Before you embark on a home landscaping project, it’s a good idea to know some key terms and definitions. Understanding the difference between hardscape and softscape, or knowing why a site analysis and plot plan are important tools in planning a landscape, is the first step in beginning a home landscape redesign.

Landscape Terms and Definitions

Whether you’re teaching yourself how to landscape, or you plan on working with a landscape architect, understanding common landscaping terms will help you prepare for your landscaping project. Familiarity with landscape architecture terms will be helpful as you communicate with landscaping and gardening professionals, and will make it more likely that you’ll be able to see a project through to successful completion.

• Hardscape: Hardscape refers to all the non-plant elements of a landscape. Hardscaping may include walkways, retaining walls, patios, decks and decorative elements.
• Landscape architect: Landscape architects design and manage landscapes and have either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in landscape architecture. Many states require landscape architects to be licensed.
• Living area: The living area is the part of a landscape that your family uses for play, dining, entertaining or other functions. This area is often more private than the other areas of the landscape.
• Native plants: Native plants are those that occur naturally in your area. These plants will often fare better than non-native species in your landscape.
• Plot plan: A plot plan is a model of a landscape design, which is drawn to scale on a piece of paper. A plot plan shows the boundaries of your site, as well as physical features (such as buildings and driveways) that will affect your landscape design.
• Public area: A public area is the part of your landscape that is visible to the public. In the case of residential landscaping, this is usually the front yard.
• Service area: The service area is a functional part of the landscape that may include a vegetable garden, storage shed, work space, trash cans or a clothesline.
• Site: The piece of land you plan to landscape is known as a site. As a homeowner, your site is your property.
• Site analysis: A site analysis is a thorough examination of factors affecting a landscape design, such as existing plants, land form, soil, available sun and shade, existing buildings and their architectural features, noise, views and location of utilities.
• Softscape: Softscape is a term sometimes used to refer to all the plant-based elements of a landscape. Flowers, trees, bushes and shrubs are all part of the softscape.
• Xeriscape: A xeriscape is a landscape that requires little supplemental water. Xeriscaping is common in dry climates, such as the American southwest, and often contains cacti and other succulents.