LANDSCAPE ARCHTECTUR GLOSSARY

Aa
Acidity The characteristic of soils that have
a pH level of less than 7, which is suited to
plants that thrive in sour soil as opposed
to alkaline or sweet soil.
Aerobic Pertaining to an organism that
needs atmospheric oxygen to thrive, used
especially in
reference to compost piles.
Effective compost bins promote an
environment in which
such organisms
thrive.
Aesthetic
(adj.)
Pertaining
to
the
appreciation of beauty or good taste; visually
pleasing. The
corresponding noun is
"aesthetics," which means the study of the
appreciation of beauty.
Alkalinity The characteristic of soils with a
pH level that is greater than 7, which is
suitable for
plants that thrive in a
"sweet" (alkaline) soil, as opposed to a
"sour" or acid soil.
Amendment An element added to the soil,
such as compost, peat moss, or fertilizer, to
improve its capacity to support plant life.
While fertilizer improves soil by adding
nutrients only, amendments such as peat
moss improve soil by making its texture or
drainage more conducive to plant health.
Peat moss adds no nutrients to soil.
Meanwhile, compost
enhances soil both
through adding nutrients and through
improving texture and drainage.

Arbor An open framework designed to offer

a shady resting place in a garden or park,
often
made of rustic work or latticework
which serves as a support on which climbers
may grow or on which creepers may be
trained.
Arboriculture The art, science, technology
and business of tree care.
Arborist A professional
arboriculture.

who

practices

Bb
Balance (landscape design terminology)
Refers to the consistency of visual
attraction, or lack thereof. Consistent visual
attraction is achieved through symmetry; if
the designers intention is to avoid the
monotony of balance, asymmetrical plans
will be implemented.
Balled and bur lapped Plants shipped to
the consumer after having been planted,
dug up and wrapped. Balled refers to the
rootball which has been dug up; burlapped
refers to the wrapping material traditionally
used for transporting tree and shrub
deliveries.
Bare root Plants shipped to the consumer
without having been planted in soil,
rendering them effectively dormant, are said
to be bare root. Rose bushes are sometimes
shipped as bare root plants, for instance.
Basket weave brick pattern when laying

Anaerobic Pertaining to organisms, such as

bacteria, hat can live in the absence of
atmospheric oxygen. The term is often used
to refer to such organisms living in a
compost bin and influencing the quality of its
decomposition; it also refers to the
conditions under which such organisms
thrive, conditions that are considered
undesirable.

bricks -- for a brick patio, for instance -- various

designs, or patterns can be used. One of these
patterns is known as "basket weave"; another
popular brick pattern is called "herringbone." For
a graphic illustration of what the
basic weave
design looks like, see the picture at the bottom of
this page. The basket
weave pattern is
essentially composed of pairs of bricks. Picture a
square area in which 8 bricks are to be laid (2
columns and 2 rows, consisting of 4 pairs of
bricks). It would run as follows, starting from the

upper left corner and ending at the lower right: 2

bricks standing vertically, 2 bricks horizontally, 2
bricks horizontally, 2 bricks vertically.

Bedding plant Plant (usually an annual)

grouped with others en masse to produce
the maximum
in visual appeal, A
landscape designer selects bedding plants
with regard to color, scale, line, form and
texture in relation to the accompanying
plants.
Biodegradable
Capable
of
being
decomposed back into the soil by biological
agents, especially bacteria; usually used to
refer to items that are to be disposed of.
Environmentally sound landscaping often
takes into account whether materials are
biodegradable. For instance, plastic might
be rejected as a material for mulching
because it is not biodegradable.
Bonsai The historically oriental art of
dwarfing trees by careful root and stem
pruning coupled with root restriction. The
term is from the Japanese for "potted plant,"
because such trees are often kept in
containers.
Broadleaf Having relatively broad rather
than needle-like or scale-like leaves.
"Broadleaf" is often applied to lawn and
garden weeds fitting that description, to
separate them from other weeds for
purposes of categorization. One also refers
to evergreen plants such as rhododendron
as "broadleaf," to distinguish them from
needle-bearing evergreens.
Burl A large rounded outgrowth on the trunk
or branch of a tree, often used decoratively
as a veneer in woodcraft.

Cc

Cement (masonry term) The binding agent

in concrete and mortar. Limestone is mined,
crushed, mixed with other ingredients, and
heated to produce cement.
Chilling requirement A requirement for fruit
and nut trees, measured in terms of the total
hours needed during a dormant or winter
period in which the temperature is below
45F and above 32F. Meeting the chilling
requirement will result in normal growth and
bloom in the
succeeding growing season.
Climber Plant that climbs on its own, using
tendrils or some other method (such as the
adventitious roots known as holdfasts) to
secure itself to objects. Climbers are often
supplied with arbors upon which to climb.
Vines are subdivided into the categories of
climbers and creepers.
Cold frame An unheated outdoor structure
composed of a wooden or concrete
framework and covered with glass or clear
plastic, used for the process of hardening off
seedlings.
Commensal Applied to pests which, while
not truly parasitic, do partake of the same
food as another. Often applied specifically to
rodent pests of the landscape, which
partake of human food. In an integrated pest
management system for the landscape,
commensal pests will be discouraged from
arriving by making sure food is kept in wellsealed containers.
Compaction Applied to soil which, deprived
of proper aeration, suffers from excessive
water runoff and poor conditions for plant
rooting. In reference to compost bins,
compaction
occurs
under
anaerobic
conditions.
Companion planting The gardening practice

Cabling The use of cables to stabilize a tree

that displays a tendency to lean in one
direction or another, rather than growing
straight. Often employed by arborists or
other tree service professionals. Also Known
As: bracing

of planting one plant in proximity to another, due

to the benefits it bestows on the other plant.
Organic gardeners, for instance, often juxtapose
plants because the one will have insect-repelling
qualities that benefit the
other, obviating the
need to use chemical pesticides. Sometimes, the
benefits are shared, making for a symbiotic
relationship.

Cambium The layer of cells lying between

the wood and bark of a stem from which
new bark and wood cells originate.

Complete fertilizer A fertilizer that contains

nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. A fertilizer
listed as "10-10-10," for instance, would be a

complete fertilizer. But a fertilizer listed as

"10-0-10" would be incomplete, the middle zero
indicating the absence of phosphorus in
the
fertilizer.

Compost A mixture of decaying organic matter,

lawn to reduce soil compaction.

Corm For certain plants, a protuberant stem
growing underground that stores food for
potential roots, leaves and flowers.

as from leaves and manure, used as an

amendment to improve soil structure and provide
nutrients. Compost is located in a compost pile
or "compost heap," which may or may not be
contained in a structure
called a compost
bin. The composting process is largely the result
of the activity of aerobic organisms.

Cotyledon leaves Leaves of the embryo of

a seed plant, which upon germination, either
remain in the seed or emerge, enlarge, and
become green. Also called false leaves or
seed leaves, in contradistinction to the
first true leaves which develop later.

Compost bin A structure built to create

compost, designed so as to facilitate the
decomposition of organic matter through
proper aeration and moisture retention. With
the proper combination of air and moisture,
ideal conditions are produced for the activity
of aerobic organisms responsible for the
high temperatures that transform the organic
materials into compost.

Cover crop A crop that is primarily planted

not to be harvested for food but to prevent
erosion, control weeds and improve soil
quality while the garden is otherwise
dormant. A cover crop is often ploughed or
tilled under before the next food crop is
planted, in which cases the "cover crop" is
used as a soil amendment and is
synonymous with "green manure crop." In its
capacity
to
control
weeds
it
is
designatedliving mulch." From the
landscape designers perspective, the
choice between various cover crops could
be
influenced by aesthetics, since the
cover crop is, after all, taking the place of
garden plants in between growing seasons.
As such, it should be selected with an eye to
its visual impact, in addition to practical
considerations. Also Known As: green
manure crop

Concrete (masonry term) A product

composed of cement, sand and gravel or
other coarse aggregate. When water is
mixed in with this product, it activates the
cement, which is the element responsible for
binding the mix together to form one solid
object. Concrete is sometimes used in the
construction of a hardscape design.
Conifer (arboricultural term) Literally, a
cone-bearer. Trees that are conifers
reproduce by forming a cone rather than a
flower as a container for their seeds.
Control joint (masonry term) Groove
inserted into a concrete surface to "control"
cracking. Essentially, the groove is an
intentional, controlled crack placed in the
concrete to preclude the concrete's cracking
on its own, in an uncontrolled manner. By
placing a groove in concrete before it cures,
any stress the concrete will be subjected to
subsequently will not produce haphazard
cracks that will be a landscaping eyesore.
With a trowel or jointer, the mason can cut
an even control joint that will be aesthetically
pleasing. Control joints can also be cut into
existing concrete surfaces using a saw with
a masonry blade attached.
Core aeration The process of mechanically
removing plugs of soil and thatch from a

Creeper A vine plant that needs to be

artificially guided and secured to a support
(trained), if it is to grow upright. Also
Known As: trailing plant

Dd
Deciduous (arboricultural term) Shedding
foliage at the end of the growing season;
used especially in reference to trees.
Dethatching The mechanical removal from
a lawn of the layer of dead turfgrass tissue
known as "thatch."
Dioecious Said of a plant species for which
the male and female reproductive organs
are carried on separate individual plants of
the same species. When a plant species is
dioecious, at least one male plant must be
present in a group for the fruit-bearing
female
plants
to
be
pollinated.
Pronunciation: diEshus (adjective) Also
Known As: diecious
Dormancy (applied to plants) The
temporary diminution or cessation of a
plants growth, usually during winter in the
temperate zone. (applied to the land itself)
The state of the land
during periods in
which no primary crop is being grown. Note,
however, that a secondary, or "cover" crop
may be grown on the land during periods of
dormancy.
Dry wall In reference to stone walls, a dry
wall is a wall of stones that is not held
together by mortar.

Ee
Edging A line of demarcation that creates
visual interest in a landscape by separating
one segment from another. Also Known As:
border
Edging plant A compact plant used to form
an edging on a landscape. Also Known As:
border plant
Evergreen Having foliage that persists and
remains green throughout the year. Note
that not all conifer trees are evergreen,
despite the popular association between the
two terms. The tamarack or larch, for
instance, is a conifer, but it is not an
evergreen.

Ff
Finial A small, ornamental, terminal feature
at the top of a gable, lamp, lamppost, stone
wall etc.
Float (masonry term) A tool with a handle
fastened to a flat piece, used to finish a
concrete surface. Using an arc-shaped,
sweeping motion, one smooths over bumps
in the concrete surface with a float.
Focalization(landscape design terminology)
The forcing of the viewers persective to a
central or focal point. The use of symmetry
or balance creates a more intense
focalization, while asymmetrical designs
soften or even avoid focalization.
Forcing The process of causing a plant to
grow or flower before its natural season.
Also Known As: vernalization
Form (landscape design terminology) The
shape of a plant, e.g., upright, oval,
columnar, spreading, broad spreading, or
weeping.
Friable Pertaining to soil that has the
crumbly texture ideal for the root growth of
plants.
Fumigate To use a toxic gas to control
burrowing rodent pests.

Gg
Gazebo A small roofed outbuilding erected for
outdoor dining and entertaining, often octagonal,
with open, screened, or latticework (q.v.) sides

Girdling (arboricultural term) The choking of a

tree branch either accidentally through a material
applied by a human, such as a wrap used in
grafting, or through a vine that has vigorously
enwrapped a tree, such as bittersweet.

Grafting (arboricultural term) Uniting a

shoot or bud (the scion) with a plant (the
rootstock) that is already established by
insertion or by placing in close contact. One
danger of grafting is girdling.
Green manure crop A crop that is planted

when a garden is otherwise in a state of

dormancy and that is not grown for its own
sake but rather to be ploughed or tilled
under before the regular growing season.
Like compost, green manure crops serve as
a soil amendment.
Ground cover A low-lying plant, usually
requiring minimal maintenance and suitable
for covering large expanses of ground on
the landscape.

Hh
Hardening off The process, undertaken in
spring in the temperate zone, of preparing a
plant started indoors for the change in
environmental conditions it will encounter
when permanently moved outdoors. The
plant is hardened off during a transitional
period in which it is left outside during
daylight hours only and in an area where it
can be shaded and protected from wind. A
cold frame is ideal for this process. Watering
is reduced as well. Gradually, the plant is
allowed exposure to an increasing amount
of sunlight.
Hardscape The inanimate elements of
landscaping, especially any masonry work.
For instance, stone walls, brick patios and
tile paths would all be considered part of the
hardscape. But by extension, anything used
in landscaping that is not part of the
softscape can be considered a hardscape
element, including home accents such as
water fountains and, yes, even pink
flamingos!
Heading back Pruning off the terminal or
head growth of a plant, especially a tree.
Heading back is a general term, whose
subcategories
include
"topping"
and
"pollarding." Topping
is performed on
large old trees as an inexpensive alternative
to their full removal. Pollarding, in contrast,
is performed for aesthetic reasons.
Pollarding begins when a tree is young, and
continues throughout the life of the tree.
Also Known As: pollarding, topping (note
that "topping" (q.v.) has acquired a rather
negative connotation)
Herbaceous Pertaining to plants with a nonwoody stem whose above-ground growth

dies back in winter in the temperate zone.

However, do not confuse "herbaceous" with
"annual": an annual plant dies altogether at
the end of the growing season, both above
the ground and below.
Horticulture The science or art of cultivating
fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental
plants.
Humus Organic matter partly or wholly
decomposed. When its total decomposition
is hastened
by human intervention in
order to use it as a soil amendment, it is
virtually synonymous
with compost.
Hybrid plant A plant produced by
impregnating the pistil of one species with
the pollen of
another. Also Known As:
hybridized plant

Ii
Indigenous plant A plant native to the
locale in question. Indigenous plants are
sometimes
allowed to co-exist with lawn
grass, ground covers, or garden plants,
especially if they are
not invasive.
Indeed, some landscaping themes favours
indigenous plants, as in wildflower gardens.
Integrated pest management
The management of pest problems that involves
use of the full spectrum of control measures in a
coordinated, integrated and foresighted manner.
A cornerstone of IPM is that taking preventive
steps to preclude a pest problem is preferable to
waiting for pests to arrive and then having to
eradicate them.

Invasive plant Unwanted plants that exhibit a

tendency to spread out of control, once
introduced,
often
thereby
producing
a
monoculture that discourages the growth of other
plant varieties. Landscapers need to control or
eradicate such plants that invade the lawn or
garden.

Invertebrate An animal without a backbone,

e.g., an insect; animal pests are usually
categorized as invertebrate pests or
vertebrate pests.

Jj

Jointed Possessing a stem with nodes.

Jointer (masonry term) Tool used to make
control joints on a newly poured concrete
surface.

Kk
Knot garden A symmetrically-designed
garden, using geometric patterns, in which
control is exercised by the precise use of
edging plants. Shrubbery often plays a
dominant role in knot gardens, since it can
be pruned to conform to precise
measurements. Knot gardens
gained
popularity with the nobility during the
European Renaissance and are especially
associated with the grand English estates.

Ll
Landscape architecture The profession that
practices the art of arranging or modifying the
features of a landscape, an urban area, etc., for
aesthetic or practical purposes. That is, the
"landscape architect" practices "landscape
design," although non-professionals often use the
terms interchangeably. Also Known As:
landscape design (The American Society of
Landscape Architects, however, asserts that the
terminology "landscape architect" denotes a
higher level of skill, usually reinforced by a
degree, than does "landscape designer." The
University of Greenwich School of Architecture
and Landscaping also draws a distinction: "The
relationship between Landscape Design and
Landscape Architecture is equivalent to the
relationship between the laws and lawyers.")

Landscape design The art of arranging or

modifying the features of a landscape, an
urban area, etc., for aesthetic or practical
purposes. Often divided into hardscape
design and softscape design.
Landscape gardening The decoration of
land, as by planting trees and shrubs and
designing gardens. Used especially to refer
to residential landscaping work.
Latticework An open framework made of
strips of metal, wood, or similar material
overlapped or overlaid in a regular, usually
crisscross pattern. Also Known As: lattice,
fretwork

Leader (botany) The primary stem of a

plant, usually the top stem. Used primarily to
refer to trees. Also Known As: apex
Limbing (arboricultural term) Removing
unwanted limbs from a tree. Large scaffold
(q.v.) branches hanging dangerously over a
house, for instance, often need to be
removed. This work is best performed by an
arborist or other tree service professional.
But the term "limbing" is properly applied to
the removal of any limbs from any tree,
regardless of size.
Lime The rock powder used to raise the pH
of soils high in acidity, thereby making them
more alkaline.
Line (landscape design terminology) Refers
to the fact that the viewers eye movement
or flow
can be governed by the
arrangement of plants and their borders.
Eye movement is unconsciously influenced
by the way plant groupings fit or flow
together, both on the horizontal and vertical
planes.
Living mulch A cover crop plant that is
planted around and between the primary
plants in a garden to control weeds, prevent
erosion, facilitate water penetration and
improve the soil. Such plants are sometimes
used in companion planting.
Loam A soil possessing an ideal mixture of
clay, sand and humus for growing plants.

Mm
Masonry Construction achieved through the
use of units of various natural or artificial
mineral products, such as stone, brick, or
concrete. The term can be applied to the
craft itself or to the finished product.
Microclimate The climate of a small, specific
place within an area as contrasted with the
climate of the entire area. The climate of the
entire area is indicated by where a region lies in
the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone (simply "zone"
forshort).
Beginning gardeners and landscapers should try
to follow USDA Plant Hardiness Zone guidelines.
But growing plants not suited to your region's
climate is sometimes possible, if one knows how
to exploit a microclimate.
For instance, a sunny nook in your yard that is
sheltered from harsh winds and frosts is an
excellent area for experimenting with plants
otherwise considered too tender for your region.
Let's say you're in zone 5, and the plant you'd like
to grow is supposedly hardy only to zone 6. Try
growing it in the microclimate of your sunny,
sheltered nook. Success isn't guaranteed, but
you will have increased the likelihood of the
plant's survival considerably.

Monoculture The use of land for growing

only one type of plant. The practice of
monoculture on a landscape thus has an
effect that is the opposite of biodiversity, and
can sometimes be responsible for the
spread of plant diseases. However, the
planting of bedding plants en masse is a
widely
encountered
example
of
a
monocultural use of land.
Mortar (masonry term) A product composed of
cement and sand. When water is mixed in with
this product, the binding element, cement, is
activated. Distinguish from "concrete," which acts
in a similar way but which contain coarse
aggregate which is bound together by the
cement. Concrete can stand alone, while mortar
is used to hold brick or stone together, for
example, to construct a hardscape design
feature.

the growth of weeds. If placed around plants,

mulch provides additional benefits, including the
diminution of erosion and water loss, and the
regulation of soil temperature. In addition, upon
decomposition (for organic mulches), mulches
serve as soil amendments.

Nn
Naturalized plant A plant established as a
part of the flora of a locale other than its
place of origin. When a plant naturalizes in
an area, this can be either a "good" or a
"bad" thing, depending on your opinion of
the plant.
For instance, when we buy an exotic bulb
plant that has a pretty flower and plant this
in our gardens, we're delighted if the plant
naturalizes. Sometimes, however, exotic
plants that become naturalized later come
to be looked upon as nuisances. Tenacious
enough to spread without humankind's help
-- and perhaps even in spite of our attempts
to eradicate them -- such naturalized plants
tend to acquire a pejorative designation:
namely, "invasive." An example of such a
plant in North America and the U.K. is
Japanese knotweed, an Asian import.
Neutral Pertaining to a soil having a pH
value of 7, i.e., neither acidic nor alkaline.
Nitrogen-fixer Any cover crop (of the
legume family) whose roots are colonized by
certain bacteria that extract nitrogen from
the air and convert or fix it into a form
required for their growth. When the bacteria
are done with this nitrogen, it becomes
available to the cover crop itself. When the
cover crop is tilled under, the nitrogen
becomes available to your plants.
Node The place on a plants stem from
which leaves or branches grow. Likewise, on
the branches themselves, the place from
which leaves, buds or other branches grow.
NPK Acronym for nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium, the three nutrients that compose
a complete fertilizer.

Mortared wall A stone wall in which the

stone are held together by mortar.

Oo

Mulch A covering placed around plants or

Open-pollinated Pertaining to a plant that is

covering the ground in lieu of plants, to prevent

pollinated without human agency. Also Known

As: non-hybrid plant

pH A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a soil,

numerically equal to 7 for neutral soils, increasing
with increasing alkalinity and decreasing with
increasing acidity. The pH scale commonly in use
ranges from 0 to 14.

Pergola An arbor treated architecturally, as with

stone columns.

Pistillate

(plant reproduction terminology)

literally, bearing pistils. Pistillate plant parts are
"female": i.e., they bear ovules and produce
seeds.

Plant taxonomy In general, a system of

classification for plants. Specifically, we use the
plant taxonomy developed by Swedish naturalist
Carolus (Carl) Linnaeus (1707-1778). Improving
on the unwieldy systems of his predecessors,
Linnaeus simplified plant taxonomy through the
"binomial" system (literally, "two names").
Linnaeus' system uses one Latin name to
indicate the genus, and another Latin name to
indicate the specific epithet. Together, the genus
and the specific epithet comprise the "species."
Thus, for example, our plant taxonomy classifies
the plant, bittersweet nightshade as Solanum
dulcamara, where the first Latin name is for the
genus (nightshade), and the second name is for
the specific epithet (bittersweet).
Notes:

Pp
Pollarding (arboricultural term) To cut a tree
back nearly to the trunk, so as to produce a
dense mass of branches for aesthetic
purposes. Pollarding begins on young trees,
and the process is repeated throughout the
life of the tree.
Procumbent Trailing along the ground;
used to refer to plants that cannot grow
upright unless aided by humans through
training. Also Known As: trailing
Proportion (landscape design terminology)
the sense or requirement that the size of the
individual components or groups of
components in a landscape fit into the whole
landscape harmoniously. One way to
achieve proportion is through proper use of
transition, applied to the size of the
respective components. A landscape that
fails to convey good proportion is one that
is marred by abrupt transitions.

Rr
Rhizome A horizontal stem, usually growing
under the ground, that often sends out roots
and shoots from its nodes. Also Known As:
rootstock, rootstalk

1.

The species is a subset of the genus.

2.

The genus name begins with a capital letter; the

specific epithet begins with a lower-case letter.

3.

When we translate from Latin to English, we

reverse the order of the names, putting the specific
epithet name before the genus name.

Rhythm (landscape design terminology)

The quality of a landscape design in which
the illusion of motion has been created
through the arrangement of landscaping
elements. For
instance, the viewer's
perspective can be led beyond the
foreground to a more distant part of the
landscape.

4.

We can elaborate further on the species in some

cases, which is why sometimes you'll see a third
name. In such cases, we're simply getting more
specific, accounting for variation within a species.
Most commonly, this third name is a cultivar, and it
will appear in quotation marks.

Rootstock Root or part of a root used for

plant propagation. In reference to the
process of grafting, the rootstock is that part
of a grafted plant that supplies the roots.
Also Known As: rootstalk

5.

When you see a genus name, followed by the

letter "x," followed by a specific epithet, this is an
indication that the plant is a cross between two
different plant species -- a "hybrid."

Ss
Scaffold branch (arboricultural term) One
of the primary limbs radiating from the trunk
of a tree, from which all subordinate
branches stem.
Scion (arboricultural term) The detached
shoot containing buds from a woody plant,
used in grafting. The scion is grafted onto
the rootstock.
Screed (masonry term) A straight board used to
even off the surface of sand or freshly poured
concrete. The board is usually slid across the
tops of the form boards holding the sand or
concrete. In this process, sand or concrete
remaining above the level of the forms is moved
to areas in which the sand or concrete level is too
low, or else simply removed as excess.

Sheet

composting The technique of

spreading organic materials over a garden before
they have thoroughly decomposed, then tilling
them
under
to
achieve
subsequent
decomposition. Those who havent the time to
manage a compost bin, in which organic
materials can be decomposed thoroughly,
sometimes employ this technique.
Shrub (arboricultural term) Low woody
plant, usually with multiple shoots or stems
from a base (height of 15 feet or less). A
planting of shrubs is called shrubbery. Also
Known As: bush (especially a shrub with
branches rising from or near the root; but
"bush" can also refer to a cluster of shrubs,
as in a "thicket")
Softscape The animate, horticultural
elements of landscaping, i.e., plants.
Softscape elements are complemented by
hardscape elements, such as stone walls,
tile patios and brick walkways.
Staminate (plant reproduction terminology)
Literally, bearing stamens. Staminate plant
parts, or stamens are "male": i.e., they
produce pollen.
Stolon A shoot that bends to the ground or that
grows horizontally above the ground and
produces roots and shoots at the nodes; often
used in describing the botany of lawn grasses.
Rhizomes, by contrast, dwell underground.

Systemic poison An insecticide mixed in a

plants soil and drawn up by its roots to its stem
and leaves, where it will be ingested by the pest
that it is designed to kill. Although the landscaper
adhering to an integrated pest management
philosophy would prefer to repel insects
altogether, the use of a systemic poison is at
least preferable to spraying. By the time spraying
is carried out, significant plant damage may
already have occurred.

Tt
Tendril A twisting, threadlike structure by
which a true climber, such as a grape or
cucumber, grasps an object for support.
Texture (landscape design terminology) The
perceived surface quality of an object. The
texture of a plant's foliage or bloom can be
perceived as coarse, medium or fine.
Thatch The layer of dead turfgrass tissue
between the green vegetation and the soil
surface that must be removed, or
dethatched, to maintain lawn health. Thatch
is derived from stems, leaves, stolons,
rhizomes and roots.
Topiary (arboricultural term) Of or
characterized by the pruning of live shrubs
or trees into decorative shapes, as of
animals.
Topping (arboricultural term) To cut a tree back
nearly to the trunk. Topping is sometimes used
as a less expensive alternative to the full removal
of large old trees. It therefore has taken on a
utilitarian connotation. In contrast, "pollarding"
begins on young trees and is performed for
aesthetic, not utilitarian reasons. Pollarding is an
ongoing, artistic process; topping is a one-time,
desperate action.

Transition (landscape design terminology)

Gradual
change
achieved
by
the
manipulation of the basic design elements of
color, scale, line, form and texture.
Tree (arboriculture term) Woody plant with
one main trunk and a rather distinct and
elevated head. If not altered through human
intervention, a true tree, such as the elm
tree, will generally reach a height of 15 feet
or more.

Uu
Unity (landscape design terminology) The
effective use of elements in a design to convey a
theme. Unity is achieved by implementing a
design consistently over a landscape, through
mass planting or repetition. Whereas balance
(q.v.) is a term of comparison
between two
segments of a landscape, unity pertains to the
overall picture of a landscape. Unity has been
achieved when the viewer senses that all the
individual elements of a landscape fit together to
form a coherent theme. Also Known As:
harmony

Vv
Variegated Applied to a leaf which is twotoned, i.e., blotched or bordered with a
lighter color than that on the rest of the
plant.
Vernalization Providing plants prematurely
and artificially with the warmer temperatures
they
require to grow, forcing (q.v.) them
to bloom earlier in the season than would
normally happen. Also Known As: forcing
Vertebrate An animal with a backbone, i.e.,
a mammal, bird, fish, reptile, or amphibian.
Animal pests are usually categorized as
either invertebrate pests or vertebrate pests.
Vine A plant that is either a climber (q.v.) or
a creeper (q.v.).

Ww
Woody Characterized by hard plant stems
and having buds that survive above ground
in winter.

Xx
Xeriscaping
Landscaping
designed
specifically for areas that are susceptible to
drought. Derived from the Greek "xeros,"
meaning dry, it is literally dry landscaping.
Pronunciation: ZERisCAPEing

Zz
Zone The full wording for "zone" would be

"USDA Plant Hardiness Zone." The United

States and southern Canada comprise 11 of
these zones: that is, regions based on a 10
degree Fahrenheit difference in the average
annual minimum temperature. To put it in
layman's terms, the higher the number, the
warmer the climate for gardening in that
region. For instance, parts of northern
Minnesota are considered to be in zones 2
and 3; but central and southern Florida lie in
zones 9-11. The bulk of the U.S.A. lies in
zones 4-8. It is standard practice for seed
dealers and nurseries to label their products
according to their zones -- that is, in what
zones you'll be successful at growing those
particular
plants.
Landscaping enthusiasts plan their
gardens carefully, and part of that planning
involves consulting USDA Plant Hardiness
Zone maps. Growing plants not suited to
your region's climate is sometimes possible,
but not recommended for beginners. Those
experienced in gardening and landscaping,
however, often make use of what are known
as microclimates.