Landscaping & Garden Glossary
20 terms explained, from hardscaping and drip irrigation to soil salinity and root-bound plants.
Landscape Design
Hardscaping
Hardscaping is the non-living, built structure of a garden, such as patios, walkways, retaining walls, and stonework, as opposed to plants and lawn.
Softscaping
Softscaping is the living, planted part of a garden, including lawn, trees, shrubs, and flower beds, as distinct from built hardscape features.
Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is a landscaping approach that minimises irrigation by using drought-tolerant plants, efficient watering, and design choices suited to a dry climate.
Irrigation & Water
DEWA Water Tariff
DEWA's water tariff is billed on a tiered (slab) structure, where the price per cubic metre increases once a household's consumption passes certain thresholds.
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation delivers water slowly and directly to the root zone through small emitters along a tube, rather than spraying it over an area.
Smart Irrigation Controller
A smart irrigation controller is a WiFi-connected watering timer that adjusts run times automatically using local weather data, rather than a fixed schedule.
Sprinkler Zone
A sprinkler zone (or irrigation zone) is a section of a garden's irrigation system controlled by its own valve, watered on its own schedule.
Soil & Water Quality
AC Condensate Irrigation
AC condensate irrigation is the practice of collecting the water that drips from an air conditioning unit and using it to water plants.
Salt Flush
A salt flush is a deep watering that pushes accumulated mineral salts down past a plant's root zone, rather than just wetting the surface.
Soil Salinity
Soil salinity is the concentration of dissolved salts in soil, which can damage plant roots and limit water uptake when it builds up over time.
Structures & Materials
Artificial Turf Infill
Infill is the loose material, sand, rubber granules, or a blend, spread between artificial grass fibres to weigh the turf down and keep blades upright.
Composite Decking
Composite decking is an outdoor flooring material made from a blend of wood fibre and recycled plastic (WPC), designed to resist rot and fading.
Gazebo
A gazebo is a free-standing outdoor structure with a fully enclosed, solid roof, typically octagonal or round, used as a sheltered seating area.
Pergola
A pergola is an outdoor structure of vertical posts supporting an open or slatted overhead frame, used to partially shade a patio, walkway, or seating area.
Plant Care
Deadheading
Deadheading is removing spent or fading flowers from a plant, which redirects its energy from seed production into further blooms and growth.
Ground Cover
Ground cover is any low, spreading plant used to carpet bare soil, suppressing weeds and reducing evaporation instead of leaving it exposed.
Humidity Tray
A humidity tray is a shallow tray of water and pebbles placed under a potted plant to raise local humidity as the water evaporates.
Mulching
Mulching is spreading a layer of material, organic or inorganic, over soil to reduce evaporation, moderate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.
Potting Mix
Potting mix is a soil-free blend, typically peat or coir, perlite, and compost, formulated for container plants rather than dug garden beds.
Root Bound
A plant is root bound when its roots have filled the pot and begun circling or coiling around its edge, usually a sign it needs repotting.