Applied science, setting temperature in garden feature (8)
I believe the answer is:
rocketry
'applied science' is the definition.
(rocketry is a kind of applied science)
'temperature in garden feature' is the wordplay.
'temperature' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'garden feature' becomes 'rockery' (I've seen this before).
't' placed into 'rockery' is 'ROCKETRY'.
'setting' is the link.
(Other definitions for rocketry that I've seen before include "Branch specialised in launching" , "NASA's expertise" , "Clever science" , "Propulsion of missiles" , "Study of space vehicles" .)