Nursery Landscape CDE Test

A designer paired a red/purple barberry with a yellow sunshine ligustrum near the front door. These

evergreen shrubs grow to similar size. Which of these was the designer probably trying to achieve?

Focalization

Which of these statements is true about early spring flowering shrubs?

Their flower buds develop on wood from the previous growing season.

Which of these is an herbaceous perennial?

Hosta

Non-verbal communication skills are important in salesmanship and client relations. One non-verbal

signal that helps indicate that you are listening intently to the client is:

Eye contact

Mulching landscape plants has several benefits. Which of these is NOT a significant benefit of

mulching?

Nutrient modification

In the landscape plant botanical name, Acer saccharum cv., the ‘cv.’ stands for:

Cultivar

A landscape plant is tagged “Zones 5-9”. What does this mean?

That the plant will survive the winters in USDA Climatic Zones 5-9.

Lawn grasses vary in their ideal soil pH range, but a general range for best nutrient availability is:

6.5 to 7.0

Auxin is important in plant production. It is best described as:

A plant hormone used to stimulate the rooting of cuttings.

When using a walk-behind mower on a steep sloping lawn, it is safest to mow:

across the slope

While on vacation your lawn grew to 6 inches tall. What is the best thing to do in this case?

Cut it now taking off about 1/3 of the length and then again in 3-5 days.

Which of these is a pesticide signal word and is used on pesticides that are less toxic than others?

CAUTION

One of the advantages of a zero-turn mower over conventional riding mowers is:

maneuverability

The backyard area of a residence is sometimes referred to as the ____ area.

private

A designer placed Mahonia aquifolia and Buxus microphylla near each other in the foundation

planting. This designer was most likely trying to capitalize on:

The contrast in texture of the two plants.

A beginning nurseryman has the following plants in gallon pots under a 70% shade cloth this summer.

Which of the plants would you expect to not do as well as the others under 70% shade?

Mugo pine

The vascular tissue of plants that conducts sugars and metabolic products downward from the leaves

is called the:

Phloem

The first root of a germinating seed forms from this part of the seed.

Radical

One of the major problems of many landscape plants is a pest in the class Arachnida. This pest attacks plants by feeding on the sap of plant leaves.

Spider mites

Which of these is the best definition of a systemic pesticide?

A pesticide that is absorbed and transported through the plant.

Which of these most accurately describes symptoms of iron deficiency in plants?

Yellowing of the leaves in between the dark green veins

Which of these is generally the fastest method of establishing a lawn, but also is usually the most expensive?

sodding

It is generally recognized that plants need ___ essential nutrients to perform best.

16

Why are native plants often a better choice for landscape plants?

They are adapted to the local environmental conditions and may require less water.

This fertilizer nutrient is readily lost from the soil through leaching, soil erosion, and runoff. Levels of this nutrient can fluctuate widely with weather and soil conditions over short time periods. It is applied to crops according to general recommendations rather than soil test results.

Nitrogen

The financial analysis of Bob’s Landscaping business last year revealed the following data. Which of these tells Bob most about the profitability of his business?

Net = $81,000

Small retail nurseries often have difficulty competing with big box chain stores. Which of these strategies might best help small stores compete?

Providing better customer service.

Which of these trees provides the best fall color?

Ginkgo

Night lighting of the landscape can have dramatic effects, adding beauty and enjoyment to the home landscape. A variety of effects is possible, depending on the lighting type and placement. Which of these is a type of commercially available lighting used in landscape lighting for the home?

Down lighting

Generally, in residential landscape design, ____ is the focal point of the public area of the landscape.

The front door

Safety Data Sheets (SDS), formerly known as MSDSs or Material Safety Data Sheets, for hazardous chemicals are supplied to users to communicate information on the safe use of and hazards of each product. SDS’s are supplied by the _______.

Manufacturer of the product

A soil that contains roughly equal amounts of sand, silt, and clay is called a(n):

Loam

When a soil sample of a lawn is taken, be sure to take sample cores from all areas of the yard with cores about __ inches deep.

6

For a tree to shade the home from the afternoon sun in summer, plant the tree on the __ side of the house.

Southwest

Large growing trees, taller than sixty feet, should be planted at least ___ feet from the foundation of a home.

20

Which of these actions is most likely to stimulate the growth of lateral buds on a shrub or tree?

Removal of the terminal buds

When removing large branches from trees the ___ method should be used. This prevents damage caused by the weight of the branch ripping down and stripping bark off the tree trunk.

Three-cut

The air space on a spark plug between the electrodes is set with a tool called a(n):

Gap gauge

Which of these practices will encourage lawn grasses to become more deeply rooted?

Deep watering only as needed.

The best example listed of a variable cost for a nursery grower is:

Cost of potting soil

A customer wants a flowering annual for their landscape in Indianapolis that can withstand the heat of full sun conditions during the summer. They will host a wedding at their home in mid-summer and they want a blooming annual that will provide excellent color at that time. Which of these choices would be the best plant to suggest to this customer?

marigolds

One of the responsibilities of this Federal agency is to protect U.S. agriculture and natural resources against invasive pests and diseases.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

A nursery business owner realized that her equipment is not worth as much this year as it was last year, or any year since she purchased the equipment. The measure of how much a piece of equipment drops in value each year is called:

depreciation

Anyone who plans to dig, including landscapers and homeowners, should call ____ or go to their state call-before-you-dig website to request that the approximate location of buried utilities be marked with paint or flags so that they don’t unintentionally dig into an underground utility line.

811

A pesticide that warns against dermal contact indicates that precautions against contact with __ should be taken.

skin

Which of the following pests gives birth to live young and can multiply at an alarming rate?

Aphids

Which of these are current trends that many landscape customers are interested in and often request?

All the above

If a fertilizer has an 18-5-12 analysis, how much phosphorus is in a 50-pound bag of this fertilizer?

2.5 pounds

If you plan to start a nursery you will need to contact this governmental agency to obtain a license to ensure that your plants don't contain pests or diseases.

State Department of Agriculture

These plants are grown from seeds or cuttings. They are very young plants, usually grown for sale to other nurseries, who grow them to a larger size before selling them to consumers. This is the best definition for ____ in horticultural terms.

Liners

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?

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.

What is the best definition of landscape renovation?

Restoration and improvement of an existing landscape by replacing or renewing plants and other elements.

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

The pesticide signal word that indicates the product is moderately toxic is

Warning

Which of these is an important business financial record to maintain to help predict income and expenses, especially so that the business can meet financial obligations during specific time periods?

Cash flow statement

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?

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

Which of the following best describes 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?

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

What is the primary purpose of landscape lighting?

To create a safe, aesthetic, and inviting environment.

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?

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.

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.

What should be the first step when handling pesticides in a nursery or landscape operation to ensure safety?

Read the product label and follow the instruction.

Which of the following correctly identifies the three general areas of a home landscape?

Public, private, and service areas

The client requested color beds in the landscape to compliment the color of the building and company logo. The designer selected annual plants with blooms of the same hue, tone, and shades. This type of color scheme is best described as:

Monochromatic

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 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

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