MS Landscape key terms

An early design drawing showing overall layout, circulation, and use areas without construction detail, used to test ideas and gain client agreement before design development.

The phase where bubble diagrams and rough layouts become scaled drawings resolving spaces, paths, and major features, still without specifying materials or construction methods.

The phase that fixes materials, dimensions, planting concepts, and key details, refining the approved schematic into a coordinated design ready for documentation.

Scaled drawings, specifications, and schedules that instruct the contractor how to build the work and form the contractual basis for bidding and construction.

A drawing using spot elevations and contour lines to show proposed ground surfaces, drainage direction, and how finished grade meets structures and site features.

A line on a plan connecting points of equal elevation; spacing indicates slope steepness, with close lines showing steep ground and wide spacing showing flat ground.

A surveyed or proposed elevation marked at a specific point, such as a corner or threshold, used to set precise grades that contours alone cannot convey.

The balance of soil removed from high areas and placed in low areas to achieve proposed grades; on-site balancing reduces hauling cost and import or export of material.

Built, non-living site elements such as paving, walls, steps, decks, and edging, distinguished from planting and other soft landscape components.

Living and planted site elements, including trees, shrubs, groundcover, and turf, along with the soil and mulch that support them.

A scaled drawing locating each plant by symbol, usually keyed to a plant schedule that lists species, size, spacing, and quantities for installation.

A table accompanying planting drawings that lists plant symbols, botanical names, sizes, root condition, quantities, and remarks needed for pricing and installation.

Live plants grown for sale, graded by size, form, and root type such as bare root, container, or balled and burlapped, which affects handling and establishment.

A method of harvesting field-grown plants by digging a soil ball around the roots and wrapping it in burlap and twine for transport and transplanting.

The widened area where trunk tissue transitions into roots; it must sit at or slightly above finished grade so the plant is not planted too deep.

A geographic rating based on average annual minimum temperature that guides which perennial plants are likely to survive winter at a given location.

Localized conditions of temperature, wind, shade, or moisture that differ from the broader regional climate, such as a warm south-facing wall or a frost pocket.

A group of plants with similar water needs irrigated by one valve or circuit, allowing efficient scheduling without over- or under-watering part of the group.

The combined loss of water from soil evaporation and plant transpiration; reference values help estimate irrigation demand and set watering schedules.

A low-pressure system delivering water slowly through emitters directly to root zones, reducing evaporation, runoff, and foliar disease compared with overhead sprinklers.

A device installed on the water supply to stop contaminated water from reversing into the potable system, typically required by code for irrigation connections.

The share of applied water that reaches and benefits the plants; losses come from evaporation, wind drift, runoff, deep percolation, and leaks.

The final surface elevation of soil or paving after construction, which sets drainage direction and the reference point for planting depth and edge details.

A compacted layer of crushed aggregate beneath paving that spreads loads and provides a stable, free-draining foundation for the surface material.

Mechanical densification of soil or aggregate to increase strength and reduce settling; excessive compaction of planting soils, however, harms roots and drainage.

The arrangement of soil particles into aggregates and pore spaces that governs water infiltration, drainage, aeration, and root growth.

A surface layer of organic or inorganic material that conserves moisture, moderates soil temperature, suppresses weeds, and improves appearance around plantings.

Written requirements describing materials, workmanship, and execution standards that complement drawings and form part of the contract documents.

Product data, samples, or shop drawings the contractor sends for designer review to confirm proposed materials and methods meet the specified requirements.

A formal written query from the contractor asking the designer to clarify ambiguous or conflicting contract documents, with answers becoming part of the record.

A written, signed amendment to the contract that adjusts scope, price, or schedule after award, typically arising from unforeseen conditions or client-directed revisions.

A list of incomplete or defective work identified near substantial completion that the contractor must correct before final payment and acceptance.

The stage when the work is sufficiently complete for its intended use, triggering warranty periods, owner occupancy, and preparation of the punch list.

A percentage of each payment withheld by the owner until completion or the end of a warranty period, providing leverage to ensure remaining work is finished.

A decision process combining monitoring, cultural, biological, and physical controls, using pesticides only when thresholds are exceeded and targeted treatments are justified.

The pest population or damage level at which action is warranted, preventing unnecessary chemical use when injury remains tolerable.

Routine horticultural practices such as proper planting, watering, pruning, and sanitation that prevent pest and disease problems by keeping plants healthy.

Selective removal of old or crowded wood over several seasons to restore vigor and form in overgrown shrubs or trees without triggering excessive regrowth.