HI Landscape flashcards
HI Landscape · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- USDA hardiness zone
- A geographic band defined by the average annual minimum winter temperature, used to judge whether a plant will survive winter cold at a site.
- Soil texture triangle
- A diagram classifying soil by percentages of sand, silt, and clay; loam sits near 40/40/20 and is the horticultural target for most plantings.
- Balled and burlapped
- Nursery stock dug with a soil ball wrapped in burlap and secured with twine or a wire basket; typical for field-grown trees and large shrubs.
- Root flare planting depth
- The trunk-to-root transition must sit at or slightly above finished grade; burying the flare causes girdling roots and slow decline.
- Distribution uniformity
- A measure of how evenly an irrigation zone applies water; scheduling to the low quarter prevents dry spots in the least-watered area.
- Precipitation rate
- The depth of water an irrigation zone applies per hour, computed as 96.25 times gallons per minute divided by the irrigated area in square feet.
- Cycle and soak
- A scheduling technique that splits run time into short cycles with pauses so water infiltrates rather than running off, essential on clay soils.
- RPZ backflow assembly
- A reduced-pressure zone device used for high-hazard irrigation connections; it prevents contaminated water from reversing into the potable supply.
- Hydrozone
- An irrigation valve group serving plants with similar water need, sun exposure, and soil; turf and shrubs must never share a zone.
- Contour interval
- The constant vertical distance between adjacent contour lines on a plan; closely spaced lines indicate steep slopes and widely spaced lines gentle slopes.
- Cut and fill balance
- A grading goal where soil excavated equals soil needed for fill on site, minimizing hauling cost and import or export of material.
- Tree protection zone
- The fenced root-protection area around a retained tree, commonly one foot of radius per inch of trunk diameter with a six-foot minimum.
- Rational method
- A peak stormwater flow estimate using Q equals C times i times A, where C is runoff coefficient, i is rainfall intensity, and A is area.
- Spot elevation
- A labeled point height on a grading plan, placed at grade breaks, structures, and inlets to communicate exact elevations the contours only approximate.
- Compacted aggregate base
- Crushed stone placed in lifts of six inches or less and compacted to a specified density, forming the structural layer under pavers and slabs.
- Bedding sand layer
- A one-inch screeded sand cushion under unit pavers that levels the surface; it is not structural and must not substitute for base aggregate.
- Control joint spacing
- Planned concrete joints spaced roughly 1.5 to 2 times the slab thickness in feet to control where shrinkage cracking occurs.
- Air-entrained concrete
- Concrete with five to seven percent entrained air bubbles that resist freeze-thaw damage; standard in cold climates for exterior flatwork.
- Segmental retaining wall
- A gravity or geogrid-reinforced wall of stacked modular blocks; geogrid layers every two courses stabilize walls above about three feet.
- ADA running slope limit
- An accessible route may not exceed a 1:20 running slope, and cross slope may not exceed 1:48; steeper ramps need handrails and landings.
- Excavation protective system
- A shoring, sloping, or shielding system required for trenches five feet deep or more; spoil and equipment stay at least two feet from the edge.
- Call 811
- The free underground utility locate notification made before digging; color codes mark electric, gas, water, communications, and sewer lines.
- NPDES construction permit
- A stormwater permit required for ground disturbance of one acre or more, mandating a pollution prevention plan and regular site inspections.
- Pesticide label as law
- The product label carries legally binding use directions; applying at off-label rates, sites, or methods violates federal and state regulations.
- Concept plan
- The first design phase, using site analysis overlays and bubble diagrams to test program fit before committing to form or materials.
- Schematic design
- A phase translating the concept into scaled plans, sections, and plant palettes, still flexible enough for client review and revision.
- Solar noon altitude
- The sun angle at midday, computed as 90 degrees minus latitude plus solar declination; used to size overhangs and shade structures.
- Outdoor room proportion
- The ratio of enclosure height to space width; roughly 1:2 to 1:3 feels comfortable, while ratios beyond 1:6 read as open field.
- Quantity takeoff
- Measuring materials from scaled drawings and applying waste factors, typically five to ten percent, to produce bid quantities.
- Critical path
- The longest sequence of dependent tasks in a schedule; it determines project duration and any delay on it delays completion.
- Retainage
- A percentage, commonly five to ten percent, withheld from progress payments until substantial completion and punch list closure.
- Contingency allowance
- A budget reserve of about five to ten percent in design-bid-build and higher in early estimates, covering unknown scope and price risk.