Landscape designers glossary

Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a landscape designer provider in Charlotte Metro.

What are hardscape pavers?: Hardscape pavers are individual manufactured units of concrete, brick, or stone set in sand or mortar to create outdoor surfaces like patios and walkways, offering design flexibility and easier repairs than poured concrete.
What are mulch types?: Mulch types are the different materials-such as hardwood chips, pine straw, and pine bark nuggets-applied to soil to retain moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds in landscape beds.
What is a backflow preventer?: A backflow preventer is a mechanical valve installed on irrigation systems that blocks contaminated or recycled water from reversing direction and entering the home's drinking water supply.
What is a bioswale?: A bioswale is a shallow, vegetated channel designed to capture, slow, and filter stormwater runoff before it enters storm drains or natural waterways.
What is a drainage swale?: A drainage swale is a shallow, graded channel dug into the landscape to direct surface water and stormwater away from buildings and other structures.
What is a French drain?: A French drain is a subsurface drainage system consisting of a gravel-filled trench containing perforated pipe that collects and redirects groundwater away from buildings, yards, or other problem areas.
What is a hardiness zone?: A USDA hardiness zone indicates the average annual minimum winter temperature for a geographic area and determines which plants can survive outdoors year-round in that region.
What is a hardscape base course?: A compacted gravel foundation layer installed beneath pavers, concrete, or other hardscape surfaces to provide drainage and prevent settling.
What is a hardscape footer or footing?: A footing is a concrete foundation poured below the frost line to support the weight and seasonal movement of hardscape structures like retaining walls, fireplaces, and pergolas.
What is a native plant palette?: A native plant palette is the set of region-native species a landscape designer selects for a specific project, typically chosen for ecological fit and low maintenance needs.
What is a rain garden?: A rain garden is a shallow, planted basin designed to collect and absorb stormwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and other hard surfaces before it enters storm drains or local waterways.
What is a retaining wall?: A retaining wall is a structure designed to hold soil in place on sloped or uneven terrain, preventing erosion and creating usable level areas.
What is an irrigation zone?: An irrigation zone is an independent section of a sprinkler system controlled by a separate valve or timer, designed to deliver water based on the specific plant types, soil, and sun conditions in that area.
What is an outdoor kitchen rough-in?: Rough-in is the initial installation of concealed plumbing, gas lines, and electrical wiring in an outdoor kitchen before countertops, appliances, and decorative finishes are added.
What is drip irrigation?: Drip irrigation is a low-volume watering system that delivers water through tubing and emitters directly to the soil near plant roots, reducing water waste compared to spray sprinklers.
What is grading?: Grading is the process of reshaping earth and soil to establish proper slope, direct drainage, and prepare land for building, planting, or hardscape work.
What is hardscape?: Hardscape comprises the built, non-plant elements of a landscape such as patios, walkways, retaining walls, driveways, and other permanent structures made from stone, concrete, pavers, or wood.
What is low-voltage landscape lighting?: Low-voltage landscape lighting is a 12-volt outdoor system powered by a step-down transformer that converts standard household current to safe, low-power electricity for decorative and functional outdoor illumination.
What is moonlighting in landscape lighting?: Moonlighting is a landscape lighting technique in which fixtures are mounted high in tree canopies to cast soft, dappled light downward, simulating the effect of natural moonlight on the ground below.
What is permeable paving?: Permeable paving is a surface treatment that allows water to infiltrate through the material into the ground below, reducing stormwater runoff and flooding.
What is softscape?: Softscape refers to the living, horticultural components of a landscape design, including plants, trees, shrubs, turf, soil, and mulch, as opposed to non-living hardscape elements like patios and walls.
What is the difference between a pergola and a pavilion?: A pergola is an open-roofed structure with slatted beams that provide partial shade, while a pavilion is a fully roofed standalone shelter that offers complete weather protection.
What is uplighting?: Uplighting is a landscape lighting method that aims fixtures upward at trees, walls, or architectural features to create depth, shadow patterns, and dramatic illumination effects.
What is xeriscaping?: Xeriscaping is a landscape design method that reduces water use by incorporating drought-tolerant plants, efficient irrigation, and soil amendments to create sustainable outdoor spaces.