A-Z of Landscaping Terms Made Simple
In this A-Z we make things simple. Whether you’re reading gardening blog posts, books about landscaping, or anything related to garden establishment and improvements, these are some of the terms you will come across. Chances are you’ll know some but not all of them. If you’d like us to add anything to the list, feel free to leave a comment.
Our A-Z Below
A:
adobe
a type of American brick made with earth and straw
annuals
plants that complete their life cycle in a maximum of a year; generally planted in spring and often removed in autumn or when they die in winter
aquatics
plants that grow in, or are partially submerged in water, for example in wetlands
arbor
a usually small-scale framework in the garden that is usually covered with plants to provide shelter
B:
bentonite
a type of natural clay that is used to seal natural-looking ponds and pools (see also clay puddling)
biennial
a plant that completes its life-cycle in two growing seasons, forming a green, leafy plant in the first season, then flowering and seeding before it dies in the second season
bog
marshland where bog plants grow
butyl rubber
an expensive flexible rubber liner that may be used for lining fish ponds; said to be the Rolls Royce of pond liners
C:
CAD
computer-aided design
canes
raspberries, strawberries, and other plants with a similar stem
carpet bedding
a popular Victorian style of planting where small plants are tightly packed to form mosaic or carpet-like patterns
cascade
waterfall that runs down a stepped slope, or a series of small waterfalls
clay puddling
a traditional technique that is used to seal the sides and base of some large, natural-looking ponds
conifer
any cone-bearing tree including pine trees, fir trees, yews and juniper trees; usually evergreen with needles or thin strap-shaped leaves
conservationist
a person who works to protect animals, plants and even old buildings
conservatory
a greenhouse-type structure that is usually attached to the house and filled with plants
cultivar
variety of plant produced by cultivation
D:
deciduous
plant that sheds its leaves, usually during the autumn season
draughting [drafting]
what a draughtsman, who draws up parts of buildings and garden plans, does
E:
ecology
the way in which plants, animals and people are related to each other and to their environment
ecosystem
a system made up of all the plants and animals in a particular area, that relate to each other and to the environment in a particular way
environment
the air, water and land on earth that may be harmed by man’s activities
environmentalist
a person who is concerned about protecting the environment
evergreen
plant that doesn’t lose all its leaves in winter
exotic
plant introduced from another country
F:
façade
the front of a building
fern
non-flowering plant that reproduces with spores found on the underside of leaf-like fronds
G:
garden bed
an area of ground in the centre of a garden that is used for planting; borders are garden beds found around the edges of gardens
gazebo
a small building with open-sides, often located at the end of a raised terrace so that it has a nice view
genus
a technical term that refers to groups into which scientists divide animals and plants; includes fewer members than a family and more members than a species
greenhouse
a glass building that is used for growing plants that need warmth, light and protection
H:
indigenous
things, including plants, that come from a specific place rather than being brought there from somewhere else
I:
island beds
a style of planting where irregular, curving garden beds are created in a lawn
K:
the part of a garden used for growing vegetables, herbs and edible flowers
L:
landscaping
planning the way an area of land looks and arranging and planting gardens and parks so that they are attractive
M:
marsh
land that is permanently waterlogged and boggy
micro-climate
climate of a small area, often within a garden
moss
a non-flowering single cell plant that retains water
O:
organic food
food that is grown without using artificial chemicals
P:
parterre
an ornamental flower bed that is created low on the ground and is intended to be viewed from above
patio
any open-air living area, usually with a hard surface for its floor
perennial
a plant that lives and flowers for more than two years
pergola
structure of pillars and cross beams that is often built over patios and carports and usually planted with climbing plants
propagation
reproduction of plants
pruning
cutting back the branches of trees or bushes to make them grow better
R:
rural
happening in or relating to the countryside rather than the city
S:
shrub
a plant with a woody stem
spa
a small heated pool that sends currents of hot water around you
species
a group of animals or plants whose members are similar and can breed together to produce young animals or plants
suburban
relating to a suburb which is an area where people live that is away from the centre of the town or city
succulent
a plant with fleshy leaves and a stem with juice or sap
T:
terracotta
baked earth of a brownish-red colour that is used to make flower pots, tiles and other items that we use in the garden
topiary
a method of cutting small trees and bushes into ornamental shapes
U:
urban
relating to towns and cities
W:
wetland
an area of land that is partly covered with water, or is wet most of the time; wetlands may be planted with bog-type plants that thrive in wet conditions
Z:
zen garden
A simple, Japanese-style garden with rocks and sand that motivates meditation, like the one below and the feature picture.
