FFA Landscape Nationals General Knowlege

What is the primary function of mulch in landscaping?

What does the term "drip line" refer to in landscaping?

The area directly under the outermost tree branches

Which of the following is an example of an inorganic mulch?

Wood Chips

What does landscape fabric help control in landscaping?

Weed Growth 

Which type of mulch is suitable for acid-loving plants like azaleas?

pine straw

In which season is mulch commonly applied to the soil in landscaping?

Spring

Which horticultural practice involves creating new plants from existing ones?

Propagation

What is xeriscaping?

 Landscaping with drought-resistant plants

Which type of grass is typically used for golf courses and sports fields due to its fine texture and durability?

Kentucky bluegrass

What is the primary purpose of pruning in horticulture?

To shape plants and promote growth

Why is the proper spacing of plants in a nursery important?

To improve air circulation and encourage desirable growth

What does the presence of mushrooms growing on the base of a tree typically indicate?

The tree is in poor health

Which of the following plant tissues is responsible for the transport of water and minerals from the roots to other parts of the plant?

Xylem

Which of the following best describes the function of a spark plug in a small gasoline engine?

To ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber

What does the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map help horticulturists determine?

The coldest temperatures a plant can tolerate in a specific area

What is the primary purpose of hardening off seedlings before moving them from a greenhouse or cold frame and transplanting them outdoors?

To acclimate them to outdoor conditions

Which of the following statements about postemergence herbicides is most accurate?

Postemergence herbicides are applied after weeds emerge

A customer at the nursery was assisted by a salesperson in selecting pruning shears. The customer was initially drawn to an inexpensive pruner designed for small limbs. After learning more about the scope of the job, the salesperson suggested a larger, higher-quality pruner to better suit the customer’s needs. This is best described as:

Upselling

Which of the following plant propagation techniques allows a nurseryman to produce new plants that are genetically the same as the parent plant?

Rooting cuttings

Which of the following techniques is most likely to improve communication skills in a team meeting?

Demonstrating active listening, taking notes, and summarizing key points

The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requires pesticide manufacturers, distributors, and importers to provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for each hazardous chemical sold. What is the primary purpose of the Safety Data Sheets?

To help downstream users understand the hazards associated with the chemical

Which of the following would be most likely to increase a nursery grower’s chances of making a profit?

Decreasing variable costs

Which of the following is a key benefit of using a cold frame or greenhouse in the production of nursery plants?

Provides a controlled growing environment

Peat moss is commonly used in growing media for potted crops and as a soil amendment in the landscape. What is the primary purposes of peat moss?

To retain moisture and improve aeration

What are the primary purposes of pruning young plants in nursery production?

To shape the plant and promote proper growth

Which of the following plant nutrients is primarily responsible for promoting vegetative growth?

Nitrogen

Which of the following is a gardening practice that promotes the continued blooming of plants in the landscape

Dead heading

Which of the following are benefits of using mulch around plants in the landscape?

It conserves soil moisture, moderates temperatures, decreases weed growth

Which of the following is the best definition of spring and summer flowering perennials?

They live many year, the tops die back to the ground each fall and growth arises from the crown or roots in the spring

Some nursery growers use a science-based process that combines several tools and strategies to identify and manage pests. They use a combination of biological, mechanical, cultural, and chemical practices to control pests. Which of these best describes this pest management control system

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Which of the following is a warm season turfgrass, commonly used in residential lawns and commercial applications, but has little shade tolerance?

Bermudagrass

What of these best defines hardscapes items as used in landscape design?

Non-living elements such as pathways, patios, or retaining walls

A well-designed public area in a home landscape should do which of the following?

Draw the viewer’s eye to the as the front entry area of the home

Which pesticide signal word indicates that the material is moderately toxic?

Warning

Which of these is not a defined method of pesticide exposure?

Congestion 

Which of the following best describes depreciation of nursery and landscape equipment?

Depreciation is the decrease in the value of a piece of equipment over a period of time

When is the best time to prune summer-flowering shrubs?

late winter

Which of these practices is often used to help speed up the rooting of cuttings?

A. Maintaining the soil temperature between 65 and 70 degrees

B. Providing air movement with circulation fans

C. Applying extra fertilizer in liquid form

D. Providing bottom heat

providing bottom heat

soil type that contains a combination of sand, silt, and clay particles in relatively equal

amounts?

loamy soil

Some plants are difficult to root and require extra processes to increase the percent of rooting. Which of the following is a common practice to increase the rooting success rate?

A. Spraying the wound at the base of the cutting with wound spray

B. Removing the growth buds from the cutting

C. Wounding the cutting at the base to increase surface area

D. Treating the wound at the base of the cutting with pesticide

End

C. Wounding the cutting at the base to increase surface area

Phototropsism-

the growth or movement of an organism in response to light (sunflowers)

What is the primary purpose of a propagation nursery?

Reproduction of landscape plants

Which of the following correctly identifies the equation for photosynthesis in the presence of light energy?

A. C6H12O6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O → CO2

B. 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 → H2O → Energy

C. 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

D. CO2 + H2O → C9H12O9 + H2O + CO2

C. 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Which of the following is a recommended retail sales technique?

Place the item in the customers hands as the product is discussed, if practical.

When assisting a customer in a retail store, what is an essential aspect of effective salesmanship?

Providing accurate and relevant information about the products or services.

Which best describes a pesticide designed to kill weeds before they emerge from the soil?

preemergence

Which of the turfgrasses listed are best suited for golf course putting greens?

Bermudagrass

A homeowner had a tree removed and the stump ground down to well below the soil surface. They then installed bermudagrass sod in the yard, including where the tree had been located. The grass grew well and looked great except over the area where the tree once grew. In this area the grass grew poorly and was a yellowish color. Which of these best explains what caused this problem?

A. Soil microorganisms feeding on the wood chips left in the soil, are using the available nitrogen in order to

digest the chips, leaving the grass a yellowish color.

B. Heavy machinery was probably used to grind the stump, compacting the soil in that area and delaying

nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by the grass.

C. The stump grinding process loosed the soil excessively over the stump, limiting the penetration on grass

roots and ultimately limiting nitrogen uptake.

D. The stump grinding machinery left a slight fossil fuel residue, contaminating the immediate area around

the stump, causing temporary yellowing of the grass.

Soil microorganisms feeding on the wood chips left in the soil, are using the available nitrogen in order to digest the chips, leaving the grass a yellowish color.

A customer requests a plant that can be grown on or tightly against a wall in his garden. Many plants, including vining plants, can be trained for use in this manner. What garden term of French origin is used to describe a tree or shrub whose branches are trained to grow against a wall or fence?

Espalier

depreciation of equipment?

A reduction in the value of a piece of equipment, usually due to age and wear.

After a few days of heavy rain, a homeowner noticed circles of mushrooms in her yard. This phenomenon is

called fairy ring. Which of these is NOT an accurate statement about fairy ring mushrooms?

A. This fungi feeds off stumps, roots, and other organic matter left in the ground.

B. The mushrooms seen in the ring are the fruiting bodies of fungi that live underground.

C. The mushrooms seen above ground produce fungal spores that spread in the wind.

D. The mushrooms should be sprayed with an antibacterial to prevent spread of the fungus.

D. The mushrooms should be sprayed with an antibacterial to prevent spread of the fungus.

Azaleas prefers a slightly more acidic soil than many landscape plants. The desirable pH range for azaleas is from:

4.5 to 6.0

Damping-off of seedlings is caused by several soil-borne fungi and molds including Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium. Conditions under which organisms causing damping-off thrive include

Cool and wet conditions.

Nitrogen is one of the most important plant nutrients applied as fertilizer. Which of the following statements

regarding nitrogen fertilizer is accurate?

A. Always apply nitrogen according to the soil pH.

B. Nitrogen is readily lost from the soil, especially with excessive rain or irrigation.

C. The rate of nutrient application should be based on a ratio of 10-10-10.

D. The recommended application rate of phosphorus in soil test results is used to calculate the nitrogen ratio.

Nitrogen is readily lost from the soil, especially with excessive rain or irrigation.

Which of these

landscape materials is most limited in the time of year that they can be planted? These items are

generally restricted to late fall through early spring plantings for the highest success rate.

A. Bare-root shrubs and trees.

B. Containerized shrubs and trees less than 5 gallons.

C. Flowering vines and trees.

D. Herbaceous perennial plants.

A. Bare-root shrubs and trees.

If a fertilizer bag has 5-10-15 printed on the bag, which of these can be determined from those numbers alone?

The bag of fertilizer contains 10 percent phosphorus

Which of the following describes a potential issue associated with soil that has a high sand content?

The large particles of sand provides good air space but allows water to drain too quickly.

When propagating landscape plants from softwood cuttings, which of the following equipment would be most

helpful to support the unrooted cutting until adventitious roots emerge to support the new plant?

A. A soil aerator

B. A fertilizer injector

C. A planting dibble

D. A mist propagation system

D. A mist propagation system

Some plants have the ability to grow on objects such as walls, fences, and around stakes. These climbing plants and vines throw out tendrils, which are a response to a touch stimulus. This is best termed:

Thigmotropism