§ 12-391. Definitions.

For purposes of this division the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

Access way. A private vehicular roadway intersecting a public right-of-way.

Application or apply. The actual physical deposit of fertilizer to turf or landscape plants.

Applicator. Any person who applies fertilizer on turf and/or landscape plants in Hillsboro Beach.

Canopy. The upper portion of a tree consisting of limbs, branches and leaves.

Clear trunk. The distance between the top of the root ball along the vertical trunk or trunks of a tree to the point at which lateral branching or fronds begin.

Commercial fertilizer applicator. Any individual who applies fertilizer on turf and or landscape plants in exchange for money, goods, services, or other valuable consideration.

Fertilize, fertilizing, or fertilization. The act of applying fertilizer to turf, specialized turf, or landscape plants.

Fertilizer. Any substance or mixture of substances, except pesticide/fertilizer mixtures, such as "weed and feed" products, that contain 1 or more recognized plant nutrients and promotes plant growth, controls soil acidity or alkalinity, provides for soil enrichment, or provides other corrective measures to the soil.

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™. Quality landscapes that conserve water, protect the environment, are appropriate for local conditions, and are drought, wind, and/or salt tolerant. The principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping include planting the right plant in the right place, efficient watering, appropriate fertilization, mulching, attraction of wildlife, responsible management of yard pests, recycling yard waste, reduction of stormwater runoff, and waterfront protection. Additional components of Florida-Friendly Landscaping include planning and design, soil analysis, the use of solid waste compost, practical use of turf, and proper maintenance.

Groundcover. Low growing plants, other than turfgrass, used to cover the soil and form a continuous, low mass of foliage.

Hardscape. Areas such as patios, decks, driveways, paths and walkways that do not require irrigation.

Hedge. A row of evenly spaced shrubs or other vegetation planted to form a dense, continuous, unbroken visual screen.

Hydrozone. A distinct grouping of plants with similar water needs and climatic requirements. Also referred to as water use zone.

Infiltration rate. The rate of water entry into the soil expressed as a depth of water per unit of time (inches per hour).

Institutional applicator. Any person, other than a non-commercial or commercial applicator (unless such definitions also apply under the circumstances), that applies fertilizer for the purpose of maintaining turf and/or landscape plants. Institutional applicators shall include, but shall not be limited to, owners and managers of any residential properties maintained in condominium, common ownership, and/or common management.

Irrigation system. A constructed watering system designed to transport and distribute water to plants.

Irrigation zone. A grouping of soakers, sprinkler heads, bubblers, or microirrigation emitters operated simultaneously by the control of 1 valve.

Landscape. Any combination of living plants (such as grass, ground cover, shrubs, vines, hedges, palms, or trees) and non-living landscape material (such as rocks, pebbles, sand, mulch, walls, fences, or decorative paving materials).

Landscape design. Consultation for and preparation of planting plans drawn for money, goods, services or other valuable consideration, including specifications and installation details for plant materials, soil amendments, mulches, edging, gravel and other similar materials. Such plans may include only recommendations for the conceptual placement of tangible objects for landscape design projects. Construction documents, details, and specifications for placement of tangible objects and irrigation systems shall be designed, approved, or, if necessary, sealed by licensed professionals as required by F.S. Ch. 481, Part II, as amended.

Landscape layout plan. Plans and drawings showing the location of buildings, structures, underground and overhead utilities, pedestrian, transportation, or environmental systems, and the detail for placement of site amenities, accessibility components, plantings and other tangible objects. Plans shall be numbered, dated, North arrow indicated, scaled, and sealed by an appropriately licensed professional where required by F.S. Ch. 481, Part II, as amended.

Landscape plans. Landscape plans may include a planting plan, a landscape layout plan, an irrigation plan, a grading and drainage plan, detail sheets and written specifications. Plans shall be numbered, dated, North arrow indicated, scaled, and sealed by an appropriately licensed professional where required by F.S. Ch. 481, Part II, as amended.

Landscape plant. Any native or exotic tree, palm, shrub, vine, hedge, or groundcover (excluding turf).

Landscaped area. The entire parcel, less the building footprint, hardscapes and non-porous areas. Water features are included in the calculation of the landscaped area.

Low maintenance zone. An area a minimum of 10 feet wide adjacent to water courses which is planted and managed in order to minimize the need for fertilization, watering, mowing, etc.

Microirrigation. The application of small quantities of water directly on or below the soil surface, usually as discrete drops, tiny streams, or miniature sprays through emitters placed along the water delivery pipes (laterals). Microirrigation encompasses a number of methods or concepts including drip, subsurface, bubbler, and spray irrigation.

Mulch. Non-living, organic or synthetic materials customarily used in landscaping to retard erosion, retain moisture, and control weeds.

Native vegetation. Any plant species with a geographic distribution indigenous to all, or part, of the State of Florida as identified in Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida, R.P. Wunderlin, 1998, University Press of Florida, Gainesville or the Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/). For the purpose of this division, native vegetation shall consist of those plant species indigenous to the ecological communities of South Florida, as indicated on lists provided by Broward County and specifically those plants identified as indigenous to Barrier Islands in Florida.

Palms. A plant belonging to the monocot order, of the family Palmae, distinguished by having unbranched single or multi-trunks crowned by large, compound pinnate or palmate leaves/fronds.

Pervious paving materials. A porous asphaltic, concrete or other surface and a high-void aggregate base which allows for rapid infiltration and temporary storage of rain on, or runoff delivered to, paved surfaces.

Plant bed. A grouping of trees, shrubs, ground covers, perennials or annuals growing together in a defined area devoid of turfgrass, normally using mulch around the plants.

Plant communities. An association of native plants that are dominated by 1 or more prominent species, or a characteristic physical attribute.

Planting plan. Specifications and installation details for plant materials, soil amendments, mulches, edging, gravel, staking materials, and other similar materials.

Point of connection (POC). The location where an irrigation system is connected to a water supply.

Pressure tank. A pressurized holding tank for irrigation water coming from wells to minimize cycling of the water pump.

Runoff. The water that results from and occurs following a rain event, or following an irrigation event, because the water is not absorbed by the soil or landscape and flows off from the area.

Shrub. A woody plant with multiple stems produced from the base which normally grows to an overall height of less than 10 feet in Southeast Florida.

Site appropriate plant. A plant that, after establishment, will thrive within the environmental conditions that are normal for a specific location without artificial inputs or supplements such as irrigation.

Sod or lawn. A piece of turf-covered soil held together by the roots of the turf.

Soil moisture sensor. A device to indicate soil moisture in the root zone for the purpose of controlling an irrigation system based on the actual needs of the plant.

Sustainable. Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment.

Swale. A low-lying or shallow trough-like depression that carries water, mainly during rainstorms, and that provides flood control and onsite water quality mitigation through removal of pollutants and nutrients associated with runoff.

Tree. Any living, self supporting, dicotyledonous or monocotyledonous woody perennial plant which has a diameter at breast height (DBH) of no less than 3 inches at maturity and which normally grows to an overall height of no less than 10 feet in Southeast Florida.

Turf or turfgrass. A mat layer of monocotyledonous plants such as, but not limited to, Bahia, Bermuda, Centipede, Seaside Paspalum, St. Augustine, and Zoysia and their cultivars.

Valve. A device used to control the flow of water in the irrigation zone.

Vegetation. Angiosperms, gymnosperms, ferns and mosses.

Vine. Any plant with a long, slender stem that trails or creeps on the ground or climbs by winding or attaching itself on a support such as walls, poles, trees, etc.

(Ord. 253, passed 9-13-2010)