Wisconsin Pesticide Applicator
Test Commercial Category 6.0
Exam Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Verified
Answers. GRADED A+. Latest
2026/2027 Update
What determines whether a given plant is a weed? - Answer✔✔-A weed is any
unwanted plant
What are the two main goals of weed management? - Answer✔✔-The primary
goal is to minimize weed competition and the other main goal is to limit the
weed's reproduction in order to manage the weed population in years to come.
Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from woody plants -
Answer✔✔-Grasses are considered monocots, meaning they have a single
seed leaf, they also have narrow leaves with parallel veins and a fibrous root
system. Broadleaf plants have two seed leaves and are therefore called dicots,
they have broad leaves with veins that form a net patterns. Broadleaf plants
can be further classified into herbaceous and woody, where the woody plants
have a thick layer of dense tissue called bark, which herbaceous plants lack.
,Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and perennial
plants - Answer✔✔-Annual plants live for less than a year, they produce many
seeds in one growing season, and then die. Summer annuals winter as seeds,
and winter annuals winter as a low-growing plant, both summer and winter
annuals are easiest to control when they are small. Biennial plants live for two
growing seasons, they germinate from seed in the spring or summer and
winter as a rosette of leaves. They flower in their second year, produce seeds
and then die. Both annuals and biennials reproduce only by seed. Perennial
plants live for at least 2 years and sometimes longer, they may reproduce by
seed or vegetatively through several different mechanisms.
What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when is it
easiest to do so? - Answer✔✔-To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill the
whole shoot. Controlling these weeds with tillage or herbicides will kill them
plus stop seed production, which will reduce future weed problems. The most
effective way to kill perennials is to destroy the underground vegetative
structures by either repeatedly tilling the soil or by using a herbicide that
translocates to destroy all of the plant parts.
How should you time herbicide application with respect to a plant's life cycle
and which timing is most effective? - Answer✔✔-All weeds may start as
seedlings and it is most effective to treat the plants at this stage because less
energy is required to kill the plants at this stage than at any other. Biennials and
Annuals are controlled by a fall or early spring treatment, and perennials are
controlled best with a fall treatment as well.
What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on application
of soil herbicides? - Answer✔✔-Soil organic matter and clay particles can
adsorb soil-applied herbicides, meaning more herbicide will be required in
these types of soils because the herbicide will be bound to the soil particles
and will not be available to be absorbed by the weeds.
,How do you keep soil herbicides from moving off target? - Answer✔✔-Do not
apply herbicides to areas where they may leach into groundwater, or run off
into water sources or cropping areas. Also avoid applying herbicides to areas
where desired tree and shrub roots may extend and DO NOT apply herbicides
to frozen soils.
How and when should you apply soil herbicides? - Answer✔✔-Soil treatments
are commonly used when a site requires residual non-selective control, such as
electric transformer stations, rail ballasts and signpost bases. They can be
applied any time that the soil is not frozen, and some soil applied herbicides
need to be transported by rain to be absorbed by the plant.
When are foliar sprays appropriate and not appropriate? - Answer✔✔-Foliar
sprays are not recommended for large brush because of the potential for drift.
Foliar sprays should be operated from the ground close to the plant and can
either be applied through broadcast or spot application.
What are the factors in timing a foliar spray? - Answer✔✔-Foliar treatments
can be made from the time the leaves are fully expanded until they begin to
turn color in the fall, but are most effective when applied to fully developed
foliage of an actively growing plant. They should be applied at a temperature
between 60 and 80 degrees F, and should have adequate time to soak into to
plant, thus applying right before it rains is ineffective.
How are adjuvants used most effectively? - Answer✔✔-Adjuvants may be
necessary to use for better absorption by foliage that is extremely waxy or
hairy.
, What are the similarities and differences between foliar, cut-surface, and basal
bark applications? - Answer✔✔-Foliar applications are put directly onto the
foliage of a growing plant. Basal bark applications are used to control shrubs,
canes and thickets or trees up to 5 inches in diameter and are applied to the
lower 18 inches of the stems. Cut-surface treatments are used to control plants
with thick bark or when they have trunks larger than 5 inches in diameter at
the base.
Define and explain "pesticide". - Answer✔✔-A pesticide is any substance used
to directly control pest populations or to prevent or reduce pest damage.
Pesticides can range from anything such as an insecticide to a herbicide to a
fungicide.
What is the difference between organic and inorganic? - Answer✔✔-Organic
means the compound contains the element carbon, it does not mean it is
natural. Inorganic means that the it is derived from minerals that occur in
nature.
What is the difference between the different types of pesticide names? -
Answer✔✔-Chemical name: complies with accepted guidelines established by
chemists.
Common name: normally appear on the label before or above the chemical
name and refers to an active ingredient.
Trade name: the name given by the manufacturer, appears in large letters at
the top of the label
Compare selective and non-selective herbicides: - Answer✔✔-Selective
herbicides only harm certain plants and leave others unharmed. Non-selective
herbicides are toxic to most or all plants.
Test Commercial Category 6.0
Exam Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Verified
Answers. GRADED A+. Latest
2026/2027 Update
What determines whether a given plant is a weed? - Answer✔✔-A weed is any
unwanted plant
What are the two main goals of weed management? - Answer✔✔-The primary
goal is to minimize weed competition and the other main goal is to limit the
weed's reproduction in order to manage the weed population in years to come.
Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from woody plants -
Answer✔✔-Grasses are considered monocots, meaning they have a single
seed leaf, they also have narrow leaves with parallel veins and a fibrous root
system. Broadleaf plants have two seed leaves and are therefore called dicots,
they have broad leaves with veins that form a net patterns. Broadleaf plants
can be further classified into herbaceous and woody, where the woody plants
have a thick layer of dense tissue called bark, which herbaceous plants lack.
,Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and perennial
plants - Answer✔✔-Annual plants live for less than a year, they produce many
seeds in one growing season, and then die. Summer annuals winter as seeds,
and winter annuals winter as a low-growing plant, both summer and winter
annuals are easiest to control when they are small. Biennial plants live for two
growing seasons, they germinate from seed in the spring or summer and
winter as a rosette of leaves. They flower in their second year, produce seeds
and then die. Both annuals and biennials reproduce only by seed. Perennial
plants live for at least 2 years and sometimes longer, they may reproduce by
seed or vegetatively through several different mechanisms.
What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when is it
easiest to do so? - Answer✔✔-To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill the
whole shoot. Controlling these weeds with tillage or herbicides will kill them
plus stop seed production, which will reduce future weed problems. The most
effective way to kill perennials is to destroy the underground vegetative
structures by either repeatedly tilling the soil or by using a herbicide that
translocates to destroy all of the plant parts.
How should you time herbicide application with respect to a plant's life cycle
and which timing is most effective? - Answer✔✔-All weeds may start as
seedlings and it is most effective to treat the plants at this stage because less
energy is required to kill the plants at this stage than at any other. Biennials and
Annuals are controlled by a fall or early spring treatment, and perennials are
controlled best with a fall treatment as well.
What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on application
of soil herbicides? - Answer✔✔-Soil organic matter and clay particles can
adsorb soil-applied herbicides, meaning more herbicide will be required in
these types of soils because the herbicide will be bound to the soil particles
and will not be available to be absorbed by the weeds.
,How do you keep soil herbicides from moving off target? - Answer✔✔-Do not
apply herbicides to areas where they may leach into groundwater, or run off
into water sources or cropping areas. Also avoid applying herbicides to areas
where desired tree and shrub roots may extend and DO NOT apply herbicides
to frozen soils.
How and when should you apply soil herbicides? - Answer✔✔-Soil treatments
are commonly used when a site requires residual non-selective control, such as
electric transformer stations, rail ballasts and signpost bases. They can be
applied any time that the soil is not frozen, and some soil applied herbicides
need to be transported by rain to be absorbed by the plant.
When are foliar sprays appropriate and not appropriate? - Answer✔✔-Foliar
sprays are not recommended for large brush because of the potential for drift.
Foliar sprays should be operated from the ground close to the plant and can
either be applied through broadcast or spot application.
What are the factors in timing a foliar spray? - Answer✔✔-Foliar treatments
can be made from the time the leaves are fully expanded until they begin to
turn color in the fall, but are most effective when applied to fully developed
foliage of an actively growing plant. They should be applied at a temperature
between 60 and 80 degrees F, and should have adequate time to soak into to
plant, thus applying right before it rains is ineffective.
How are adjuvants used most effectively? - Answer✔✔-Adjuvants may be
necessary to use for better absorption by foliage that is extremely waxy or
hairy.
, What are the similarities and differences between foliar, cut-surface, and basal
bark applications? - Answer✔✔-Foliar applications are put directly onto the
foliage of a growing plant. Basal bark applications are used to control shrubs,
canes and thickets or trees up to 5 inches in diameter and are applied to the
lower 18 inches of the stems. Cut-surface treatments are used to control plants
with thick bark or when they have trunks larger than 5 inches in diameter at
the base.
Define and explain "pesticide". - Answer✔✔-A pesticide is any substance used
to directly control pest populations or to prevent or reduce pest damage.
Pesticides can range from anything such as an insecticide to a herbicide to a
fungicide.
What is the difference between organic and inorganic? - Answer✔✔-Organic
means the compound contains the element carbon, it does not mean it is
natural. Inorganic means that the it is derived from minerals that occur in
nature.
What is the difference between the different types of pesticide names? -
Answer✔✔-Chemical name: complies with accepted guidelines established by
chemists.
Common name: normally appear on the label before or above the chemical
name and refers to an active ingredient.
Trade name: the name given by the manufacturer, appears in large letters at
the top of the label
Compare selective and non-selective herbicides: - Answer✔✔-Selective
herbicides only harm certain plants and leave others unharmed. Non-selective
herbicides are toxic to most or all plants.
