North Carolina Landscape Contractor Exam Study Guide
Question 1
Which state agency administers the North Carolina Landscape Contractors’
Licensing Board?
A. North Carolina Department of Transportation
B. North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board
C. North Carolina Department of Commerce
D. North Carolina Department of Agriculture only
Correct Answer: B. North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing
Board
Rationale: The North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board
(NCLCLB) regulates the landscape contracting profession in North Carolina. A
contractor should understand the Board’s licensing requirements, scope of
regulation, and professional standards.
Question 2
What is the primary purpose of landscape contractor licensing?
A. To regulate the sale of lawn equipment
B. To protect the public by establishing competency and regulatory standards
C. To eliminate competition among contractors
D. To guarantee every landscape project makes a profit
Correct Answer: B. To protect the public by establishing competency and
regulatory standards
Rationale: Licensing establishes minimum competency and professional
requirements for individuals performing regulated landscape contracting
work. It helps protect property owners and the public from unsafe,
incompetent, or unlawful practices.
pg. 1
,Question 3
Which activity is most closely associated with landscape contracting?
A. Designing and installing landscape improvements
B. Manufacturing automobiles
C. Preparing tax returns
D. Installing residential electrical service exclusively
Correct Answer: A. Designing and installing landscape improvements
Rationale: Landscape contracting can involve planning, installing,
maintaining, and managing landscape improvements within the scope
permitted by North Carolina law. The contractor must understand which
activities require appropriate licensing or other credentials.
Question 4
Before beginning a landscape project, what should a contractor primarily
review?
A. Only the customer's preferred plant color
B. Site conditions, plans, specifications, scope of work, and applicable
requirements
C. The contractor's social media account
D. The weather forecast from one year ago
Correct Answer: B. Site conditions, plans, specifications, scope of work,
and applicable requirements
Rationale: Proper project evaluation begins with understanding the site and
the contractual requirements. Reviewing plans, specifications, soil, drainage,
utilities, access, and applicable regulations helps prevent costly errors and
change orders.
Question 5
pg. 2
,Which factor is especially important when selecting plants for a landscape?
A. Plant suitability for the site's climate and conditions
B. The contractor's favorite plant
C. The color of the customer's vehicle
D. The number of employees on payroll
Correct Answer: A. Plant suitability for the site's climate and conditions
Rationale: Plant selection should consider factors such as hardiness, sunlight,
soil, moisture, drainage, mature size, and intended function. Choosing plants
that are unsuitable for the site often leads to poor growth, disease, excessive
maintenance, or plant failure.
Question 6
What does a plant's mature size indicate?
A. Its size when purchased from the nursery
B. Its expected size when fully developed under appropriate conditions
C. The size of its root ball only
D. The maximum height of its container
Correct Answer: B. Its expected size when fully developed under
appropriate conditions
Rationale: Mature size is important for determining planting location and
spacing. Contractors should account for the eventual height and spread of
plants to avoid conflicts with buildings, utilities, walkways, structures, and
other vegetation.
Question 7
Why is proper soil preparation important before planting?
A. It improves conditions for root establishment and plant growth
B. It guarantees plants will never require irrigation
pg. 3
, C. It eliminates all pests
D. It prevents every plant disease
Correct Answer: A. It improves conditions for root establishment and
plant growth
Rationale: Healthy root development depends on suitable soil structure,
drainage, aeration, moisture, and nutrients. Proper preparation creates a
more favorable root environment and improves the likelihood of successful
establishment.
Question 8
Which soil condition can seriously interfere with plant root growth?
A. Severe compaction
B. Adequate aeration
C. Proper drainage
D. Appropriate organic matter
Correct Answer: A. Severe compaction
Rationale: Compacted soil reduces pore space, limiting air and water
movement and restricting root penetration. Compaction is particularly
common on construction sites and should be identified and addressed before
planting when appropriate.
Question 9
What is the primary function of mulch around landscape plants?
A. Conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature
B. Replace all irrigation permanently
C. Prevent every insect infestation
D. Supply unlimited nutrients
Correct Answer: A. Conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature
pg. 4
Question 1
Which state agency administers the North Carolina Landscape Contractors’
Licensing Board?
A. North Carolina Department of Transportation
B. North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board
C. North Carolina Department of Commerce
D. North Carolina Department of Agriculture only
Correct Answer: B. North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing
Board
Rationale: The North Carolina Landscape Contractors’ Licensing Board
(NCLCLB) regulates the landscape contracting profession in North Carolina. A
contractor should understand the Board’s licensing requirements, scope of
regulation, and professional standards.
Question 2
What is the primary purpose of landscape contractor licensing?
A. To regulate the sale of lawn equipment
B. To protect the public by establishing competency and regulatory standards
C. To eliminate competition among contractors
D. To guarantee every landscape project makes a profit
Correct Answer: B. To protect the public by establishing competency and
regulatory standards
Rationale: Licensing establishes minimum competency and professional
requirements for individuals performing regulated landscape contracting
work. It helps protect property owners and the public from unsafe,
incompetent, or unlawful practices.
pg. 1
,Question 3
Which activity is most closely associated with landscape contracting?
A. Designing and installing landscape improvements
B. Manufacturing automobiles
C. Preparing tax returns
D. Installing residential electrical service exclusively
Correct Answer: A. Designing and installing landscape improvements
Rationale: Landscape contracting can involve planning, installing,
maintaining, and managing landscape improvements within the scope
permitted by North Carolina law. The contractor must understand which
activities require appropriate licensing or other credentials.
Question 4
Before beginning a landscape project, what should a contractor primarily
review?
A. Only the customer's preferred plant color
B. Site conditions, plans, specifications, scope of work, and applicable
requirements
C. The contractor's social media account
D. The weather forecast from one year ago
Correct Answer: B. Site conditions, plans, specifications, scope of work,
and applicable requirements
Rationale: Proper project evaluation begins with understanding the site and
the contractual requirements. Reviewing plans, specifications, soil, drainage,
utilities, access, and applicable regulations helps prevent costly errors and
change orders.
Question 5
pg. 2
,Which factor is especially important when selecting plants for a landscape?
A. Plant suitability for the site's climate and conditions
B. The contractor's favorite plant
C. The color of the customer's vehicle
D. The number of employees on payroll
Correct Answer: A. Plant suitability for the site's climate and conditions
Rationale: Plant selection should consider factors such as hardiness, sunlight,
soil, moisture, drainage, mature size, and intended function. Choosing plants
that are unsuitable for the site often leads to poor growth, disease, excessive
maintenance, or plant failure.
Question 6
What does a plant's mature size indicate?
A. Its size when purchased from the nursery
B. Its expected size when fully developed under appropriate conditions
C. The size of its root ball only
D. The maximum height of its container
Correct Answer: B. Its expected size when fully developed under
appropriate conditions
Rationale: Mature size is important for determining planting location and
spacing. Contractors should account for the eventual height and spread of
plants to avoid conflicts with buildings, utilities, walkways, structures, and
other vegetation.
Question 7
Why is proper soil preparation important before planting?
A. It improves conditions for root establishment and plant growth
B. It guarantees plants will never require irrigation
pg. 3
, C. It eliminates all pests
D. It prevents every plant disease
Correct Answer: A. It improves conditions for root establishment and
plant growth
Rationale: Healthy root development depends on suitable soil structure,
drainage, aeration, moisture, and nutrients. Proper preparation creates a
more favorable root environment and improves the likelihood of successful
establishment.
Question 8
Which soil condition can seriously interfere with plant root growth?
A. Severe compaction
B. Adequate aeration
C. Proper drainage
D. Appropriate organic matter
Correct Answer: A. Severe compaction
Rationale: Compacted soil reduces pore space, limiting air and water
movement and restricting root penetration. Compaction is particularly
common on construction sites and should be identified and addressed before
planting when appropriate.
Question 9
What is the primary function of mulch around landscape plants?
A. Conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature
B. Replace all irrigation permanently
C. Prevent every insect infestation
D. Supply unlimited nutrients
Correct Answer: A. Conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature
pg. 4
