Landscape design glossary
The vocabulary of plant lists, planting plans and site work, in plain language.
- Balled and burlapped (B&B)
- A field-grown tree or shrub dug with a ball of soil around its roots, wrapped in burlap and often set in a wire basket. B&B stock is heavy and is usually sold by trunk caliper or height. At planting, cut away twine and remove the burlap and wire at least from the top and sides of the root ball. See also: Bare-root, Caliper, Container size.
- Bare-root
- Dormant nursery stock sold with no soil around the roots. It is lighter and usually cheaper than container or B&B stock, but it must be planted during dormancy and the roots must be kept moist until they go in the ground. See also: Balled and burlapped (B&B), Container size, Plug.
- Base course
- The layer of compacted crushed aggregate beneath a patio, path or driveway surface. It carries and spreads the load and drains water away. It is placed in thin, compacted lifts, with its depth set by traffic, soil, climate and the manufacturer's instructions. See also: Permeable paving, Decomposed granite, Grade. Learn more →
- Bloom calendar
- A month-by-month chart of which plants in a design are in flower. It is used to spot gaps in seasonal interest and to provide continuous nectar and pollen for pollinators. See also: Pollinator, Host plant, Plant schedule. Learn more →
- Caliper
- The trunk diameter of a nursery tree, used to specify its size. Under the U.S. nursery stock standard (ANSI Z60.1), caliper is measured 15 cm (6 in) above the ground for trees up to 10 cm (4 in) caliper, and 30 cm (12 in) above the ground for larger trees. See also: Balled and burlapped (B&B), Container size, Plant schedule.
- Canopy
- The upper layer of a planting formed by tree crowns. For a single plant, it means the extent of its crown. Mature canopy spread sets spacing from other plants and from buildings. See also: Understory, Mature size, Specimen plant.
- Container size
- The trade designation of a nursery pot, written as #1, #3, #5, #7, #15 and so on. These are loosely called 1-gallon, 3-gallon and so on, but actual volumes vary by grower and are often smaller than the name suggests. Plant size within a container class also varies by species. See also: Plug, Bare-root, Balled and burlapped (B&B), Plant schedule.
- Contour
- A line on a plan joining points of equal ground elevation. Closely spaced contours indicate steep ground, and widely spaced contours indicate gentle slopes. See also: Spot elevation, Grade, Cut and fill.
- Cultivar
- A cultivated variety selected or bred for particular traits, such as size, flower colour or disease resistance, and kept true by propagation. Cultivar names are written in single quotes after the species name, as in Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'. See also: Nativar, Native plant.
- Cut and fill
- Earthwork in which soil is removed (cut) from high areas and placed (fill) in low areas to reach a design grade. Fill must be placed and compacted in layers to limit settlement. See also: Grade, Spot elevation, Contour, Retaining wall. Learn more →
- Deciduous
- Describes plants that shed all their leaves for part of the year, usually in autumn in temperate climates. Deciduous trees can shade a house in summer and let low winter sun through. See also: Evergreen, Canopy.
- Decomposed granite
- Weathered granite broken down into fine particles and small gravel, used as a compacted surface for paths and informal patios. Unstabilized DG is permeable but erodes and tracks. Stabilized DG contains a binder that makes it firmer but less permeable. See also: Base course, Permeable paving, Edging.
- Deer resistance
- A rating of how rarely deer browse a plant. It is never a guarantee. Hungry deer will eat almost anything, and browsing pressure varies by season, local herd size and available food. See also: Native plant, Plant schedule.
- Drift
- An informal, elongated group of a single plant species, often tapering at the ends and interweaving with neighbouring drifts. It reads as a natural sweep rather than a block. See also: Mass planting, Groundcover, On-centre spacing.
- Ecoregion
- An area with broadly similar climate, geology, soils, vegetation and wildlife. In the U.S., the EPA maps ecoregions at several levels of detail. Ecoregions are often a better guide to native plant ranges than state boundaries. See also: Native plant, Hardiness zone, Microclimate. Learn more →
- Edging
- A border, such as steel, aluminium, stone, brick, concrete or a cut edge, that separates beds, lawn, gravel and paving. It keeps materials in place. Pavers need a rigid edge restraint to stop them creeping outward. See also: Base course, Decomposed granite, Mulch. Learn more →
- Establishment period
- The time after planting during which a plant grows roots into the surrounding soil and needs regular care, especially water. It is often one to two growing seasons for perennials and shrubs, and longer for trees. Drought tolerance applies only after establishment. See also: Hydrozone, Mulch, Mature size.
- Evergreen
- Describes plants that keep foliage year-round, replacing leaves gradually rather than all at once. Evergreens include conifers such as junipers and broadleaf plants such as hollies. Semi-evergreen plants hold some leaves in mild winters. See also: Deciduous, Screen, Hedge.
- Frost date
- The average date of the last spring frost or the first fall frost at a location. It is based on historical records and expressed as a probability, so frost can still occur after the last-frost date. The period between the two dates is the frost-free season. See also: Hardiness zone, Microclimate, Deciduous.
- Full sun
- A site that receives at least about six hours of direct sunlight a day during the growing season. In hot climates, afternoon sun is more intense than the same hours in the morning. See also: Part shade, Shade, Microclimate. Learn more →
- Grade
- The elevation and slope of the ground surface, or the act of shaping it. Finished grade around buildings should slope away from the foundation so water drains away. See also: Spot elevation, Contour, Cut and fill, Swale. Learn more →
- Groundcover
- A low plant, often spreading, used to cover soil densely. Groundcovers reduce erosion and weeds and can replace lawn or mulch in areas with little foot traffic. See also: Mass planting, Mulch, Herbaceous perennial.
- Hardiness zone
- A geographic band defined by the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature. USDA zones are 10 °F (about 5.6 °C) bands, split into 5 °F a and b halves. A zone indicates winter cold only. Heat, humidity, soil and drainage also decide whether a plant succeeds. See also: Frost date, Microclimate, Ecoregion. Learn more →
- Hedge
- A row of closely spaced shrubs or trees grown as a continuous barrier. It can be sheared into a formal shape or left informal. See also: Screen, On-centre spacing, Evergreen.
- Herbaceous perennial
- A non-woody plant that lives for more than two years. Its top growth typically dies back in winter, and it regrows from roots, crowns or rhizomes. See also: Groundcover, Deciduous, Plug.
- Host plant
- A plant that insect larvae, especially caterpillars, feed on. Many butterflies and moths can develop only on a narrow group of host plants. For example, monarch caterpillars feed only on milkweeds (Asclepias). See also: Pollinator, Native plant, Bloom calendar.
- Hydrozone
- An area of a landscape where all the plants have similar water needs, so they can be watered on one schedule. It usually ranges from high-water zones near the house to very low-water zones at the edges. See also: Establishment period, Microclimate, Rain garden. Learn more →
- Invasive species
- A non-native species whose introduction causes, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Invasive plant lists are set by states and other authorities, and they vary by location and change over time. See also: Noxious weed, Native plant, Ecoregion.
- Mass planting
- A planting of many individuals of one species set at regular spacing to read as a single unit of colour or texture. Mass planting simplifies maintenance and creates bold effects. See also: Drift, Groundcover, On-centre spacing.
- Mature size
- The typical height and spread a plant reaches when fully grown under suitable conditions. Published figures are ranges, and actual size depends on site, climate, cultivar and pruning. See also: Canopy, On-centre spacing, Specimen plant. Learn more →
- Microclimate
- Local conditions that differ from the surrounding area. Examples include a warm, sheltered south wall, a frost pocket in a low spot, or a windy corner. A microclimate can make a site behave like a warmer or colder zone. See also: Hardiness zone, Full sun, Hydrozone. Learn more →
- Mulch
- A layer of material spread over soil to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature and suppress weeds. Organic mulches include shredded bark, wood chips and leaves. Inorganic mulches include gravel and stone. Organic mulch is commonly applied 5–8 cm (2–3 in) deep and kept back from stems and trunks. See also: Groundcover, Establishment period, Edging.
- Nativar
- An informal term for a cultivar of a native plant species. Some nativars are close to the wild type, while others differ in flower form, colour or leaf colour in ways that may change their value to insects. See also: Cultivar, Native plant, Pollinator.
- Native plant
- A species that occurred naturally in a particular region or ecosystem before significant human introduction. Native status is specific to a place, so a plant native to one part of the country may not be native in another. See also: Nativar, Ecoregion, Invasive species, Host plant. Learn more →
- Noxious weed
- A plant legally designated by a federal, state or local authority as harmful to agriculture, natural areas or public health. Noxious weed laws may restrict selling, moving or planting the species, or require its control. See also: Invasive species, Native plant.
- On-centre spacing
- The distance from the centre of one plant to the centre of the next, abbreviated O.C. Spacing is usually set as a fraction of mature spread, depending on how quickly plants should fill in. See also: Mature size, Mass planting, Hedge, Plant schedule. Learn more →
- Part shade
- A site that receives about three to six hours of direct sun a day, or filtered light for much of the day. "Part sun" usually means the same range, with an emphasis on the higher end. See also: Full sun, Shade, Microclimate. Learn more →
- Percolation
- The movement of water down through soil. In a percolation test, a test hole is pre-soaked, refilled, and the fall in water level per hour is measured to judge whether a site suits infiltration features such as rain gardens. See also: Rain garden, Soil texture, Swale.
- Permeable paving
- A hard surface that lets water pass through to an open-graded stone base and, where soils allow, into the ground. Examples include permeable pavers, porous concrete and gravel systems. It needs a specially designed base and periodic cleaning of its joints or pores. See also: Base course, Decomposed granite, Rain garden. Learn more →
- Plant schedule
- A table on a planting plan listing each plant by botanical and common name, with its key or symbol, quantity, install size, spacing and remarks. Nurseries and installers use it for ordering and pricing. See also: Takeoff, Container size, On-centre spacing. Learn more →
- Plug
- A young plant grown in a small individual cell, often sold in trays or flats. Plugs are economical for large plantings of perennials, grasses and groundcovers, but they need careful watering while they establish. See also: Container size, Bare-root, Mass planting.
- Pollinator
- An animal that moves pollen between flowers, enabling fertilization. Pollinators include bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps and hummingbirds. Most native bees are solitary, and many nest in the ground. See also: Host plant, Bloom calendar, Native plant. Learn more →
- Rain garden
- A shallow, planted depression that collects runoff from roofs or paving and lets it soak in, usually within about 24–48 hours. It is planted with species that tolerate brief flooding and dry spells. See also: Percolation, Swale, Hydrozone. Learn more →
- Retaining wall
- A wall that holds back soil at a change in grade. Taller walls, often those over about 1.2 m (4 ft), and walls carrying extra loads commonly require permits and engineering. Most retaining walls need drainage behind them. See also: Grade, Cut and fill, Base course. Learn more →
- Screen
- A planting or structure placed to block or soften views, wind or noise. It can be a single-species hedge, a layered mix of trees and shrubs, a fence or a combination. See also: Hedge, Evergreen, On-centre spacing. Learn more →
- Shade
- A site that receives less than about three hours of direct sun a day. Full or dense shade, such as under evergreen canopies or on the north side of buildings, may receive almost none. See also: Part shade, Full sun, Understory. Learn more →
- Soil pH
- A measure of soil acidity or alkalinity on a scale where 7 is neutral. Many garden plants grow well in slightly acidic to neutral soil (about 6.0–7.0), while plants such as blueberries and rhododendrons prefer more acidic soil. Measure it with a soil test before trying to change it. See also: Soil texture, Native plant.
- Soil texture
- The relative proportions of sand, silt and clay in a soil. Texture affects drainage, water-holding capacity and workability. Loam has a balanced mix of the three. See also: Soil pH, Percolation, Hydrozone.
- Specimen plant
- A single plant placed as a focal point for its form, flowers, bark or seasonal colour. It is usually given room to develop its full natural shape. See also: Canopy, Mature size, Mass planting.
- Spot elevation
- The elevation of a single point on a site, marked on a plan. Spot elevations record existing or proposed grades at key points, such as building corners, patio edges, high points and low points. See also: Contour, Grade, Cut and fill. Learn more →
- Swale
- A shallow, gently sloped channel, usually grassed or planted, that carries or slows surface runoff. Swales often lead water toward a rain garden, basin or drain. See also: Rain garden, Grade, Percolation.
- Takeoff
- Measuring quantities from a plan, such as areas of paving and mulch, lengths of fence and edging, and plant counts, for ordering and estimating. See also: Plant schedule, Base course. Learn more →
- Understory
- The layer of small trees and shrubs that grows beneath the canopy of taller trees. Understory plants are typically adapted to partial or filtered shade. See also: Canopy, Part shade, Shade.
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