2D Color Rendering (2D): The 2D color rendering is a bird’s eye view of your property in color. It is created to examine design cohesion and to ensure that all landscape features are balanced and “flow” on the property.

3D Digital Rendering (3D): The 3D perspective is created from all finished CAD renderings and built to show the client the finished landscape project before the actual construction. The 3D is perceived as a photograph and is designed to ensure the client is completely satisfied with all design and can now envision what the landscape will look like once the construction is complete.

Accent Plants: A plant of special interest that is usually part of a larger planting. Accent plants provide interest throughout the seasons through specific forms, textures, colors, etc.

Annual Gardens: Gardens that need to be replanted each year because the plants are not cold hardy. Annuals are frequently chosen for their intense flowering and often become focal points in the landscape.

Balance: Balance is the relationship between elements in the landscape.
Balance can be formal or informal. Formal balance would usually mean that one side of the landscape is a mirror of the other, while informal balance is when plant sizes and numbers are only relatively similar on both sides.
VisionScape uses balance not only in their landscape designs but in their relationships with their clients as well, making sure that each client is 100% satisfied with all services and support provided by VisionScape.

Base Map (BP): A drawing that incorporates all of the information collected about the landscape in the field survey and provides the basics to be used as a launch pad in the landscape design process.

Base Plan: The creation of bubble diagrams, concept plans, draft designs, all of which are eventually used to create a completed landscape design.
Border Planting: A plant or plant grouping that divides spaces in a landscape or between adjacent properties.

Bubble Diagram: Bubble diagrams consist of a series of circles or rounded shapes drawn on paper to show what the areas in the landscape will be used for. The areas may represent a turf area, a shrub border, a perennial garden, a dog kennel, etc. Information included in the bubble diagram is used to create and design the next concepts that are developed through the landscape design process.

CAD Renderings: The original digital files of the landscape designs created by the Master Designer and the design team. These are the completed plans that are provided to the client in digital and hard copy formats.

Clients: Anyone who hires VisionScape Landscape Design to provide landscape services. A client builds a relationship with the VisionScape staff; the relationship doesn’t end when the services are delivered, VisionScape provides a lifetime of support to all clients with anything from Construction Concerns to Maintenance Needs.

Commercial Grounds: Commercial grounds usually surround a business, townhouse complex, or an apartment building. Often, there is a supervisor or committee established by the company to govern decisions about the landscape. Landscape maintenance firms or a department within the firm maintain the grounds.

Completed Landscape Designs: A completed landscape design is in plan view, (bird's-eye view), and details everything concept developed in the landscape design process. These plans have all the information necessary to install the landscape. A typical landscape design includes a Hardscape plan, water feature plan, planting plan, lighting plan, and irrigation plan.

Complete Materials List (Mat. List): VisionScape keeps track of all Softscape and Hardscape materials throughout the design process to ensure that the client stays within their predetermined budget. At the end of their project, VisionScape generates a completed list of all materials needed to implement the landscape designs. The complete materials list is itemized and broken down by any phases if need be.

Concept Lines: Visible or invisible lines that define spaces or divide areas in the landscape. Some concept lines become bed lines or edging lines in the completed landscape.

Concept Plans: Initial drawing of how the spaces in the landscape will appear. This drawing evolves from the shapes developed in the bubble diagram.

Corner Plantings: Any planting group that occupies a corner location - typically the corner of a property. Corner plantings blend border plantings together.

Cost Effectiveness: A satisfactory return from the dollars spent on landscape design, implementation, or maintenance. Cost effectiveness ensures a quality of investment.

Draft Designs: Preliminary designs consisting of key plants, Hardscape groupings as well as concept lines and spaces. Draft designs will become a completed landscape plan as specific plants and Hardscapes are selected for each location.

Easements: An easement is the right to use another person's land for a stated purpose. It can involve a general or specific portion of the property. It is necessary to know if there are any easements on your property because it can effect what you are entitled to build or install in that area.
This information as well as any existing tax maps or survey documents will be incorporated with the field survey information to create the initial base map for the property. All information such as this is to be provided by the homeowner.

Emphasis: Major landscape components are highlighted more than less important ones. Framing, plant numbers, or creating an unusual focal point are examples of creating emphasis in the landscape.

Entry Garden: Landscape area near the entry to a building which calls attention to the entry area and to certain plants.

Environmentally Sound: A landscape that does not harm the environment, soil, water, and air. An environmentally sound landscape is less dependent on pesticides, fertilizers, and water to maintain the desired appearance. VisionScape’s goal is to create a landscape design that goes with the property, not fighting against nature.

Design Elements: Criteria used in selecting and organizing plant materials and Hardscapes to incorporate them into the landscape. The designer must consider both primary and secondary design elements to capture to clients design objectives.

Design Objectives: The goals that the client and Master Designer discuss in the Master Designer Initial Meeting that help determine a direction for the landscape design process.

Design Team: The design team is made up of landscape architects, engineers, horticulturists, Master Designers, Artists, and 3D renderers. A design team is assigned to each client and works with the Master Designer to provide the client with the benefit of their expertise in the according fields all centrally located through VisionScape Landscape Design Services.

DIY (Do It Yourselfer): Some homeowners try to save on costs by installing some items themselves. If you are handy you can use the Landscape Design Plans that VisionScape provides you with to install most of your landscape features thus saving on labor cost that you would normally incur from a landscape contractor. VisionScape Landscape Designs are set up to help both the DIY and those homeowners who either are not as handy or don’t have the time to implement themselves and need to hire a contractor.

Field Survey: Also known as site survey. A field survey is done after signing up with VisionScape for landscape design services. The field survey is typically done by a VisionScape Preferred Contractor. It is done to gather any and all information pertaining to property particulars, i.e. soil types, sun and shade patterns, slopes, environmental conditions, and field measurements of any existing Hardscapes. To complete the field survey a VisionScape Preferred Contractor will take several digital photographs or every angle of the property to capture the look and feel of the property.

Form: The outline a plant creates as well as the 3-D features it produces, columnar, round, vase, weeping, oval, etc. Form should be considered early in the design process for spacing needs.

Foundation Plantings: Plantings located in beds surrounding the base of a structure. Foundation plantings can be made continuously or in segments. They provide transitions adjacent to patio and entry gardens. They frequently contain several key plants.

Freestanding or Group Plantings: Plantings that are apart from a structure or other plantings. Sometimes called an island planting depending upon location.

Functional: Any part of the landscape with a specific purpose for its location other than just aesthetics. Functionality is associated with uses of the landscape.

GPM: Gallons per Minute a term used to determine water pressure that is needed for the most effective irrigation system for the client’s property.

Hardscape Elements: Features in the landscape other than plant materials. Examples include walks, fences, and retaining walls.
Hardscape Materials: All of the construction materials used to create structure in the landscape. Examples include boulders, pavers, landscape timbers, and fencing. Hardscapes also include, drain tile, irrigation, and other items not always visible in the landscape.

Hardscape Plan (HP): A CAD rendering that focuses only on the Hardscape items in the landscape. It includes photo concepts of all proposed Hardscape elements.

Height and Width: Height and width are the estimated mature sizes a plant will reach, both in upright and outward direction. These two elements are very important in plant selection and plant location. If plants are selected without considering height and width, they are often improperly spaced which can cause problems in the future of the landscape.

Homeowner Documents: It may be necessary for the homeowner to provide VisionScape with any existing tax maps, survey documents, or information pertaining to easements, to ensure that the concepts planned and designed by VisionScape are as accurate as possible.

Homeowner Tools: Homeowner Tools are developed by VisionScape to ensure the clients construction and implementation of their landscape designs goes as smoothly as their landscape design process. These tools include; a 3D digital rendering of the finished landscape, 2D color rendering, a complete materials list, and the VisionScape Landscape Maintenance Handbook.

Imaginary Lines: Lines that define spaces within a landscape but are not, necessarily, separated by specific plantings or bed lines.

Implementation: The process of installing plant materials and Hardscapes into the landscape. Landscape implementation is carried out according to the completed landscape design and can be done by a VisionScape Preferred Contractor or the handy DIY.

Irrigation Plan (IP): A CAD rendering of the proposed conceptual irrigation system. It included head placements and coverage, pipe sizing, GPM specs, and materials needed to install this system.

Key Plants: Landscape plant or plants placed in a highly visible location. Key plants are frequently used individually or in groups of three. They are often associated with the screening, or softening of architectural features such as building corners, steps, fences, etc.

Landscape: Area where plants, turf, decks, walks, etc., have been used to create an outdoor living area that makes the area functional and visually pleasing.

Landscape 3D Renderer: A professional who takes all the completed CAD rendering and builds a 3D perspective of the finished landscape so the client can see how all of the VisionScape Landscape Designs come together, after implementation of the designs, in the finished landscape.

Landscape Architect: A licensed professional who plans and designs landscapes. In some states this designation can only be used by certified professionals. Landscape architects are usually schooled in engineering and architecture and typically work on projects larger than residential properties.

Landscape Artist: The Landscape Artist creates the 2D color rendering of the finished landscape so both VisionScape staff and the client can examine design cohesion.

Landscape Designer: A Landscape Designer is a professional who plans and develops landscapes, usually at a residential or small commercial level. Landscape designers are usually skilled in the use of plant materials and other horticultural aspects of landscape design.

Landscape Engineer: The engineer works with the master designer on all proposed hardscape items, ensuring that they are structurally sound. The homeowner may need local engineer or architectural stamps of approvals for any and all permits.

Landscape Horticulturists: The horticulturists work on the VisionScape Planting Plan with the Master Designer to call on specific plant materials that will thrive in the clients' particular climate zone, soil type, and according to the clients' property particulars; such as, sun and shade patterns, drainage, or erosion particulars.

Landscape Design Process: The VisionScape Landscape Design Process is an unique process where VisionScape staff and the VisionScape clients work together to create not only the best landscape design for the property but a design that compliments the clients’ lifestyle and property particulars as well. By working in a thorough and interactive process with our clients we can create a landscape design that is as unique as the client themselves. Not only is every landscape design customized to the homeowner with their preferences and wish list items but it is tailored to their budgetary and maintenance needs as well. This creates a well balanced landscape design and plan for the homeowner that allows the client to truly have a unique landscape design without breaking the budget and accomplishing all of their predetermined landscape design goals.

Landscape Design Program: Compiling all of the information found through the site survey, site analysis, and the interview, and using it in the development of the landscape design. This allows the VisionScape staff to really determine what kind of feels or themes the client is looking to create.

Landscape Maintenance Handbook (LMH): A custom bound book, featuring full color photos of all plant materials in the landscape plan, along with a description of how to care for them. This book in considered an owner’s manual by VisionScape clients because it includes all features designed by VisionScape with their appropriate maintenance requirements. It is often display on the coffee table until needed by the homeowner. The materials list is also included in this book.

Lighting Plan (LP): A CAD rendering of all the proposed low voltage lighting fixtures and transformers, their appropriate location in the landscape, wire sizing and voltage calculation charts. The plan also includes inset photographs of the pre-selected features by the client.

Maintainability: Process of making every individual segment of a landscape as easy to care for as possible. A maintainable landscape requires less labor, fewer supplies, and is less expensive to care for.

Maintenance Requirements: VisionScape determines what kind of maintenance the homeowner is able to keep up with and wants to be involved in, to determine specific features that are included into the landscape design. VisionScape wants to ensure that the landscape will look as good as it did after installation as it will several years down the road. By designing a landscape plan that the homeowner is able to maintain this is most likely guaranteed.

Mass Plantings: Plantings where many plants of the same species are used to fill an area. Mass plantings are used as connections between other planting groups or as groundcovers.

Master Designer: VisionScape employs landscape designers to work with their clients as master designers or project managers, meaning that they are, not only, the designer but the liaison between the client and the rest of the design team.

Master Designer Initial Meeting: A meeting between the client and the landscape designer where the designer can gather information about the needs and wants of a client. This information as well as budgetary needs and phases will be considered throughout the design process.

Master Plan (MP): A CAD rendering of ALL of the proposed Hardscape, Softscape, and water feature elements together with inset photos of the clients’ preferences of VisionScape Elements. This plan depicts all features and proposed phases.

Micro-Manage: Developing and maintaining a landscape without considering the effects one decision has upon another. This type of management will affect the long term sustainability of the landscape and usually costs more.

Needs Assessments: A needs assessment is conducted by the Master Designer, in the initial stages of the design process; it is done to analyze and determine the client's landscape needs, interests, and goals.
Patio Garden: Garden surrounding a patio or deck used to create a more comfortable outdoor living space. Patio gardens screen, soften the architectural features of the deck, frame views, and can provide shade and protection from the wind.

Perennial Gardens: Herbaceous plantings that can tolerate the cold and will come back each spring. Perennial gardens provide seasonal interest for a longer period of time than annual gardens and can serve as focal points in the landscape.

Photographic View: The way in which we see a landscape or an area if we are standing and looking at it at ground level. A photographic view is shown in the 3D perspective to help the client visualize how the installed landscape will appear.

Plan View or Plan View Drawings: Bird's eye view of the area being designed. The completed landscape design is done in plan view.

Plant Groupings: Plant groupings provide a representation of the types of plants that will occupy an area once the landscape design is completed. A plant grouping might show a shrub border between properties, or it may represent a perennial bed location.

Planting Plan (PP): A CAD rendering with plant photo inlays depicting the location of all proposed plants, planting beds, and mulch selections.
Primary Elements of Design: Primary elements of design are the first elements looked at when determining plant materials. Primary elements of design include disease or insect resistance, poor soils and urban pollution, tolerance, etc.

Principles of Design: Process that defines and ties all individual components together to create unity within a design. Example of principles of design would be simplicity, variety, balance, emphasis, sequence, and scale.

Public Grounds: Public grounds include public property owned by a city, state, or the federal government. Examples include parks, schools, and any other public recreational areas. Maintenance is usually performed by personnel hired by the city, county, or state.

Residential Grounds: A family-owned house would be the best example of residential grounds. These grounds are most often maintained by the owner of the property.

Scale: Scale is the relative size of one part of a landscape to another. Scale may be the proportion or ratio of size to other components in the landscape.

Screen Plantings: Plantings used to screen an area to provide privacy, block a poor view, or as a natural boundary or barrier.

Seasonal Interest or Color: Seasonal interest and color are created by the colors that we see when we look at a plant. Color is the element that is often first noticed about a plant. Color is often used in a landscape to provide interest throughout the entire growing season. This is often referred to as seasonal interest. Seasonal interest is simply the time of the year that a plant provides a special characteristic such as flowers, fall color, fruits, etc.

Secondary Elements of Design: Secondary elements are used when narrowing down the types of plants used. Secondary elements of design include environmental tolerance (wind, pollution, cold), disease and insect resistance, soil types tolerated, etc.

Sequence: A gradual transition from one area to another within a landscape. A landscape with sequence has one element changing at a time rather than several changes at once. A landscape with a coarse textured plant next to a fine textured plant is an example of bad sequence.

Simplicity: Understanding what is, and is not important in a landscape design. Details that will not have a major impact to the landscape are omitted to keep it uncluttered.

Site Analysis: Compiling the information found during the site survey and the family or client interview to be used in the development of the landscape plan.

Spaces: Area in the landscape created to serve a specific purpose. Spaces may be functional, e.g., a storage area, or a recreation area or created to make the landscape maintainable or visually pleasing.

Specimen Plants: Specimen plants can be part of a larger planting, but usually stand alone in the landscape. Specimen plants provide specific seasonal interests or color through flowers, fruit, or leaves.

Submit 4 Bid Tool: The Submit 4 Bid tool allows homeowners to shop multiple high quality contractors quickly and effectively with a stroke of the keyboard. A client can read reviews and feedback about several local contractors and select who they would like to bid on their project. Once choosing which contractors you might like to work with, all of your project information is sent to the appropriate contractor, and they have the opportunity to bid on your project. The contractor will then get in touch with you to give you a quote for your project. The homeowner then selects which contractor they would like to work with based on what the contractor is delivering, quote, and conformability. The Submit 4 Bid tool is the easiest way to shop a variety of contractors without sacrificing quality or worrying if the contractor that you choose is a qualified landscaper.

Sustainable Landscape: A landscape designed, installed, and maintained in a residential, commercial, or public setting that is functional, maintainable, environmentally sound, cost effective, and visually pleasing throughout the entire life of that landscape.

Tax Map: Also know as a parcel map. A map that shows by block and lot the boundaries of individual lots within a taxing district. VisionScape use Tax Maps to identify propery boundaries which are used in creating a base map. VisionScape also uses this information when obtaining local building codes.

Title Sheet (TS): A CAD rendering, that is included in the VisionScape Deliverables, of the existing structures, Hardscape elements, and significant plants for the design area under consideration, with general notes regarding the execution of the landscape designs thereof.

Texture: Coarseness or fineness of the plant. Texture should be one of the first design considerations when placing plants in a landscape. Texture in plants can be created by leaves, branches, bark, or other plant parts. It can also be created by rough or smooth looking surfaces, thin or thick leaf set, or by darkness or lightness.

Trees: A woody plant that usually has one main stem and reaches a height of at least 12 ft. Trees are very important for screening, framing, and shade, and are considered early in the landscape design program. Trees are usually placed before other plant material because of their major impact on understudy shrubs chosen for the landscape.

Unit: For the purposes of the Sustainable Landscape Information Series, a unit is a group of publications that concentrates on one topic area. There will be four units in the SULIS which are: Sustainable Landscape Design, Sustainable Landscape Implementation, Sustainable Plant Materials Selection, and Sustainable Landscape Maintenance. Each unit will build on the information presented in other units.

Unity: How well the entire design comes together to form one landscape. All aspects of the landscape should complement one another rather than compete for attention.

Variety: Mixing up the form, texture and color combinations in a landscape to create extra interest without sacrificing the simplicity of the design.

VisionScape Elements: Clients can view VisionScape elements to choose their preferences when it comes to various features in the landscape design. The VisionScape Element s are categorized into features or fixtures pertaining to Hardscapes, plant material, water features, lighting features, and irrigation features. These elements help the client and master designer determine which features to include in the clients’ landscape design.

VisionScape Preferred Contractors: Being a national design company, VisionScape has a network of Preferred Contractors that VisionScape clients can browse through when searching for a local contractor. These Preferred Contractors are selected because of their quality, reliability, licensure, and performance when working with homeowners. A homeowner can write reviews and provide feedback for these contractors ensuring the homeowner that VisionScape Preferred Contractors are the highest of quality that you can find in your local area.

Visualization Exercise: Designer pictures in his/her mind what an area will look like before the landscape design process begins. By using the information gathered in the field survey, the base map that was then created, and all the survey photos that were taken, the designer can put themselves in the homeowners landscape to start creating the clients dream landscape.

Visually Pleasing: A landscape having an overall desirable appearance. A beautiful landscape would also be considered a visually pleasing landscape.

Water Feature Plan (WF): A CAD rendering with photo ideas of the proposed water feature and its location in the landscape design.