1
NORTH CAROLINA LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-27
• If a gardener wants to create an espaliered apple tree, what steps should they take to ensure
proper growth and shape?
They should plant the tree in a shaded area to prevent sunburn.
They should regularly prune the branches and tie them to a support structure to
maintain the desired shape.
They should water the tree only during dry seasons.
They should allow the tree to grow freely without any pruning.
• If a landscape contractor notices chlorosis in a client's plants, what steps should they take to
address the issue?
Test the soil for nutrient deficiencies and apply an iron supplement if
necessary.
Change the plant's location to a sunnier spot.
Increase watering to improve leaf color.
Prune the affected leaves to prevent further spread.
• If a landscape manager notices signs of wilting in plants, which maintenance practice
should they prioritize to address the issue?
,2
Pruning
Pest control
Watering
Fertilizing
• What are the two main phases of a biennial plant's life cycle?
Flowers and fruits in the first year and produces seeds in the second.
Produces leaves and roots the first year and flowers and fruit the second.
Remains dormant for two years before flowering.
Grows only leaves in the first year and dies in the second.
• In a landscape design project, if a designer removes a plant for replanting, what type of roots or
shoots might they expect to develop to aid in the plant's establishment?
Primary roots
Storage roots
Secondary roots
Adventitious roots or shoots
• The term 'cultivar' has become widely used in the horticulture industry. What does the term
cultivar mean?
cultivated variety
cultivation of media required weekly
none of the above
cultural variation is required
,3
• Which refers to the art and science of growing vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants for
landscape gardening, and other plantation crops?
Floriculture
Agriculture
Olericulture
Horticulture
• Describe how herbicides contribute to landscape management.
Herbicides are applied to improve water retention in soil.
Herbicides are primarily used to enhance the color of flowers.
Herbicides are used to fertilize the soil for better plant growth.
Herbicides help manage unwanted plants, allowing desirable plants to thrive.
• What pigment is primarily responsible for the food manufacturing process in leaves?
Chlorophyll
Carotene
Xanthophyll
Melanin
• What does a hardiness zone indicate in horticulture?
The amount of sunlight a plant receives.
Watering frequency for different plant species.
Soil type suitability for various plants.
, 4
Plant adaptability based on average low winter temperatures.
• Which of the following is NOT a common maintenance practice in landscape
management?
Fertilizing
Soil erosion control
Pruning
Watering
• What is the primary role of chlorophyll in the process of photosynthesis?
Absorbs light energy
Stores water
Transports nutrients
Regulates temperature
• Describe the role of macronutrients in the growth and development of plants.
Macronutrients are primarily involved in photosynthesis and respiration only.
Macronutrients are only necessary for flowering plants and not for others.
Macronutrients are trace elements that plants require in small amounts.
Macronutrients are essential chemical elements that support various physiological
processes in plants, including growth, reproduction, and overall health.
NORTH CAROLINA LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-27
• If a gardener wants to create an espaliered apple tree, what steps should they take to ensure
proper growth and shape?
They should plant the tree in a shaded area to prevent sunburn.
They should regularly prune the branches and tie them to a support structure to
maintain the desired shape.
They should water the tree only during dry seasons.
They should allow the tree to grow freely without any pruning.
• If a landscape contractor notices chlorosis in a client's plants, what steps should they take to
address the issue?
Test the soil for nutrient deficiencies and apply an iron supplement if
necessary.
Change the plant's location to a sunnier spot.
Increase watering to improve leaf color.
Prune the affected leaves to prevent further spread.
• If a landscape manager notices signs of wilting in plants, which maintenance practice
should they prioritize to address the issue?
,2
Pruning
Pest control
Watering
Fertilizing
• What are the two main phases of a biennial plant's life cycle?
Flowers and fruits in the first year and produces seeds in the second.
Produces leaves and roots the first year and flowers and fruit the second.
Remains dormant for two years before flowering.
Grows only leaves in the first year and dies in the second.
• In a landscape design project, if a designer removes a plant for replanting, what type of roots or
shoots might they expect to develop to aid in the plant's establishment?
Primary roots
Storage roots
Secondary roots
Adventitious roots or shoots
• The term 'cultivar' has become widely used in the horticulture industry. What does the term
cultivar mean?
cultivated variety
cultivation of media required weekly
none of the above
cultural variation is required
,3
• Which refers to the art and science of growing vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants for
landscape gardening, and other plantation crops?
Floriculture
Agriculture
Olericulture
Horticulture
• Describe how herbicides contribute to landscape management.
Herbicides are applied to improve water retention in soil.
Herbicides are primarily used to enhance the color of flowers.
Herbicides are used to fertilize the soil for better plant growth.
Herbicides help manage unwanted plants, allowing desirable plants to thrive.
• What pigment is primarily responsible for the food manufacturing process in leaves?
Chlorophyll
Carotene
Xanthophyll
Melanin
• What does a hardiness zone indicate in horticulture?
The amount of sunlight a plant receives.
Watering frequency for different plant species.
Soil type suitability for various plants.
, 4
Plant adaptability based on average low winter temperatures.
• Which of the following is NOT a common maintenance practice in landscape
management?
Fertilizing
Soil erosion control
Pruning
Watering
• What is the primary role of chlorophyll in the process of photosynthesis?
Absorbs light energy
Stores water
Transports nutrients
Regulates temperature
• Describe the role of macronutrients in the growth and development of plants.
Macronutrients are primarily involved in photosynthesis and respiration only.
Macronutrients are only necessary for flowering plants and not for others.
Macronutrients are trace elements that plants require in small amounts.
Macronutrients are essential chemical elements that support various physiological
processes in plants, including growth, reproduction, and overall health.
