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 boththrough adding nutrients and through improving texture and
drainage.
Anaerobic Pertaining to
organisms, such as bacteria, that 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.
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 who
practices arboriculture.
Balance (landscape design
terminology) Refers to the consistency of visual attraction, or lack thereof.
Consistent visual attraction is achieved through symmetry; if the designer’s 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
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.
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
Cambium The layer of cells
lying between the wood and bark of a stem from which new bark and wood cells
originate.
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 45ºF
and above 32ºF. 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 well-sealed 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 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.
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, 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.
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.
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 lawn to reduce soil compaction.
Corm For
certain plants, a protuberant stem growing underground that stores food for
potential roots, leaves and flowers.
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.
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 designated”living mulch." From the landscape designer’s 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
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
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:
di·E·shus • (adjective) Also Known As: diecious
Dormancy (applied to plants) The
temporary diminution or cessation of a plant’s 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.
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.
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 viewer’s perspective 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.
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.
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 flamingo’s!
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 non-woody 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
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.
Jointed Possessing
a stem with nodes.
Jointer (masonry term) Tool used to make control
joints on a newly poured concrete surface.
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.
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 viewer’s 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.
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.
Mortared wall A stone wall in which
the stones are held together by mortar.
Mulch A covering placed
around plants or covering the ground in lieu of plants, to prevent 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.
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
plant’s 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.”
Open-pollinated Pertaining to a plant
that is 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).
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.
Rhizome A horizontal stem,
usually growing under the ground, that often sends out roots and shoots from
its nodes. Also Known As: rootstock, rootstalk
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.
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
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 haven’t 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 plant’s 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.
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.
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
Variegated Applied to a leaf
which is two-toned, 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.).
Woody – Characterized by
hard plant stems and having buds that survive above ground in winter.
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
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.
