Openlands TreeKeepers Complete Course Review

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering tree biology, species identification, soils, pruning, pest and disease management, planting protocols, climate change impacts, volunteer management, and civic advocacy from the Openlands TreeKeepers course.

What are the four core requirements to obtain Openlands TreeKeeper Certification?

1. Attend all classes
2. Complete the Pruning Practical
3. Complete the Planting Practical
4. Pass the Final Exam with a score of at least $80\%$

What is the mission of Openlands?

To protect the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich lives.

Which four tree growth habits (crown forms) are depicted in this diagram?

Top-left: Columnar Top-right: Vase-shaped Bottom-left: Pyramidal Bottom-right: Weeping

What does the mnemonic "MAD Horse" stand for in woody plant identification?

It identifies tree groups with opposite leaf attachment:

• M: Maple
• A: Ash
• D: Dogwood
• HORSE: Horsechestnut / Buckeye

What are lenticels and what is their biological function?

Small, raised pores or dots on twigs and stems that allow for gas exchange (absorbing oxygen) between the atmosphere and underlying tissues.

In binomial nomenclature, how must the scientific name of a tree be formatted?

It consists of two words:

1. Genus (first word, always capitalized)
2. Specific epithet (second word, never capitalized) Both words must be italicized (for example, Carpinus caroliniana or Quercus alba).

What is the distinction between a plant cultivar and a hybrid?

• Cultivar: A cultivated variety bred for specific, consistent traits; often genetically identical clones designated with single quotation marks (e.g., Acer platanoides 'Crimson King').
• Hybrid: A plant resulting from interbreeding two different species or genera, denoted by an "x" (e.g., Acer x freemanii).

What key morphological features identify the American elm (Ulmus americana)?

Simple leaves with alternate attachment, pinnate venation, an uneven (asymmetrical) leaf base, doubly serrate margins, and a distinct vase-shaped tree habit.

How did Dr. Alex Shigo biologically define a tree?

Woody, long-lived, compartmentalizing perennials.

What five basic needs of a tree are summarized by the acronym S.W.A.N.S.?

• S: Sun
• W: Water
• A: Air
• N: Nutrients / Soil
• S: Space

What is the function of the vascular cambium layer in a woody stem?

A thin layer of meristematic cells that divides to produce secondary xylem (wood) toward the inside, secondary phloem (inner bark) toward the outside, and new cambium cells, increasing trunk girth.

What are the opposing functions of xylem and phloem in a tree trunk?

• Xylem (sapwood): Conducts water and dissolved mineral nutrients upward from roots to leaves.
• Phloem (inner bark): Transports photosynthetic sugars (sap) and organic nutrients downward and outward from leaves to living tissues.

Where is the majority of a tree's root system located in the soil, and why?

In the upper $12\text{ to }18\text{ inches}$ (or $6\text{ to }24\text{ inches}$) of soil, because oxygen required for root respiration and nutrient uptake is most abundant near the surface.

What is mycorrhizae, and how do both partners benefit from the relationship?

A symbiotic association between specialized soil fungi and tree roots. The tree supplies the fungi with carbohydrates; in exchange, the fungal hyphae increase root surface area up to $50\text{ times}$, improving water absorption and gathering nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen.

What is apical dominance, and what plant hormone is responsible for maintaining it?

The condition where the terminal bud suppresses the elongation and growth of lateral (axillary) buds, directed by the hormone auxin produced in the shoot apical meristem.

What areas and locations make up the urban forest?

Trees in forest preserves and natural areas, street trees, park trees, trees on private property (backyards), trees in cemeteries, and buffer trees/shelter belts.

According to US Forest Service data, what is the net economic payoff of planting 100 trees over 40 years?

A net payoff of $\$136,000$ (producing $\$272,000$ in total benefits in energy savings, air quality, stormwater runoff reduction, and property value increases minus $\$136,000$ in planting, maintenance, and repair costs).

What did Roger Ulrich's landmark study demonstrate regarding hospital patients with window views of trees?

Patients recovering from surgery with a window view of trees had shorter hospital stays, required less pain medication, and exhibited more positive evaluations than patients whose windows faced a brick wall.

What four criteria must a community meet to achieve Tree City USA certification?

1. Designate an individual or board responsible for urban tree care
2. Enact a municipal tree care ordinance
3. Maintain an annual forestry expenditure of at least $\$2$ per capita
4. Observe an Arbor Day proclamation and hold a public tree planting event

What constitutes the ideal volumetric composition of healthy forest soil?

• $50\%$ Pore Space: $25\%$ Air, $25\%$ Water
• $50\%$ Solids: $45\%$ Minerals (inorganic), $5\%$ Organic Matter

How are clay, silt, and sand particles differentiated by particle size and hand texture test?

• Clay: $< 0.002\,mm$; sticky when wet; rolls easily into a ball and forms ribbons at least $5\,cm$ long.
• Silt: $0.002\text{--}0.05\,mm$; feels smooth like flour; forms a ball that easily breaks apart; will not form ribbons.
• Sand: $0.05\text{--}2.0\,mm$; feels gritty; particles visible without magnification; cannot form a ball when wet.

What is loam soil, and what are its standard textural proportions?

An ideal agricultural and horticultural soil texture consisting of approximately $20\%$ clay, $40\%$ sand, and $40\%$ silt.

What is chlorosis in trees, and why is it prevalent in urban soils?

A condition characterized by yellowing leaf tissue while veins remain green, caused by a lack of available iron ($\text{Fe}$) or manganese ($\text{Mn}$). In urban areas, high soil alkalinity ($\text{pH} > 7.0$) chemically locks these micronutrients into forms roots cannot absorb.

What does this root comparison demonstrate about the effect of mulch versus turf grass on root development?

Mulch promotes dramatically denser, deeper, and more vigorous root growth by eliminating competition from grass roots, retaining soil moisture, moderating temperature, and preventing compaction.

What is the "3x3x3 rule" for proper tree mulching?

Apply organic mulch:

• $3\text{ inches}$ deep
• $3\text{ feet}$ wide in diameter
• $3\text{ inches}$ away from the trunk flare, keeping the root flare completely exposed (never "volcano" mulch).

What do the letters in the pruning prioritization acronym DDDCT stand for?

• D: Dead
• D: Damaged
• D: Diseased
• C: Crossing
• T: Train (pruning to develop proper structural form)

What structural defect is illustrated here, and why does it weaken a branch union?

Included bark within a tight V-shaped crotch. Instead of connective wood forming a strong branch bark ridge and collar, bark is pinched between the stems, preventing wood from knitting together and creating a high failure risk.

What are the three steps in the three-point cut method for heavy limb removal?

1. First cut (undercut): Cut on the underside of the limb $1\text{ to }2\text{ feet}$ out from the trunk, cutting no more than one-third of the way through.
2. Second cut (top cut): Cut completely through the limb from the top, slightly farther out from the trunk than the undercut, to remove limb weight without tearing bark down the trunk.
3. Third cut (final cut): Remove the remaining stub with a clean cut just outside the branch bark ridge and branch collar.

Why are flush cuts and stub cuts improper pruning techniques?

• Flush cut: Cuts inside the branch collar into the branch bark ridge, wounding trunk cambium, removing protective barrier zones, and allowing wood decay to enter the main trunk.
• Stub cut: Leaves branch material beyond the collar; the dead stub cannot heal over, preventing callus formation and allowing pathogens to travel down into the stem.

What are the maximum branch diameter capacities for TreeKeeper hand tools?

• Hand pruners: Branches smaller than $\frac{1}{2}\text{ inch}$ in diameter
• Loppers: Branches $\frac{1}{2}\text{ to }1\frac{1}{2}\text{ inches}$ in diameter
• Hand saws: Branches up to $3\text{ inches}$ in diameter

What core pruning safety rules and crown removal limits must TreeKeepers follow?

• Keep both feet firmly on the ground at all times (no ladders, no climbing trees)
• Never prune near utility lines
• Never use power tools (no chainsaws)
• Do not remove more than $25\%$ (or maximum $30\%$) of the live foliage in a single season
• Wait $3\text{ years}$ after planting before performing structural pruning on young trees

What three factors constitute the "Triangle of Doom" (Disease Triangle)?

1. Host Plant (a susceptible species)
2. Pathogen (a virulent causal organism: fungus, bacterium, virus, or pest)
3. Environment (favorable conditions such as drought, warmth, excessive moisture, or soil stress) Disease only occurs when all three factors intersect.

Identify this invasive wood-boring beetle and describe its destructive mechanism.

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis). Its larvae feed under the bark, carving S-shaped galleries through the cambium and phloem of North American ash trees (Fraxinus spp.), girdling the tree and causing mortality within $2\text{ to }4\text{ years}$.

Identify this foliar disease on maple leaves and explain its management.

Maple Tar Spot (caused by Rhytisma fungi). It produces raised, black, tar-like spots on leaves and causes premature leaf drop. It is primarily cosmetic and nondestructive; management consists of raking up and destroying fallen leaves to reduce overwintering fungal spores.

Why is pruning oak trees strictly prohibited between mid-April and mid-October?

To prevent the transmission of Oak Wilt (a vascular fungal disease). Fresh pruning wounds during the growing season attract sap-feeding nitidulid beetles that carry fungal spores from infected trees.

What disease is causing the shoot tip dieback on this juniper, and how is it managed?

Phomopsis Tip Blight (caused by Phomopsis juniperovora). New shoot tips turn from light yellow-green to red-brown to ash-gray as small stems are girdled. Management includes pruning out infected tips during dry weather and sterilizing pruning tools between cuts.

What are the correct shape and dimensions for a newly dug tree planting hole?

• Shape: A shallow "salad bowl" with gently sloping sides.
• Width: At least $2\text{ to }3\text{ times}$ the width of the root ball.
• Depth: Exactly equal to ($1\times$) the depth from the bottom of the root ball to the root flare, ensuring the root flare rests at or slightly above ground level.

What does nursery caliper measure, and at what trunk height is it taken?

The diameter of the tree trunk measured $6\text{ inches}$ above ground level (or above the root flare).

What watering regimen is required for newly planted trees to ensure establishment?

Apply $10\text{ to }20\text{ gallons}$ of water slowly at the base weekly throughout the growing season for the first $3\text{ years}$ following planting.

What essential safety call must be made prior to digging any planting hole?

Call 811 (JULIE / utility locator service) to identify and mark all underground utilities before breaking ground.

What is the meteorological distinction between weather and climate?

• Weather: Atmospheric conditions occurring locally over short periods (minutes, hours, or days), such as rain, snow, or thunderstorms.
• Climate: The long-term average weather patterns and statistics of a region evaluated over a benchmark of at least $30\text{ years}$.

How is climate change projected to alter regional weather patterns and tree health in Illinois?

• Temperature: Warmer winters lead to premature vascular circulation followed by spring frost kill; hotter summer averages restrict species viability.
• Precipitation: Shifts toward heavy, erratic winter and spring precipitation producing floods, followed by summer droughts.
• Humidity: Higher nighttime humidity promotes bacterial and fungal pathogens and reduces evapotranspiration.

What are Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as defined by the United Nations Environment Assembly?

Actions to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use, and manage natural or modified ecosystems to address environmental, social, and economic challenges (such as urban heat islands, flooding, and climate mitigation) while benefiting biodiversity and human well-being.

What two nature-based climate solutions were executed in Chicago's Marshall Square neighborhood?

1. Installation of a Green Courtyard at Hammond Elementary featuring $500$ native plants and trees with educational seating.
2. Planting $120$ street trees along the commercial business corridor supported by supplemental watering services.

What tasks can non-TreeKeeper community volunteers perform, and which task is strictly prohibited?

• Permitted: Digging holes, rolling trees into holes, backfilling soil, spreading mulch, watering trees, and collecting trash.
• Strictly Prohibited: Pruning branches (only certified TreeKeepers and certified arborists are permitted to prune).

Why must the trunk of a tree never be used as a handle when positioning or moving it during planting?

Lifting or pulling by the trunk tears the fine absorbing roots from the root ball and damages the vascular cambium at the base of the trunk.

What safety protocols govern the use of razor knives when removing burlap and containers on planting workdays?

• Knives may only be operated by adults.
• Only one person cuts on a root ball at a time.
• Cut directed away from the body.
• Knives must be retracted, closed, and safely stowed away immediately after use.

What are the four primary modes of advocacy work in community forestry?

1. Civic Work: Influencing policy, voting, lobbying, and engaging elected officials
2. Education: Sharing factual information and raising public awareness
3. Service Provision: Direct community action meeting physical needs (e.g., planting trees, stewarding parks)
4. Organizing: Uniting residents to exert collective power and challenge structural decisions

In Chicago municipal governance, what discretionary capital budget does an alderperson control for ward infrastructure?

Approximately $\$1.5\text{ million}$ per year through the Aldermanic Menu money, often distributed through participatory budgeting for local infrastructure such as street trees, sidewalk repairs, and park enhancements.