Landscaping terms, defined
Plain definitions of the landscaping words that come up on estimates, inspections and supplier calls, written for landscapers. Each term says where it matters on the job and links the Koira calculator, cost guide or template that goes with it.
C
LandscapingCompactionCompaction is pressing soil or gravel down with a plate compactor or roller so it is dense and will not settle under a slab, patio or wall.Shared with ConcreteCubic yardA cubic yard is the volume unit concrete, mulch, soil and gravel are ordered in, and the unit junk haulers often price by.
F
LandscapingFill dirtFill dirt is subsoil with little organic matter used to raise grade or fill holes, because it compacts and does not rot away.Shared with WaterproofingFrench drainA French drain is a trench filled with gravel around a perforated pipe that collects groundwater or surface water and carries it away.
L
LandscapingLandscape edgingLandscape edging is the border of steel, aluminum, plastic, stone or a cut trench that separates lawn from beds or paths.LandscapingLandscape fabricLandscape fabric is a woven or nonwoven sheet laid under mulch, rock or pavers to block weeds and keep layers from mixing.LandscapingLot gradingLot grading is shaping the ground so rain and snowmelt flow away from the house to a safe place, rather than toward the foundation.
P
Shared with Masonry and HardscapePaver patioA paver patio is made of individual concrete, clay or stone units laid on a compacted base and sand bed, with joints filled with sand.Shared with Masonry and HardscapePermeable paversPermeable pavers have wide joints filled with open graded stone over a deep stone base, so rainwater soaks through instead of running off.
S
Shared with Masonry and HardscapeSegmental retaining wallA segmental retaining wall is built from interlocking concrete blocks stacked without mortar, held in place by their weight, setback and often geogrid.LandscapingSilt fenceA silt fence is a fabric fence staked along the low side of a work area to hold back soil carried by runoff.Shared with General ContractorSite planA site plan is a drawing of the whole lot from above, showing property lines, the house, driveways, setbacks, easements and utilities.LandscapingSoftscapeSoftscape is the living part of a landscape: lawn, trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcover and the soil and mulch around them.LandscapingSwaleA swale is a shallow, wide channel shaped into the ground, usually grassed or lined with stone, that carries surface water across a yard to a safe outlet.
More for landscapers: free landscaping tools, templates and guides and how the trade runs on Koira. Or browse the whole glossary.