbs are planted similarly to seeds.
43. Cambium - the formative tissue layer of a plant that is responsible for secondary growth.
44. Cane - the long and woody hollow stem of plants like bamboo.
45. Cascade - where water in a stream or vessel hits a point of vertical drop. The height and
width of a cascade are major factors in the amount of noise generated by a water feature.
46. Catch basin - a below grade vessel for collecting surface water and then directing it into a
drain line or dry well. Also, an area where water pools before falling over the next cascade.
47. Catkin - a species of inflorescence or a group of flowers that are cylindrical and hanging
low such as willows and birch.
48. Chlorophyll - a group of green pigments responsible for converting carbon dioxide and
water into food. It is also the group that absorbs light from the sun for photosynthesis.
49. Cladode - a flattened organ that resembles and functions like a leaf.
50. Clay-a soil particle which is plate-like, extremely small and may retain nutrients well.
51. Cloche - a piece of transparent protective material usually made of glass that functions as a
cover for plants.
52. Clod-a lump of clay which is difficult to break apart.
53. Clump - group of trees, shrubs, bamboo, or ornamental grass planted together to form a
grouping.
54. Cold frame - an outdoor structure that has a transparent roof used for protecting plants from
extreme cold and moisture.
55. Compost-a soil product created from decomposed garden material, used in flower beds to
add nutrients and encourage good growth.
56. Concept plan - during the landscape design process, this is a basic drawing or plan
containing the key details of the garden plan, without adding excessive details or full
plantings so the basic footprint of key elements can be understood.
57. Conifer - any of the various evergreen trees that bear cone-like or needle-shaped leaves like
pine and fir trees.
58. Contour - purposeful change in ground elevations or grade. These may take the form of a
mound, swale, or combination of the two.
59. Contrast - differences in tone, texture, mass, or color between landscape design elements.
Plant combinations or pairings often highlight these differences so that each plant can shine.
60. Cordon - a plant that is grown as one stem that is done by removing side roots.
61. Corm - a food-storing underground organ found in plants such as cyclamens, gladioli, and
crocuses.
62. Course - a horizontal row or tier of stone, paver, or wood in a wall, patio, or landscape
screen.
63. Courtyard garden - a garden mostly or completely surrounded by walls or buildings,
perhaps at the entry to a building or meant to viewed from key windows.
64. Cover crop - a type of plant planted primarily to help manage soil erosion, prevent weed
growth, and improve soil fertility.
65. Crown - a part of a plant where the stems meet the roots.
66. Cultivate - the act of preparing the soil by fertilizing or plowing for raising and planting
crops.
67. Curbing - a border or edging using poured concrete or natural stone.
68. Damping off - a disease of seedlings that generally occur in excessively damp conditions.
Fungi attacks the seedlings as they begin to grow.
69. Dead-head - the term used for the removal of spent flowers from plants to promote more
flowers to blossom.
70. Deciduous - a term used for trees and shrubs that shed at a particular stage during its life
cycle; a plant that looses its leaves in the winter.
71. Deck – a deck is generally a raised structure that is most often made of wood or a composite
material made to look like wooden boards.
72. Decorative rock - rocks chosen for their color or texture and used as a ground cover, walking
surface, or focal point.
73. Defoliation-the process when a plant looses all its leaves.
74. Design elements - key landscape features being proposed in a landscape design plan. Water
features, paths, patios, decks, boulders, plantings, screens, fences, and contouring are just
some of the common design elements.
75. Design objectives - goals that the client has for the new landscape. These goals guide the
design process, not the designer’s style or preferences. Common design objectives in
portland are low maintenance, drought tolerant, and animal friendly.
76. Dethatch - process for removing or thinning the dead lower level of a mature lawn. Thatch
is grass that has died and collected below the green blades. Some thatch is normal and
healthy. However, over time this layer can get very thick and make it difficult for water, sun,
and nutrients to get to portions of the turf.
77. Dibble stick - a small hand tool used for digging holes in the soil for planting bulbs.
78. Dioecious – dioecious plants and trees are either male or female and require cross pollination
with an opposite sex plant in order to produce flowers or fruit.
79. Direct sow - the method of planting seeds directly into the ground rather than planting them
indoors and transplanting them later.
80. Dividing - a propagation technique where you dig up the parent plant and divide it into many
plants.
81. Dormancy - a time when your plant stops growing or unable to germinate for a specified
period.
82. Drainage - the process of collecting and controlling the flow of water on a property. This
can be done with grading, french drains, dry wells, permeable surfaces, sump pump, rain
gardens, and more. Often multiple methods are required since portland gets so much rain.
Properties at the bottom of hills, with natural springs, or full of heavy clay have the most
drainage problems.
83. Drip irrigation - a watering system that offers controlled water supply directly to the plant
root zone through a network of pipes.
84. Drip line - located under the outer part of the tree where tiny water roots are found. These
roots take up water to the tree. The drip line is often used as a reference point for watering
plants.
85. Drought tolerance - the ability of a plant to survive without much summer water. There are
many plants that are “drought tolerant” but most will be happier with at least some summer
water, and all will need some water the first couple of summers.
86. Dry garden - a garden feature where water is represented by an aggregate stone product,
usually a gravel or granite.
87. Dry well - an underground structure that collect water and allows it to slow percolate into
the soil around it. Dry wells can be installed in the landscape so that roof or rainwater is not
sent into portland’s water treatment system.
88. Dry-laid - a stone or flagstone patio, path, or walkway built without a concrete base. The
base would be compacted gravel and the joints would be an aggregate or walkable ground
cover. Dry laid stone work is more rustic and will become somewhat uneven over time.
89. Dry-stacked - a stone retaining or free standing wall built without the use of mortar. A
highly skilled mason is required for a dry stack stone wall.
90. Earth up - a gardening technique of covering the stem of the plant with soil to protect it
from the wind, frost, and light.
91. Ecological-landscape design that is compatible with a sites’ environment in both appearance
and sustainability without negative impacts to the environment.
92. Edging- a line of demarcation that creates visual interest in the garden by separating one
segment from another segment. This can be aesthetic or functional, keeping one element
from getting mixed into another.
93. Enclosure-in a landscape design, to fence or wall an area in. Areas can also have a feeling
of “enclosure” provided by trees, other plantings, fences, or screens.
94. Entry garden-the landscape near the entry to a building.
95. Epiphyte - a plant that gets its nutrients and moisture from the air while growing harmlessly
on another plant.
96. Ericaceous - plants that don't thrive in soil containing lime.
97. Erosion - the occurrence where the land is damaged due to natural forces such as water or
the wind.
98. Espalier: a tree, shrub or vine, trained to grow on a wall or fence into a specific pattern.
Especially useful for fruit trees, making it easy to harvest the fruit and containing mess.
99. Evaporation - water loss from the soil as water turns from liquid to gas.
100. Ever bearing - a tree or shrub that continuously produces fruits throughout an entire growing
season such as strawberries.
101. Evergreen - a plant, tree, or shrub that has green leaves throughout the year.
102. Exotic - a plant that is not native to the location where it will be planted. Not all “exotics”
are invasive or harmful, and many can be well behaved or drought tolerant.
103. F1 hybrid - the crossbreeding of parent plants to produce offsprings with specific and
enhanced characteristics.
104. Fernery-a mass planting of ferns.
105. Fertilizer -a material added to feed plants rich in nutrients, usually nitrogen (often lost with
frequent mowing), phosphates and potash.
106. Fescue - any variety of grasses characterized by broad flat leaves. Fescues are extremely
disease and insect-resistant and can withstand harsh weather.
107. Final grade - the level of soil on your property before bark dust or compost is spread.
108. Fixture (low voltage lighting)-the lighting elements of a landscape lighting system. Primary
fixtures types are spot lights, path lights, well lights, and underwater lights.
109. Flagstone-generic term used to describe natural flat stones of different shapes and colors
used to create walkways, patios, and walls. Flagstone is usually larger than stepping stones.
110. Float valve-a valve that will automatically refill your water feature when the water falls
below a certain level. These are usually connected to your irrigation system.
111. Floricane - a fruit-bearing plant that grows for a year before yielding fruits and flowers.
112. Flow control valve - usually a ball or gate valve that gives you control over the flow of
water coming from your pump to your water feature.
113. Focal point - the element in a landscape design or area in a landscape that is meant to be
most prominent. The focal point can be a plant, boulder, statuary, gathering space, or other
landscape feature.
114. Foliar feeding - a gardening method where water-dissolved fertilizers are directly applied
to leaves rather than in soil.
115. Forcing - a method where plants are stimulated to grow than its standard time.
116. Formal - a style of gardens or garden elements that stress straight lines, right angles and
circles.
117. Foundation plantings: bushes or shrubs located in beds near the foundation of a home or
other structure.
118. Frost - occurs when the soil surface around the plant is below 32 degrees fahrenheit, which
can be damaging or kill tender plants.
119. Function- the purpose, reason, or action that an area is be landscaped for. Stairs function,
for example, to allow foot traffic up and down a slope.
120. Fungicide - a spray or dust made of biochemical compounds used to kill fungi in plants.
121. Garden flat - a plot of ground located near the house used for cultivating plants, flowers,
herbs.
122. Garden- space for growing plants for viewing, eating, or physical activity.
123. Gazebo - free-standing, covered garden structures that are most often made of wood or
latticework, but can be made with other materials. They are generally open on the sides with
solid or lattice half walls and a solid roof.
124. Germination - the sprouting of a seed, spore or pollen grain.
125. Girdling - the wrapping or tying off a rope or wire around the branch of a tree to disrupt
growth or sometimes, kill the plant.
126. Grading - changing the level of soil for better drainage or to create interest or function.
127. Grafting - the joining of two plants into one that allows asexual reproduction of plants.
128. Gravel: rock product, either rounded or fractured, that is relatively small- usually 1” or less.
129. Ground cover-plants which are low-growing and create a blanket appearance over an area.
130. Growing season - a period of a year where the weather is most favorable to grow plants or
crops.
131. Harden off - the acclimating or the adapting of plants that have been grown indoor to
outdoor.
132. Hardiness - the plant's ability to endure harsh weather such as heat, cold, or drought.
133. Hardpan - a layer of hard clay-rich soil found below the ground surface.
134. Hardscape – hardscape refers to walls, patios, walkways and other non-living structures in
your landscaping design made from wood, brick, stone or concrete. Refer to any “hard”
garden elements including statuary or boulders but most commonly is used to refer to paths,
patios, and walls.
135. Hardy perennial - a type of plant that can survive in an open ground unprotected and can
withstand freezing temperatures.
136. Head - height difference between the level of water in a pond (or the level of the pump if it
sits outside the pond) and the upper outlet of water which impacts performance of the water
pump in gph (gallons per hour).
137. Heading back - the cutting of an older stem or branch.
138. Hedge - a row of closely spaced shrubs or small trees planted close together to form a
boundary.
139. Heeling in - storing a plant temporarily with moist soil until they can be planted properly.
140. Herbaceous - plants that have green stems and have little or no woody tissues.
141. Herbicide - a chemical used to kill unwanted plants or weeds.
142. Honeydew - a saccharine material left on leaves that are secreted by scale insects or aphids.
143. Horizontal slats - fence boards that run horizontally, often used in modern or japanese-
inspired landscape designs.
144. Humus - a black or brown matter that is composed of decayed vegetables or animal matter.
145. Hybrid - a result of cross-pollinated plants.
146. Hydroponics - the method of growing plants without soil but in nutrient solutions such as
in water, sands, or gravel.
147. Imaginary lines-lines that define spaces within a landscape concept. These often extend
from corners or key features of an existing structure. Proper use of imaginary lines can help
the landscape feel connected to the home and other elements.
148. Inflorescence - a cluster of flowers arranged or growing on one stem.
149. Informal- the opposite of formal in the landscape. A more relaxed garden dominated by
curved rather than straight bed lines and a less rigid structure.
150. Inorganic fertilizer - fertilizers that is chemically processed containing some natural
compounds.
151. Invasive plant - a plant that spreads more than desired, or into habitats where it does
damage.
152. Iron - a form of nutrient needed by the plant to support its vital functions such as chlorophyll
production
153. Irrigation - a structure designed to supply water to plants and crops through artificial means
such as pipes or sprinklers.
154. Landscape architect - licensed professional who designs landscapes, schooled in
engineering and architecture as well as in horticulture.
155. Landscape design - the art or practice of planning (designing) changes to landscaped areas,
either for aesthetic or practical purposes.
156. Landscape designer - the professional who plans and develops landscape projects, usually
at a residential or small commercial level with the major design impetus on plantings.
Landscape designers typically have less schooling than landscape architects and are not
licensed.
157. Landscape fabric - textile used to suppress weeds, keep aggregate from sinking into mud,
and to protect french drains from silt.
158. Landscape maintenance - any activities that keep a landscape healthy, clean, and beautiful.
159. Landscape plan - a completed landscape design, detailing all elements for the new
landscape. This usually takes the form of a drawing on paper.
160. Lath - a structure that's evenly spaced and made of wood intended to give shade or light to
plants.
161. Layering - a propagation technique used to make a new plant before severing it from its
parent roots.
162. Leaching - a natural process where nutrients and chemicals from soil are washed off by
excess water from rainwater.
163. Leaf mold - a layer or compost made of organic material such as decomposed leaves. Leaf
mold can also mean a fungal disease that affects foliage.
164. Lime-calcium material used to raise the ph in soil.
165. Loam - a fertile soil that contains a mixture of clay, decaying organic materials, and sand.
166. Macronutrients - essential nutrients required by plants to develop and grow such as
potassium, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen among others.
167. Maiden tree - a tree that is in its first year
168. Manure - organic matter mostly derived from the waste of animals. Manure is used to
fertilize the soil for planting.
169. Mass plantings - using many plantings of the same variety to fill in an area in the landscape.
This can lower maintenance and water use in the garden.
170. Materials list - compiled list of all materials needed to install the landscape design.
171. Microclimate - variations in temperature and growing conditions based on in elevation,
sunlight, drainage, or wind as seen in your own yard.
172. Micronutrients - essential elements needed in very small amounts for healthy plant growth:
iron, copper, zinc, boron, molybdenum, chlorine, and cobalt.
173. Minimalism - using the smallest number of plants, plant varieties, hardscape materials and
other elements needed to accomplish the goal for the landscape design. This aesthetic is
usually associated with modern and low maintenance landscape design.
174. Mixed border - a flowerbed with a mix of different plants such as flowering perennials and
shrubs.
175. Modernism - modern landscape design is characterized by clean lines, clear borders
between elements, mass plantings, and minimalism.
176. Monoecious - monoecious plants and trees have both male and female sex organs, which
means they are self-fertile and can produce their flowers or fruits without the need for cross
pollination.
177. Moongate - this is a circular aperture in a wall or fence, most often seen in chinese or
japanese gardens.
178. Mortar: a mix of cement, sand, and water that is used in stone masonry for setting stones
and joints.
179. Mossery: a mass planting of moss.
180. Mulch - a material used to cover soil for moisture conservation and weed suppression.
181. Native plant - a plant that was present in a geographic location before people started
changing the landscape.
182. Naturalize - the introduction of any varieties of plants or trees to a foreign environment as
opposed to native plants.
183. Node - the part of the plant where the stem, branch or aerial root grows.
184. Orchard - a place for growing fruit trees, can be within a larger landscape.
185. Organic fertilizer - an organic substance made from vegetable and animal matter,
sometimes human matter, used to fertilize the soil.
186. Organic gardening - gardening that does not use fertilizers and pesticides but relying on
natural products and cultural practices.
187. Organic lawn care - maintaining a lawn without the use of chemical herbicides, pesticides,
or fertilizers.
188. Organic material - a carbon-based compound found in natural environments such as
bacteria, fungi, and dead animals among others.
189. Orientation - how the garden or a garden element is arranged in relationship to an existing
or new feature or to a direction.
190. Ornamental grasses: grasses that are not mowed but grown in landscapes as perennials.
191. Osmosis - the movement of water through a cellular membrane and a means for plants to
manage their moisture content.
192. Palmate - leaves that are divided into lobes whose stems grow from a single central point.
Palmate appears like a human hand. Palm trees have serrated leaves.
193. Panicle - a variety of inflorescence plants with flowers that cluster on one branch or stem-
like lilac.
194. Parasitic plant - plants that live on another for its nutritional requirements.
195. Patio - this is a partially open sided relaxation or recreation area that adjoins a dwelling,
used for entertaining, outdoor dining and simply enjoying the outdoor environment.
196. Pavers - precast concrete pieces that are used to create patios and walkways.
197. Pea gravel - small round gravel.
198. Peat moss - any of various mosses that typically grows on wetland in dense masses.
199. Perennial - are flowering plants that continue to bloom each year after they are planted.
200. Pergola – a pergola is also an open framework structure – like a trellis or arbor – but they
are often larger, sturdier and used to provide shade over larger areas, such as a pathway or
patio.
201. Perlite - a non-organic additive that is the key ingredient in fine potting soils.
202. Pest - small animals or insects that destroy or harm plants, trees, or crops.
203. Pesticide - chemical used to kill insects or animals that damage plants or crops.
204. Pesticide: a chemical used to control insects.
205. Ph level - measure of soil's acidity or alkalinity.
206. Photosynthesis - the process used by plants to convert light energy into food.
207. Ph-the acidity and alkalinity of soil.
208. Pinching back - the removal of new growth from plants to either make it bushier or to
postpone blooming time.
209. Pinnate - leaves that resemble a feather by having similar leaflets arranged on opposite sides.
210. Pistil - the seed-bearing organ of a female flower.
211. Planter - containers or boxes used to grow plants.
212. Pollination - occurs when pollen is transferred to the female reproductive organ of a plant,
enabling fertilization to take place.
213. Pondless - a water feature with no true pond, the water basin is below grade and often hidden
by round rock.
214. Pot gardening - gardening practice of growing plants or flowers exclusively in containers
rather than in soil.
215. Pot up - containers used for indoor or outdoor planting that is usually made of metal, pottery,
or glass.
216. Potting soil - growing plants using specially prepared soil with a mixture of peat, loam, and
nutrients. Potting is done in pots.
217. Prick out - gardening technique where seeds are moved from trays or pots into individual
containers.
218. Privacy screen – fences, trellises, shrubs and all sorts of other things can be used to create
this structure that is intended to block the view of a certain area or your entire yard to increase
privacy or hide something unsightly.
219. Propagation - the process of creating new plants from cuttings, seeds, and bulbs among
others.
220. Pruning - the selective cutting of parts of plants such as branches, stems, or buds to control
size, health and appearance.
221. Quarantine - method of strict isolation to ensure suspected disease-carrying plants do not
infect other plants.
222. Rain garden - area of the landscape designed to handle rain water until it can soak into the
ground.
223. Raised bed (aka raised garden bed) –garden structure that creates a planting area that is
contained and higher than the surrounding grade.
224. Refoliate-term used for when a plant grows new leaves after a leafless period, usually in the
spring.
225. Relative humidity - the measurement or the amount of moisture in the air.
226. Rendering (3d) - a 3 dimensional perspective of a landscape design.
227. Retaining wall – this important structure is a wall made of wood, concrete, paving stones,
bricks or other materials with the intention of stabilizing slopes and preventing excessive
erosion.
228. Rhizome - underground stems or plants that grow horizontally and produces roots that shoot
up from its nodes.
229. Rill - narrow watercourse.
230. Rock garden - creating a garden feature consisting primarily of stones with plantings that
complement and can thrive in the rocky environment.
231. Root ball - roots and soil that cling to a plant when it is dug up.
232. Rootbound - a plant that has outgrown or grew too large for its container that often results
in tangling of the roots.
233. Rooting hormone - compounds used in plants to stimulate root formation and growth.
234. Rootstock - the underground part of a plant that develops into a root system and used for
budding or grafting.
235. Rosette - cluster of flowers that grow from a single crown.
236. Rotary nozzle - a nozzle that goes on a head and creates streams of water that rotate across
an area.
237. Rotor - sprinkler head style that rotates a stream of water across an area.
238. Runner - a horizontal and slender stem where an offset develops.
239. Scale - on a landscape design the scale indicates how space on the plan relates to space in
the actual garden. Also refers to the relationship between sizes of specific elements in the
landscape.
240. Scarification - cutting or splitting the seed's outer layer to stimulate germination.
241. Scion - plant shoots that is grafted onto another plant.
242. Screening plantings: trees or shrubs used to provide privacy, block a view, or as a natural
boundary or barrier.
243. Semi-evergreen - refers to plants that temporarily lose its foliage for a short period especially
in harsh climate.
244. Setback: space around your home or along property lines where there are restrictions on
what can be installed or built.
245. Shocking - the wilting and sometimes loss of leaves after a plant is transplanted to a new
area.
246. Shrubs - low woody plants, usually with multiple shoots or stems emanating from their
bases.
247. Single flower - any variety of flowers with only one set of petals like the wild rose.
248. Site - the space of ground to receive landscaped improvements.
249. Site analysis - the act of ascertaining features inherent to a site that must be accounted for
in the landscape design.
250. Sketch: a rough drawing showing key elements of a landscape plan.
251. Sod - strips of grass that have been cut out of field and rolled up. They can then be unrolled
and installed as a lawn.
252. Softscape - the natural components in your landscaping, such as plants and the soil.
253. Soil test - conduct a simple test on your soil to check out its nutrient levels
254. Specimen plant - a plant grown for ornamental or display purposes.
255. Sphagnum - any variety of ashy mosses whose decomposed remains form a peat.
256. Spore - reproductive cell organ produced by ferns and fungi.
257. Sprinkler system - underground network of controllers, valves, pipes, and heads that
combine to water the landscape.
258. Staking - the practice of driving a rod or stick into the ground for plant support.
259. Standard - the gardening technique where trees are trained only to grow one stem from the
ground.
260. Stepping stones - flat stones or concrete pavers set with large gaps to accommodate a natural
stride, creating a rustic path.
261. Stolon - any variety of low spreading plant found just below the ground surface. Its tips
produce new plants. Strawberries and hen and chicks are examples of stolon.
262. Stratification - an artificial process of chilling the seeds to stimulate germination. This
usually requires placing seeds in moistened container and kept in a refrigerator.
263. Sucker - a shoot that comes from the lower part of the stem of a plant and grafted trees.
264. Systemic - a chemical pesticide that kills insects or fungi. The chemical is absorbed into the
plant's system.
265. Taproot - the thick main root of a plant that grows vertically downward.
266. Temperature tolerance - cold or heat, the degree at which a plant can handle temperatures
and survive.
267. Tender plants - types of plants that are not able to withstand the cold.
268. Tendril - a long stem that is thin and used by climbing plants to attach themselves to objects
or structures they climb.
269. Terrace - like a patio, a terrace may or may not be attached to your home and is made from
hard materials. However, unlike a patio, a terrace is raised off of the ground.
270. Terracing - land with a significant slope may benefit from and become more usable with
terracing, which is the process of creating multiple level areas in a stair-like fashion that
often includes the use of retaining walls to control erosion and soil movement.
271. Thatch - dead stems that formed as a layer of the soil. It keeps the soil moisture by reducing
evaporation.
272. Thinning - agricultural process of removing some plants to give more room for other plants
to grow.
273. Timer (irrigation) - controller for a sprinkler system.
274. Topiary - a type of ornamental gardening where bushes or plants are trimmed, weaved or
shaped into various shapes and styles such as animals.
275. Topsoil - the very top layer of soil, usually 2 to 8 inches soil. Topsoil is very rich in nutrients.
276. Transpiration - the act of plants absorbing water through their roots.
277. Transplant - moving a plant from one location to another.
278. Transplant shock - stresses that affect plants when they are being transplanted as they are
adjusting to new locations.
279. Transplanting - the technique of transferring a plant from one place to another or to uproot
and replant.
280. Tree - a woody perennial plant having a single usually elongate main stem generally with
few or no branches on its lower part.
281. Trellis - this type of garden structure is quite common in landscape design and is used to
support climbing vines and plants. It is often made of wood or lattice, but plastic and metal
trellises are also widely available.
282. Tuber - the thickened, fleshy part of a stem.
283. Turf - the surface layer of land covered with grasses and other plants.
284. Umbel - the characteristic of umbelliferous plants where flowers radiate from a common
point.
285. Underplanting - the practice of planting smaller plants and flowers close to the base of
larger plants in an effort to fill out your space and add more color to your landscaping design
without using up more space in your yard.
286. Urban farming - urban farming can refer to different things, but for the purpose of landscape
design it refers to the current trend of homeowners dedicating at least a small portion of their
property for growing food or raising livestock.
287. Variegation - the appearance of spots of different colors in the leaves of a plant.
288. Veranda - this feature is a covered outdoor living area that is attached to your home.
289. Wall rock - quarried basalt stones that are 5-75 lbs each.
290. Water feature - landscape element that features circulating water.
291. Water garden - the cultivation of plants in water.
292. Weed - any wild plants that grow in a garden or any unwanted places. Weeds tend to choke
out plants and outgrow them.
293. Wet feet - an occurrence where plants have been watered too much for them to manage.
Sometimes, this results in plants dying.
294. Wettable powder - a form of insecticide added to water to create an insecticide.
295. Wetting agent - a substance that can be applied to the surface of the soil to lower its surface
tension. Thus, enabling it to penetrate the ground more efficiently.
296. Wildflower - flowers that grow and thrive anywhere even without human intervention.
297. Wilt - the state where plants become flaccid or droop due to heat.
298. Windbreak - trees or shrubs planted in such a manner that it protects plants from the wind
and prevents soil from erosion.
299. Window box - a long and narrow box placed on an outside windowsill used to grow plants
and flowers.
300. Woody plant - any variety of plants that have hard-lignified tissues or woody parts such as
lianas, trees, and shrubs.
301. Xeriscaping –a type of landscaping that is most often used in areas that are prone to drought
and focuses on reducing the amount of water used for landscaping by selecting native plants,
improving the soil and designing the space with water conservation in mind.
302. Xerophyte - plants that can survive with little water supply like a cactus.
303. Xylem - transport tissue in plants. Its primary function is to convey water and food from the
roots to the stem.
304. Zone - regions with the same climatic and rainfall conditions.