Glossary
Compost: a mixture of various kinds of organic matter, such as vegetable scraps and lawn cuttings, used to improve soil structure and as an organic fertiliser.
Container plant: a plant suitable for pots, planters, barrels etc.
Cultivar: a plant bred or selected by horticulturists for a variety of reasons including flower size and colour.
Dripper sprinkler: non-spray sprinkler head that directs water to specific plants at a constant rate.
Drought-tolerant: plants or gardens able to withstand drought.
Exotics: plants not naturally found in Australia.
Greywater: water that has been used to wash clothes, or in baths and showers.
Groundcover: usually tough, prostrate-growing plants that can help retain soil moisture, keep soil cool and suppress weeds.
Hybrid: a plant produced by crossing two closely related species or varieties of plants.
Mulch: straw, leaves, loose earth, pebbles, tan or pine bark spread on the ground to protect trees and plants from weeds and soil evaporation.
Natives (gardens and plants): indigenous to Australia, belonging naturally.
Overspray: water that reaches further than the desired area (for example, on to footpaths and driveways).
Soaker hoses: slow method of irrigating gardens, sometimes using recycled tyres.
Succulents: plants with thick and fleshy leaves or stems.
Variegated: a pattern of different colours, usually on a leaf.
Water-wise: plants or gardens for which water can be used sparingly; awareness of the importance of conserving water.
Weeds: unwanted plants, often growing wild, especially to the detriment of desired plants or crops.
Wind drift: wind that blows away irrigation water from the target plants, lawn or garden.