Landscaping Glossary of Terms

Annuals: plants that cannot live for more than one year and must be replaced annually Biennials: flower or plant that lives for two years Perennials: plants that can live for more than two years and routinely come back throughout seasons Deciduous: plants that lose leaves annually Evergreen: plants that retain green leaves year round Ornamental Grass: grasses that are grown as ornamental plants often in sustainable landscaping Turf Grass: also known as sod and is usually used to establish new lawns. Turf grass is where the grass plant is already rooted in soil. Barrier Plants: plants that provide a a boundary, barricade or delineation in landscape design. Native Plants: plants native to a specific region or area. Exotic/Non-Native Plants: plants that are non- native to a specific region or area but can still survive in that area. Invasive Plants: invasive plants are a non-native species and are harmful to the native environment because they compete for resources. Invasive plants usually spread out of control and overtake an environment while also killing native species. Hardscape: the non-plant features used in landscape architecture that are typically constructed and installed like paths or walkways Softscape: the live horticultural elements of a landscape such as flowers, shrubs, flower beds and tress. Ground Cover: low-growing plants placed in areas where traditional grass won’t grow or used as filler in plant beds. Drought Tolerant plants that can survive with no water for long periods of time Xeriscaping: method of landscaping that requires little to no irrigation. Native plants are often used in xeriscaping. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): some type of clothing or item worn by a professional to protect them against injury from any occupational hazard. This might include gloves, eye goggles, heavy-duty shoes, and more. Drip/Trickle Irrigation: irrigation system where water drips/trickles onto plants as opposed to direct watering. This method can reduce water usage. Recycled wastewater/ gray water: water waste from indoor activities of a house or building such as water from the kitchen sink, baths, restroom sinks, etc. This water can be collected and used for other purposes such as watering other plants on the property. Overseeding: distributing seeds over turf grass to foster new grass growth Mulch: used in gardening and landscaping to lock in heat and moisture for plant growth RFP: acronym for request for proposal. RFPs are used by property managers and owners to define the scope of work, evaluation standards, pricing, and more. An RFP usually includes an SOW, job requirements and specifications, a pricing matrix, scheduling information, bid form requirements, and more. SOW: acronym for scope of work. Refers to the end result expectations of a project and is vital for curating an RFP. RFI: acronym for request for information. An RFI is either an invitation used to “pre-qualify” potential contractors or a request from a contractor for more specifications on a specific project.