Glossary

Landscaping terms, defined

A plain-language reference to the words behind backyard, garden, and patio design — what they mean and why they matter for your project.

A

  • Artificial turf

    Artificial turf is synthetic grass installed over a prepared base as a no-mow, no-water lawn substitute.

    2 min read
C

  • Cottage garden

    A cottage garden is an informal, densely planted style that mixes flowers, herbs, and edibles in a relaxed, layered look.

    3 min read

  • Curb appeal

    Curb appeal is how attractive a property looks from the street, driven mostly by the front yard and entry.

    2 min read
D

  • Drip irrigation

    Drip irrigation is a watering method that delivers water slowly and directly to plant roots through a network of tubing and small emitters, releasing it drop by drop at low pressure instead of spraying it over the whole surface of a yard.

    2 min read

  • Drought-tolerant plants

    Drought-tolerant plants are species that survive and stay healthy on minimal water once their roots are established, drawing on deep roots, water-storing tissue, or low-evaporation foliage to endure dry spells with little or no supplemental irrigation.

    2 min read
F

  • Focal point

    A focal point is the element a landscape is designed to draw the eye to first — a tree, a water feature, a sculpture, or a framed view.

    2 min read

  • Foundation planting

    Foundation planting is the bed of shrubs and plants along the base of a house that ties the building to the yard.

    3 min read

  • French drain

    A French drain is a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that collects water and carries it away from a problem area.

    3 min read
H

  • Hardscaping

    Hardscaping is the set of non-living, built elements in a landscape, including patios, walls, walkways, decks, steps, and edging, that give an outdoor space its permanent structure and surfaces.

    2 min read
L

  • Landscape design

    Landscape design is the planning of an outdoor space — its layout, planting, and built features — before anything goes in the ground.

    3 min read

  • Landscape edging

    Landscape edging is the defined border between two areas — usually lawn and a planting bed — that keeps each in its place.

    2 min read

  • Landscape lighting

    Landscape lighting is low-voltage outdoor lighting used to make a yard usable and attractive after dark.

    2 min read

  • Lawn aeration

    Lawn aeration is the practice of perforating turf with many small holes so air, water, and nutrients can reach the grass roots, relieving soil compaction and helping a lawn grow thicker and healthier.

    2 min read

  • Lawn alternative

    A lawn alternative is any planting that replaces traditional turf grass — clover, a native meadow, ground cover, or moss.

    2 min read
M

  • Mediterranean garden

    A Mediterranean garden is a style built around drought-tolerant plants, gravel, and warm hardscape suited to hot, dry summers.

    3 min read

  • Modern landscaping

    Modern landscaping is a clean-lined style built on simple geometry, a restrained plant palette, and strong hardscape.

    2 min read
N

  • Native plants

    Native plants is plant species that evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, adapted to its local soil, climate, rainfall, and wildlife rather than being introduced from elsewhere.

    2 min read
P

  • Paver patio

    A paver patio is an outdoor floor built from individual units — concrete, brick, or stone — set over a compacted base.

    3 min read

  • Pergola

    A pergola is an open overhead structure of posts and crossbeams that defines an outdoor room and filters sunlight.

    2 min read

  • Pollinator garden

    A pollinator garden is a planting chosen and arranged to feed bees, butterflies, and other pollinators across the seasons.

    2 min read
R

  • Rain garden

    A rain garden is a shallow planted basin that catches runoff from roofs and paving and lets it soak into the ground.

    3 min read
S

  • Softscape

    Softscape is the living part of a landscape — lawn, trees, shrubs, flowers, and ground cover.

    2 min read
T

  • Topsoil

    Topsoil is the dark, nutrient-rich upper layer of soil, usually the top few inches, where most plant roots, microbes, and organic matter sit and where almost all garden and lawn growth happens.

    2 min read

  • Tropical landscaping

    Tropical landscaping is a lush, layered style built on big-leaf foliage, bold color, and dense planting.

    2 min read
W

  • Water feature

    A water feature is any built water element in a landscape — a fountain, a pond, a bubbling rock, or a small stream.

    2 min read
X

  • Xeriscaping

    Xeriscaping is a landscaping approach that designs a yard to thrive on little or no supplemental irrigation by combining drought-tolerant plants, water-retaining soil, mulch, and efficient watering methods.

    2 min read
Z

  • Zen garden

    A Zen garden is a minimalist Japanese-influenced style using raked gravel, stone, and sparse planting to create calm.

    2 min read

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