PA PESTICIDE APPLICATOR LAWN AND TURF
COMPREHENSIVE TEST PAPER 2026
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
◉ Ch.2 List steps to take when applying herbicides to minimize
adverse effects in urban areas. Answer: -Prevent spray drift, drift of
volatile products, runoff.
-Spray when weeds are most susceptible so the minimum amount of
herbicide results in maximum weed control.
-Use less volatile formations
-Apply on days when temps are less than 80 degrees F
-Avoid spraying during midsummer; garden plants and vegetables
are more susceptible.
-Avoid applying herbicides on dry, compacted soils
-Keep pesticides off impermeable surfaces
◉ Chapter 2 Know the Law. Answer: State and local laws require
landowners to control certain weeds to prevent their spread and
distribution
◉ Ch.3 Define plant disease and what causes it. Answer: Any
harmful change in the physiology and/or structure of a plant caused
by some outside agent.
,◉ Ch.3 List examples of the major groups of plant pathogens (7).
Answer: -Fungi (blights)
-Oomycetes (downy mildews) -Nematodes (root rot)
-Bacteria (fire blight
-Phytoplasmas (corn stunts)
-Viruses (soybean mosaic)-Viroids (potato spindle tuber)
◉ Ch.3 Describe how the major groups of plant pathogens are
spread from plant to plant. Answer: -Fungi: wind, rain splash, insect
vectors
-Oomycetes: wind, rain splash, transfer of infested soil
-Nematodes: transfer of infested soil, infested planting stock
-Bacteria: rain splash, insect vectors, tools
-Phytoplasmas: only by insect vectors
-Viruses: insect vectors, mechanical transmission, rubbing of
infected leaf to another, seed borne, vegetative propagation
-Viroids: mechanical transmission, vegetative propagation
◉ Ch.3 List the four prerequisites for plant disease to occur. Answer:
1. A pathogen population capable of causing disease
2. A host that is susceptible to infection by that pathogen population
3. Environmental conditions that favor disease development
,4. Sufficient time for disease to actually develop
◉ Ch.3 Describe clues that help you distinguish plant diseases from
plant injury. Answer: -Disease: starts small, gradually increases in
size and severity over several days.
-Injury: appears suddenly in a uniform pattern
◉ Ch.3 List factors that call for using pesticides to control plant
diseases (4). Answer: 1. Other control practices are unavailable or
inadequate
2. The plant has high aesthetic value or its use allows little tolerance
for disease
3. Quality is reduced by even a low level of disease
4. A sudden and unexpected disease outbreak occurs
◉ Ch.3 List some of the uses and limitations of soil fungicides.
Answer: Uses: act as protectants
Limitations: somewhat eradicative
◉ Ch.3 Explain why you need full coverage when using a foliar
fungicide, and how to get such coverage. Answer: Reduced
rate/lower spray volumes may not be effective. Requires saturation
with multiple applications to get full coverage.
, ◉ Ch.3 List examples of abiotic agents that induce plant injury.
Answer: Temperature extremes; Soil moisture extremes; Reduced
oxygen levels; Unfavorable light conditions; Naturally occurring
toxic chemicals; Salt; Soil compaction; Deficiency, excess, or
imbalance of soil nutrients; Pollutants
◉ Ch.4 Describe factors that complicate management of pest
mammals (5). Answer: Mobility, Unpredictability, Public Perception,
Legal Status, Management Techniques
◉ Ch.4 Explain the regulations regarding the use of pesticides to
control mammals. Answer: Using pesticides to control mammals and
birds is strictly regulated and often involves obtaining special
permits from the WI Dept of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection
(DATCP) and/or the WI DNR
◉ Ch.4 Describe the damage that pests discussed in this chapter can
cause to turf and landscapes. Answer: -Meadow Mice: girdle roots,
kill/injure trees and shrubs.
-Rabbits: browse on bark and branches of trees and shrubs.
-Moles: tunnels interfere with mowing, expose roots to air killing
grass/other plants.
-Ground Squirrels: problem in gardens and lawns.
-Skunks: mostly beneficial, disliked because of stink
COMPREHENSIVE TEST PAPER 2026
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
◉ Ch.2 List steps to take when applying herbicides to minimize
adverse effects in urban areas. Answer: -Prevent spray drift, drift of
volatile products, runoff.
-Spray when weeds are most susceptible so the minimum amount of
herbicide results in maximum weed control.
-Use less volatile formations
-Apply on days when temps are less than 80 degrees F
-Avoid spraying during midsummer; garden plants and vegetables
are more susceptible.
-Avoid applying herbicides on dry, compacted soils
-Keep pesticides off impermeable surfaces
◉ Chapter 2 Know the Law. Answer: State and local laws require
landowners to control certain weeds to prevent their spread and
distribution
◉ Ch.3 Define plant disease and what causes it. Answer: Any
harmful change in the physiology and/or structure of a plant caused
by some outside agent.
,◉ Ch.3 List examples of the major groups of plant pathogens (7).
Answer: -Fungi (blights)
-Oomycetes (downy mildews) -Nematodes (root rot)
-Bacteria (fire blight
-Phytoplasmas (corn stunts)
-Viruses (soybean mosaic)-Viroids (potato spindle tuber)
◉ Ch.3 Describe how the major groups of plant pathogens are
spread from plant to plant. Answer: -Fungi: wind, rain splash, insect
vectors
-Oomycetes: wind, rain splash, transfer of infested soil
-Nematodes: transfer of infested soil, infested planting stock
-Bacteria: rain splash, insect vectors, tools
-Phytoplasmas: only by insect vectors
-Viruses: insect vectors, mechanical transmission, rubbing of
infected leaf to another, seed borne, vegetative propagation
-Viroids: mechanical transmission, vegetative propagation
◉ Ch.3 List the four prerequisites for plant disease to occur. Answer:
1. A pathogen population capable of causing disease
2. A host that is susceptible to infection by that pathogen population
3. Environmental conditions that favor disease development
,4. Sufficient time for disease to actually develop
◉ Ch.3 Describe clues that help you distinguish plant diseases from
plant injury. Answer: -Disease: starts small, gradually increases in
size and severity over several days.
-Injury: appears suddenly in a uniform pattern
◉ Ch.3 List factors that call for using pesticides to control plant
diseases (4). Answer: 1. Other control practices are unavailable or
inadequate
2. The plant has high aesthetic value or its use allows little tolerance
for disease
3. Quality is reduced by even a low level of disease
4. A sudden and unexpected disease outbreak occurs
◉ Ch.3 List some of the uses and limitations of soil fungicides.
Answer: Uses: act as protectants
Limitations: somewhat eradicative
◉ Ch.3 Explain why you need full coverage when using a foliar
fungicide, and how to get such coverage. Answer: Reduced
rate/lower spray volumes may not be effective. Requires saturation
with multiple applications to get full coverage.
, ◉ Ch.3 List examples of abiotic agents that induce plant injury.
Answer: Temperature extremes; Soil moisture extremes; Reduced
oxygen levels; Unfavorable light conditions; Naturally occurring
toxic chemicals; Salt; Soil compaction; Deficiency, excess, or
imbalance of soil nutrients; Pollutants
◉ Ch.4 Describe factors that complicate management of pest
mammals (5). Answer: Mobility, Unpredictability, Public Perception,
Legal Status, Management Techniques
◉ Ch.4 Explain the regulations regarding the use of pesticides to
control mammals. Answer: Using pesticides to control mammals and
birds is strictly regulated and often involves obtaining special
permits from the WI Dept of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection
(DATCP) and/or the WI DNR
◉ Ch.4 Describe the damage that pests discussed in this chapter can
cause to turf and landscapes. Answer: -Meadow Mice: girdle roots,
kill/injure trees and shrubs.
-Rabbits: browse on bark and branches of trees and shrubs.
-Moles: tunnels interfere with mowing, expose roots to air killing
grass/other plants.
-Ground Squirrels: problem in gardens and lawns.
-Skunks: mostly beneficial, disliked because of stink
