§ 13-102. Definitions

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Canopy trees. Deciduous and evergreen trees that have spreading branches, creating rounded or flattened-shaped crowns, and which provide shade from the sun. Canopy trees provide a better shade coverage than columnar-shaped trees or palms.

Compost. Biologically decomposed organic material which includes grass clippings, leaves and other garden debris and which may also contain vegetable and fruit refuse.

Deciduous. Any plant that sheds all of its leaves at one (1) time each year (usually fall) is deciduous.

Drip line. The circle that could be drawn on the soil around a tree directly under the tips of its outermost branches.

Drought-tolerant plant material. Those plants that tolerate heavy clay to sandy soils with use of limited supplemental water. The plants are able to thrive with deep, infrequent watering once their root systems are established (three (3) to twelve (12) -month average time period). Plants include those that naturally grow in areas of limited natural water supply (native and non-native plant species) and are adaptable to weather and soil conditions prevalent in Costa Mesa.

Dry landscape materials. Substances originating from a living organism, such as mulch and ground bark, and natural landscape design elements, such as boulders and dry bed streams.

Espalier. A tree or shrub trained so that its branches grow in a flat pattern against a wall or fence, on a trellis, or along horizontal wires.

Evergreen. An evergreen plant never loses all its leaves at one time.

Hydroseeding. A commercial method of turf or groundcover seed application which is sprayed onto soil prepared for planting. Hydroseeding is a slurry of seeds, soil amendments, and fertilizer, and is usually used on large, open areas.

Invasive plants. Plants that have aggressive growing and/or rooting characteristics which allow the plants or their roots to penetrate into other planting areas, such as turf, and groundcover, or into hardscape areas, such as sidewalks, curbs, and streets (usually to compete for water).

Low water flow irrigation. A system of watering plant material using drip/trickle, reduced water emitting devices, low precipitation heads, soaker lines, or other similar mechanisms, which restricts the amount of water in gallons per minute to allow for deep percolation into the soil. The low water flow irrigation system, combined with watering practices outlined in this chapter, will reduce water loss through evaporation, wind drift and overwatering.

Mulch. Shredded or chipped wood from tree branches and trunks and from uncontaminated wood products or lumber; this material is often mixed with leaves and grass clippings for optimal effect.

Pruning. Skilled cuts, as defined by International Society of Arborists (ISA) standards, on established plants for purposes of maintaining plant health (removal of dead, diseased, or injured wood); controlling or directing growth; increasing quality or yield of flowers or fruit; or training young plants to position their main branches or to ensure strong structure. Pruning involves minor cutting to minimize plant decay, and to retain the natural shape of the plant, except as applied to formal hedges, espalier, and topiary.

Thinning. A form of pruning involving the removal of lateral branches at their point of origin or the shortening of a branch to a smaller later branch, in order to open the plant (usually a tree) to sunlight while accentuating its natural form.

Topiary. A technique of pruning and training shrubs and trees into formalized shapes resembling such things as animals and geometric figures.

Topping or heading back. A severe form of pruning, involving the cutting of current or one (1)-year-old growth to a bud, or cutting older branches back to a stub or a tiny twig.

Turf (also known as lawn). A thick-matted groundcover material consisting of one (1) or several types of grasses, which is grown on open space areas (for active or passive use) or as a groundcover. To look its best, and because most grasses withstand heavy foot-traffic, turf is usually kept mowed.

Uncontaminated wood products. Materials made from untainted or non-chemically treated wood or lumber that have been chipped or shredded into mulch or bark.

(Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97; Ord. No. 99-13, § 2, 9-20-99)