NORTH CAROLINA LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR EXAM PRACTICE | STUDY GUIDE |
TESTBANK | PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | EXAM PREPARATION | LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | COMPREHENSIVE ADVANCED REVIEW
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. North Carolina Landscape Contractor Licensing and Regulatory Requirements
2. Business Law, Contracts, and Professional Responsibilities
3. Landscape Design Principles and Site Analysis
4. Soil Science, Grading, Drainage, and Erosion Control
5. Plant Identification, Selection, Installation, and Establishment
6. Irrigation, Water Management, and Landscape Hydrology
7. Landscape Construction, Hardscape, and Structural Elements
8. Turfgrass Establishment and Maintenance
9. Plant Health, Pest Management, and Integrated Pest Management
10. Landscape Maintenance, Safety, Estimating, and Project Management
DESCRIPTION
The North Carolina Landscape Contractor exam evaluates advanced knowledge
needed to perform landscape contracting work competently, safely, and in accordance
with applicable professional and regulatory requirements. A serious candidate should
be prepared to analyze site conditions, select appropriate plant material, understand
soils and drainage, evaluate irrigation systems, interpret construction requirements,
manage turf and plant health, estimate materials and labor, and make sound
decisions concerning landscape installation and maintenance. This study resource
presents challenging, original practice questions designed around the subject areas
and professional competencies commonly associated with landscape contracting.
Questions emphasize practical judgment, calculations, troubleshooting, regulatory
compliance, construction sequencing, environmental considerations, and scenario-
based decision-making rather than simple memorization. It is intended strictly as a
study aid for candidates preparing for the North Carolina Landscape Contractor
licensing examination and is not the actual examination or a reproduction of
examination questions.
QUESTION 1.
,A landscape contractor is evaluating a proposed residential project on a sloping site
in North Carolina. The preliminary grading plan indicates that runoff from an upper
lawn area will discharge toward a newly constructed planting bed adjacent to the
foundation. During a site investigation, the contractor discovers compacted clay soil
and evidence that the existing grade already concentrates stormwater toward the
building. Which action is the most professionally appropriate before installing the
landscape?
A. Install additional topsoil in the planting bed without modifying the existing grade
because increased soil depth will improve infiltration
B. Install the plant material first and address drainage only if standing water
develops after completion
C. Evaluate the drainage pattern and establish positive surface drainage away from
the foundation before final landscape installation
D. Replace all proposed plants with drought-tolerant species because plant
selection is the primary solution to concentrated runoff
🔴 Correct Answer: C. Evaluate the drainage pattern and establish positive
surface drainage away from the foundation before final landscape installation.
🔵 Explanation: Proper drainage must be resolved as a site and grading issue rather
than treated solely as a plant-selection problem. Compacted clay can substantially
restrict infiltration, making concentrated runoff particularly problematic near a
foundation. Installing landscape material before correcting the drainage pattern can
conceal the underlying problem and result in plant failure, erosion, or structural
moisture concerns.
QUESTION 2.
A contractor is preparing an estimate for a planting bed measuring 48 feet by 18
feet. The specified soil amendment is to be incorporated uniformly to a depth of 6
inches. Assuming the entire area receives the amendment, approximately how many
cubic yards of material are required before allowing for waste or settlement?
A. 10.7 cubic yards
B. 16.0 cubic yards
,C. 21.3 cubic yards
D. 32.0 cubic yards
🔴 Correct Answer: A. 10.7 cubic yards
🔵 Explanation: The volume is 48 × 18 × 0.5 = 432 cubic feet. Dividing 432 cubic feet
by 27 cubic feet per cubic yard produces approximately 16.0 cubic yards, so the
correct answer is actually B. The calculation illustrates why landscape contractors
must convert area and depth into consistent volume units before ordering bulk
materials.
QUESTION 3.
A contractor is installing a large woody plant in a compacted site where the
planting hole has been excavated substantially deeper than the root ball. The
contractor proposes placing several inches of loose soil beneath the root ball so
that the top of the root ball will ultimately sit slightly below surrounding grade.
Which correction is most appropriate?
A. Add additional organic matter beneath the root ball and leave the planting depth
unchanged
B. Set the root ball so its appropriate upper surface is at or slightly above
surrounding grade, while avoiding excessive loose fill beneath it
C. Place the root ball as deep as possible to maximize root anchorage
D. Compress the backfill heavily around the root ball to prevent settlement
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Set the root ball so its appropriate upper surface is at or
slightly above surrounding grade, while avoiding excessive loose fill beneath it.
🔵 Explanation: Excessive planting depth can restrict oxygen availability around roots
and contribute to decline, particularly in poorly drained or compacted soils. Loose soil
placed beneath a heavy root ball can also settle and leave the plant too deep. Proper
planting depth and stable bearing conditions are therefore essential to long-term
establishment.
QUESTION 4.
, A landscape contractor notices that newly installed turf is developing irregular
yellow-green areas despite adequate irrigation. Soil testing shows adequate
nitrogen, but the affected areas correspond closely with zones where construction
equipment repeatedly traveled during site preparation. Which diagnosis is most
strongly supported?
A. Excessive nitrogen leaching
B. Herbicide resistance
C. Excessive transpiration caused by high-quality turf
D. Soil compaction causing restricted root development and reduced water and
nutrient availability
🔴 Correct Answer: D. Soil compaction causing restricted root development and
reduced water and nutrient availability
🔵 Explanation: Construction traffic can significantly increase soil bulk density and
reduce pore space. The resulting restriction of air, water movement, and root
penetration can produce symptoms resembling nutrient deficiency even when soil
nutrient levels are adequate. The spatial relationship between symptoms and
equipment traffic is an important diagnostic clue.
QUESTION 5.
A contractor is designing an irrigation system for a landscape with several planting
zones. One zone contains plants with substantially different water requirements,
while another contains turf exposed to full sun. The owner requests that the entire
property be controlled by a single irrigation station to reduce installation cost. What
is the most technically defensible response?
A. Use a single station but increase irrigation duration until all plants receive
sufficient water
B. Group plants and turf according to similar water requirements and provide
separate irrigation zones where necessary
C. Irrigate all areas according to the needs of the plants with the highest water
demand
D. Eliminate irrigation for the planting beds because established woody plants
never require supplemental water
TESTBANK | PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | EXAM PREPARATION | LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | COMPREHENSIVE ADVANCED REVIEW
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. North Carolina Landscape Contractor Licensing and Regulatory Requirements
2. Business Law, Contracts, and Professional Responsibilities
3. Landscape Design Principles and Site Analysis
4. Soil Science, Grading, Drainage, and Erosion Control
5. Plant Identification, Selection, Installation, and Establishment
6. Irrigation, Water Management, and Landscape Hydrology
7. Landscape Construction, Hardscape, and Structural Elements
8. Turfgrass Establishment and Maintenance
9. Plant Health, Pest Management, and Integrated Pest Management
10. Landscape Maintenance, Safety, Estimating, and Project Management
DESCRIPTION
The North Carolina Landscape Contractor exam evaluates advanced knowledge
needed to perform landscape contracting work competently, safely, and in accordance
with applicable professional and regulatory requirements. A serious candidate should
be prepared to analyze site conditions, select appropriate plant material, understand
soils and drainage, evaluate irrigation systems, interpret construction requirements,
manage turf and plant health, estimate materials and labor, and make sound
decisions concerning landscape installation and maintenance. This study resource
presents challenging, original practice questions designed around the subject areas
and professional competencies commonly associated with landscape contracting.
Questions emphasize practical judgment, calculations, troubleshooting, regulatory
compliance, construction sequencing, environmental considerations, and scenario-
based decision-making rather than simple memorization. It is intended strictly as a
study aid for candidates preparing for the North Carolina Landscape Contractor
licensing examination and is not the actual examination or a reproduction of
examination questions.
QUESTION 1.
,A landscape contractor is evaluating a proposed residential project on a sloping site
in North Carolina. The preliminary grading plan indicates that runoff from an upper
lawn area will discharge toward a newly constructed planting bed adjacent to the
foundation. During a site investigation, the contractor discovers compacted clay soil
and evidence that the existing grade already concentrates stormwater toward the
building. Which action is the most professionally appropriate before installing the
landscape?
A. Install additional topsoil in the planting bed without modifying the existing grade
because increased soil depth will improve infiltration
B. Install the plant material first and address drainage only if standing water
develops after completion
C. Evaluate the drainage pattern and establish positive surface drainage away from
the foundation before final landscape installation
D. Replace all proposed plants with drought-tolerant species because plant
selection is the primary solution to concentrated runoff
🔴 Correct Answer: C. Evaluate the drainage pattern and establish positive
surface drainage away from the foundation before final landscape installation.
🔵 Explanation: Proper drainage must be resolved as a site and grading issue rather
than treated solely as a plant-selection problem. Compacted clay can substantially
restrict infiltration, making concentrated runoff particularly problematic near a
foundation. Installing landscape material before correcting the drainage pattern can
conceal the underlying problem and result in plant failure, erosion, or structural
moisture concerns.
QUESTION 2.
A contractor is preparing an estimate for a planting bed measuring 48 feet by 18
feet. The specified soil amendment is to be incorporated uniformly to a depth of 6
inches. Assuming the entire area receives the amendment, approximately how many
cubic yards of material are required before allowing for waste or settlement?
A. 10.7 cubic yards
B. 16.0 cubic yards
,C. 21.3 cubic yards
D. 32.0 cubic yards
🔴 Correct Answer: A. 10.7 cubic yards
🔵 Explanation: The volume is 48 × 18 × 0.5 = 432 cubic feet. Dividing 432 cubic feet
by 27 cubic feet per cubic yard produces approximately 16.0 cubic yards, so the
correct answer is actually B. The calculation illustrates why landscape contractors
must convert area and depth into consistent volume units before ordering bulk
materials.
QUESTION 3.
A contractor is installing a large woody plant in a compacted site where the
planting hole has been excavated substantially deeper than the root ball. The
contractor proposes placing several inches of loose soil beneath the root ball so
that the top of the root ball will ultimately sit slightly below surrounding grade.
Which correction is most appropriate?
A. Add additional organic matter beneath the root ball and leave the planting depth
unchanged
B. Set the root ball so its appropriate upper surface is at or slightly above
surrounding grade, while avoiding excessive loose fill beneath it
C. Place the root ball as deep as possible to maximize root anchorage
D. Compress the backfill heavily around the root ball to prevent settlement
🔴 Correct Answer: B. Set the root ball so its appropriate upper surface is at or
slightly above surrounding grade, while avoiding excessive loose fill beneath it.
🔵 Explanation: Excessive planting depth can restrict oxygen availability around roots
and contribute to decline, particularly in poorly drained or compacted soils. Loose soil
placed beneath a heavy root ball can also settle and leave the plant too deep. Proper
planting depth and stable bearing conditions are therefore essential to long-term
establishment.
QUESTION 4.
, A landscape contractor notices that newly installed turf is developing irregular
yellow-green areas despite adequate irrigation. Soil testing shows adequate
nitrogen, but the affected areas correspond closely with zones where construction
equipment repeatedly traveled during site preparation. Which diagnosis is most
strongly supported?
A. Excessive nitrogen leaching
B. Herbicide resistance
C. Excessive transpiration caused by high-quality turf
D. Soil compaction causing restricted root development and reduced water and
nutrient availability
🔴 Correct Answer: D. Soil compaction causing restricted root development and
reduced water and nutrient availability
🔵 Explanation: Construction traffic can significantly increase soil bulk density and
reduce pore space. The resulting restriction of air, water movement, and root
penetration can produce symptoms resembling nutrient deficiency even when soil
nutrient levels are adequate. The spatial relationship between symptoms and
equipment traffic is an important diagnostic clue.
QUESTION 5.
A contractor is designing an irrigation system for a landscape with several planting
zones. One zone contains plants with substantially different water requirements,
while another contains turf exposed to full sun. The owner requests that the entire
property be controlled by a single irrigation station to reduce installation cost. What
is the most technically defensible response?
A. Use a single station but increase irrigation duration until all plants receive
sufficient water
B. Group plants and turf according to similar water requirements and provide
separate irrigation zones where necessary
C. Irrigate all areas according to the needs of the plants with the highest water
demand
D. Eliminate irrigation for the planting beds because established woody plants
never require supplemental water
