North Carolina Landscape Contractor Practice Exam | Complete Study
Guide with Practice Questions, Answers & Rationales | 2026–2027
Edition
1. According to the North Carolina Landscape Contractors
Registration Act, what is the minimum dollar value threshold of a
landscape contract (including labor and materials) that legally
requires an individual to hold an active corporate or individual
Landscape Contractor License?
A) $1,500
B) $2,500
C) $5,000
D) $10,000 [
Rationale: Under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 89D, no person or business
entity shall engage in landscape contracting for compensation for any single contract or
project valued at $5,000 or more without a valid license issued by the NCLCLB. [1]
2. A licensed contractor is landscape-grading a residential lot in
Raleigh, NC. What is the standard minimum slope grade away
from a residential building foundation required to ensure proper
drainage and prevent structural moisture intrusion?
A) 1% grade (1/8 inch per foot)
B) 2% grade (1/4 inch per foot)
C) 5% grade (6 inches of drop across the first 10 feet)
D) 12% grade (14 inches per foot)
Rationale: Building codes and standard North Carolina landscape guidelines mandate
that the ground surface fall a minimum of 6 inches within the first 10 feet (a 5% slope)
away from building foundations to prevent water pooling and foundation damage.
3. Which of the following turfgrass species is classified as a
warm-season grass that exhibits excellent drought tolerance in
the North Carolina Piedmont, but will reliably go completely
dormant and turn brown following the first hard freeze of
autumn?
,A) Kentucky Bluegrass
B) Tall Fescue
C) Perennial Ryegrass
D) Bermudagrass
Rationale: Bermudagrass is a warm-season turfgrass widely adapted to the transition
zone of North Carolina. It thrives in high summer heat but ceases metabolic growth and
enters winter dormancy when soil temperatures drop below 50–55°F.
4. A contractor is reviewing a soil test report from the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(NCDA&CS). The report indicates a soil pH of 5.2 for an area
intended for a standard Tall Fescue lawn. Which soil amendment
must be applied to raise the pH to an optimal 6.5?
A) Elemental sulfur
B) Agricultural limestone (calcitic or dolomitic)
C) Aluminum sulfate
D) Ammonium nitrate
Rationale: Limestone is a basic compound used to neutralize soil acidity and elevate
soil pH. For a transition-zone turfgrass like Tall Fescue, a pH of 6.0–6.5 is optimal; a
reading of 5.2 represents highly acidic conditions that limit nutrient uptake.
5. When planting Balled and Burlapped (B&B) trees in heavy
Piedmont clay soil, how should the planting hole be structurally
prepared to optimize root establishment and prevent settling?
A) Dig the hole exactly the same width as the root ball and twice as deep
B) Dig the hole 2 to 3 times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the
distance from the bottom of the ball to the root flare
C) Line the sides and bottom of the planting hole with thick sheets of non-permeable
plastic
D) Fill the bottom 12 inches of the hole with crushed concrete aggregate stone to create
a sump
Rationale: Deep planting kills trees by suffocating roots. In heavy NC clay, digging a
wide, shallow hole allows the roots to expand horizontally into loosened soil, while
keeping the floor firm prevents the root flare from settling below the finished grade.
6. According to NCLCLB rules, all active landscape contractor
licenses in North Carolina expire annually on which date?
A) December 31st
B) August 1st
C) June 30th
D) April 15th [1, 2, 3]
,Rationale: North Carolina landscape contractor licenses must be renewed annually. The
license year runs from August 1st to July 31st of the following calendar year. [1, 2]
7. To maintain an active license status in North Carolina, a
licensed landscape contractor must complete how many hours of
approved continuing education (CE) credits during each annual
renewal cycle?
A) 5 hours
B) 7 hours (including at least 3 hours of technical landscape credits)
C) 12 hours
D) 15 hours [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Rationale: NCLCLB regulations dictate that licensees must complete 7 hours of
approved continuing education each year. At least 3 of these hours must be classified
as technical (landscape-related) education, with the balance allowed as business
credits. [1, 2, 3, 4]
8. A landscape contractor is designing a french drain to mitigate
a low-lying swampy zone on a residential property. What is the
standard configuration requirement for the perforated pipe when
laying it in the trench?
A) Perforated slots must face straight up toward the sky to catch falling rain directly
B) Perforated slots must face downward toward the gravel bed to allow rising
groundwater to enter and drain efficiently
C) The pipe must be completely wrapped in solid aluminum foil before placement
D) The pipe must maintain a 45-degree vertical tilt angle relative to the horizon
Rationale: In a sub-surface french drain system, the holes in the perforated drainage
pipe must face downward. This allows rising groundwater to enter the pipe smoothly
from the bottom of the gravel trench as the water table rises.
9. Which plant disease is caused by an airborne fungus that
forms a white, powdery coating over the leaf surfaces of
susceptible North Carolina landscape plants like Crape Myrtles
and Flowering Dogwoods during humid summer conditions?
A) Fire Blight
B) Powdery Mildew
C) Phytophthora Root Rot
D) Black Spot of Rose
Rationale: Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease in NC that thrives in high
humidity and stagnant air. It leaves a white-to-gray talcum-like powder layer over new
foliage, distorting growth.
, 10. When applying fertilizer or pesticides to a commercial
property in North Carolina, under which condition is a licensed
landscape contractor exempt from holding a separate
Commercial Pesticide Applicator License from the NCDA&CS?
A) If they are applying granular fertilizer mixtures only
B) If they mix the liquid chemicals using manual stir sticks
C) They are never exempt; applying any pesticide for compensation requires a
structural or agricultural pesticide license
D) If the contract value is under $5,000 [1]
Rationale: While applying straight fertilizer does not require a pesticide license, applying
any pesticide (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) for compensation on another's
property strictly requires proper licensing under the NC Pesticide Board. [1]
11. Which of the following soil textures is characterized by high
water-holding capacity, fine particle sizes under 0.002 mm, high
plasticity, and low permeability, common throughout the NC
Piedmont region?
A) Coarse Sand
B) Silt Loam
C) Clay
D) Organic Muck
Rationale: Clay particles are the smallest mineral components of soil. Heavy clay soils
pack tightly together, creating tiny pore spaces that retain high water volumes but drain
very slowly, presenting a major drainage challenge.
12. A landscape contractor is installing a low-voltage landscape
lighting system. According to the National Electrical Code (NEC),
what is the maximum voltage permitted for a standard residential
low-voltage lighting circuit without requiring rigid conduit
containment?
A) 12 volts
B) 15 volts (or up to 30 volts for specific low-voltage secondary outputs)
C) 120 volts
D) 240 volts
Rationale: Low-voltage landscape lighting typical systems run on a step-down
transformer that converts 120V line voltage into safer secondary circuits, usually
between 12V and 15V.
13. When executing a landscape installation contract, the
contractor must verify the location of all underground utility
Guide with Practice Questions, Answers & Rationales | 2026–2027
Edition
1. According to the North Carolina Landscape Contractors
Registration Act, what is the minimum dollar value threshold of a
landscape contract (including labor and materials) that legally
requires an individual to hold an active corporate or individual
Landscape Contractor License?
A) $1,500
B) $2,500
C) $5,000
D) $10,000 [
Rationale: Under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 89D, no person or business
entity shall engage in landscape contracting for compensation for any single contract or
project valued at $5,000 or more without a valid license issued by the NCLCLB. [1]
2. A licensed contractor is landscape-grading a residential lot in
Raleigh, NC. What is the standard minimum slope grade away
from a residential building foundation required to ensure proper
drainage and prevent structural moisture intrusion?
A) 1% grade (1/8 inch per foot)
B) 2% grade (1/4 inch per foot)
C) 5% grade (6 inches of drop across the first 10 feet)
D) 12% grade (14 inches per foot)
Rationale: Building codes and standard North Carolina landscape guidelines mandate
that the ground surface fall a minimum of 6 inches within the first 10 feet (a 5% slope)
away from building foundations to prevent water pooling and foundation damage.
3. Which of the following turfgrass species is classified as a
warm-season grass that exhibits excellent drought tolerance in
the North Carolina Piedmont, but will reliably go completely
dormant and turn brown following the first hard freeze of
autumn?
,A) Kentucky Bluegrass
B) Tall Fescue
C) Perennial Ryegrass
D) Bermudagrass
Rationale: Bermudagrass is a warm-season turfgrass widely adapted to the transition
zone of North Carolina. It thrives in high summer heat but ceases metabolic growth and
enters winter dormancy when soil temperatures drop below 50–55°F.
4. A contractor is reviewing a soil test report from the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(NCDA&CS). The report indicates a soil pH of 5.2 for an area
intended for a standard Tall Fescue lawn. Which soil amendment
must be applied to raise the pH to an optimal 6.5?
A) Elemental sulfur
B) Agricultural limestone (calcitic or dolomitic)
C) Aluminum sulfate
D) Ammonium nitrate
Rationale: Limestone is a basic compound used to neutralize soil acidity and elevate
soil pH. For a transition-zone turfgrass like Tall Fescue, a pH of 6.0–6.5 is optimal; a
reading of 5.2 represents highly acidic conditions that limit nutrient uptake.
5. When planting Balled and Burlapped (B&B) trees in heavy
Piedmont clay soil, how should the planting hole be structurally
prepared to optimize root establishment and prevent settling?
A) Dig the hole exactly the same width as the root ball and twice as deep
B) Dig the hole 2 to 3 times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the
distance from the bottom of the ball to the root flare
C) Line the sides and bottom of the planting hole with thick sheets of non-permeable
plastic
D) Fill the bottom 12 inches of the hole with crushed concrete aggregate stone to create
a sump
Rationale: Deep planting kills trees by suffocating roots. In heavy NC clay, digging a
wide, shallow hole allows the roots to expand horizontally into loosened soil, while
keeping the floor firm prevents the root flare from settling below the finished grade.
6. According to NCLCLB rules, all active landscape contractor
licenses in North Carolina expire annually on which date?
A) December 31st
B) August 1st
C) June 30th
D) April 15th [1, 2, 3]
,Rationale: North Carolina landscape contractor licenses must be renewed annually. The
license year runs from August 1st to July 31st of the following calendar year. [1, 2]
7. To maintain an active license status in North Carolina, a
licensed landscape contractor must complete how many hours of
approved continuing education (CE) credits during each annual
renewal cycle?
A) 5 hours
B) 7 hours (including at least 3 hours of technical landscape credits)
C) 12 hours
D) 15 hours [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Rationale: NCLCLB regulations dictate that licensees must complete 7 hours of
approved continuing education each year. At least 3 of these hours must be classified
as technical (landscape-related) education, with the balance allowed as business
credits. [1, 2, 3, 4]
8. A landscape contractor is designing a french drain to mitigate
a low-lying swampy zone on a residential property. What is the
standard configuration requirement for the perforated pipe when
laying it in the trench?
A) Perforated slots must face straight up toward the sky to catch falling rain directly
B) Perforated slots must face downward toward the gravel bed to allow rising
groundwater to enter and drain efficiently
C) The pipe must be completely wrapped in solid aluminum foil before placement
D) The pipe must maintain a 45-degree vertical tilt angle relative to the horizon
Rationale: In a sub-surface french drain system, the holes in the perforated drainage
pipe must face downward. This allows rising groundwater to enter the pipe smoothly
from the bottom of the gravel trench as the water table rises.
9. Which plant disease is caused by an airborne fungus that
forms a white, powdery coating over the leaf surfaces of
susceptible North Carolina landscape plants like Crape Myrtles
and Flowering Dogwoods during humid summer conditions?
A) Fire Blight
B) Powdery Mildew
C) Phytophthora Root Rot
D) Black Spot of Rose
Rationale: Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease in NC that thrives in high
humidity and stagnant air. It leaves a white-to-gray talcum-like powder layer over new
foliage, distorting growth.
, 10. When applying fertilizer or pesticides to a commercial
property in North Carolina, under which condition is a licensed
landscape contractor exempt from holding a separate
Commercial Pesticide Applicator License from the NCDA&CS?
A) If they are applying granular fertilizer mixtures only
B) If they mix the liquid chemicals using manual stir sticks
C) They are never exempt; applying any pesticide for compensation requires a
structural or agricultural pesticide license
D) If the contract value is under $5,000 [1]
Rationale: While applying straight fertilizer does not require a pesticide license, applying
any pesticide (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) for compensation on another's
property strictly requires proper licensing under the NC Pesticide Board. [1]
11. Which of the following soil textures is characterized by high
water-holding capacity, fine particle sizes under 0.002 mm, high
plasticity, and low permeability, common throughout the NC
Piedmont region?
A) Coarse Sand
B) Silt Loam
C) Clay
D) Organic Muck
Rationale: Clay particles are the smallest mineral components of soil. Heavy clay soils
pack tightly together, creating tiny pore spaces that retain high water volumes but drain
very slowly, presenting a major drainage challenge.
12. A landscape contractor is installing a low-voltage landscape
lighting system. According to the National Electrical Code (NEC),
what is the maximum voltage permitted for a standard residential
low-voltage lighting circuit without requiring rigid conduit
containment?
A) 12 volts
B) 15 volts (or up to 30 volts for specific low-voltage secondary outputs)
C) 120 volts
D) 240 volts
Rationale: Low-voltage landscape lighting typical systems run on a step-down
transformer that converts 120V line voltage into safer secondary circuits, usually
between 12V and 15V.
13. When executing a landscape installation contract, the
contractor must verify the location of all underground utility
