Sustainable and Ecological Landscape Design Flashcards

What is xeriscaping as a landscape design approach?

Answer: Water-efficient landscaping using drought-tolerant plants and smart irrigation practices

Xeriscaping is a holistic approach to low-water landscaping using seven principles: planning, soil improvement, practical turf, appropriate plants, efficient irrigation, mulching, and maintenance.

What is greywater reuse in a sustainable landscape context?

Answer: Using household sink, shower, or laundry water for landscape irrigation

Greywater is lightly used household water from sinks, showers, and laundry that can legally be redirected to landscape irrigation in many US states.

What is the primary environmental benefit of permeable pavement versus traditional impervious pavement?

Answer: Reduces stormwater runoff and recharges groundwater

Permeable pavement allows rainfall to pass through into the soil, reducing the volume and velocity of stormwater runoff and replenishing local groundwater supplies.

What is a green roof or vegetated roof and what environmental benefits does it provide?

Answer: Rooftop covered with growing medium and plants; reduces runoff, insulates building, and reduces heat island effect

A green roof supports a layer of growing medium and vegetation on a waterproofed roof structure, capturing rainfall, insulating the building, and reducing urban heat island temperatures.

What does carbon sequestration mean in the context of landscape planting?

Answer: Plants absorbing and storing atmospheric CO2 in their biomass and soil

Carbon sequestration is the process by which plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and store it as organic carbon in plant tissue and soil, reducing atmospheric CO2.

What is a conservation easement that may affect landscape design on a property?

Answer: A legal agreement restricting land development to protect natural resources

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently restricts development and certain land uses to protect conservation values.