Ornamental/Turf Pesticide Applicators Licence Exam Study Guide
What is Pesticide breakdown? The breakdown of pesticides into non-toxic substances from bacteria and fungi in
the soil
What is a Threshold? A point at which pest populations or environmental conditions indicate that pest
control action must be taken
What are the strategies that delay the development of Using a pesticide only when needed and choosing alternative pesticides from
pesticide resistance? different chemical classes
What is an Indicator plant? Plants that can indicate the onset of a pest infestation
What does proper mowing mean? Using sharp mower blades to make a clean cut
What do you need to do to promote healthy turf and Water thoroughly when you first see wilting
reduce disease?
What should you do when fertilizing? Determine fertilizer need through results of a soil test
Cool-season cultivars... Can be mixed to minimize disease
What does good soil drainage do? Promotes healthy turfgrass
What are the 3 major geographical regions in the 1.) Mountains: (Cool-season grasses)
southeastern U.S.? 2.) Piedmont: (The transitional zone where both warm and cool-season grasses are
used)
*Cool-season gasses do better in the upper-piedmont region
*Warm-season grasses do better in the lower-piedmont region
3.) Coastal plain: (Warm-season grasses)
What are 4 mistakes in turf plant management that could 1.) Not enough water
contribute to poor turf stands and pest problems? 2.) Not aerating
3.) A lot of thatch
4.) No regular mowing
What are 3 site problems that could contribute to poor turf 1.) Poor drainage
stands and pest problems? 2.) Shade
3.) Humidity
What are Cultivars? The different plant groups within a species
What is Compaction? This is when the ground gets hard from foot traffic, machine traffic, etc..
, Ornamental/Turf Pesticide Applicators Licence Exam Study Guide
What are 4 of the major cool-season grasses? 1.) Creeping bentgrass
2.) Tall fescue
3.) Kentucky bluegrass
4.) Perennial ryegrass
What are 4 of the major warm-season grasses? 1.) Bermudagrass
2.) Centipede grass
3.) Bahia grass
4.) Zoysia grass
What is Certified seed? The appropriate turf grass seed that meets the standards for that specific condition
that you are using it for
What does it mean when a grass goes dormant? The grass has died off (turned brown) because of too cold or too hot of conditions
and will green up when when the conditions are right again
What is Thatch? A layer of living and dead plant stems, leaves, and roots that develop between the
soil surface and green vegetation
What is Dethatching? The process of reducing or removing thatch
What is Aeration? Practice that removes plugs from the soil and lets in air flow and nutrients
Which method will NOT help monitor cutworms? Pitfall traps
What is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) ? A common bacterium that kills many types of caterpillars
When should you apply an insecticide? When the insect is at its most vulnerable stage
What is the Milky spore disease? A bacterial disease that is caused by the bacterium, Bacillus popilliae, and kills
Japanese beetles
What do you do to control fire ants? Use a combination of broadcast bait and mound treatments
Sod webworms... Spin silk webbing near the soil in turf
An insecticide applied to control white grubs... Should be watered in to reach the soil
Mole crickets... Have only one generation per year
What is Pesticide breakdown? The breakdown of pesticides into non-toxic substances from bacteria and fungi in
the soil
What is a Threshold? A point at which pest populations or environmental conditions indicate that pest
control action must be taken
What are the strategies that delay the development of Using a pesticide only when needed and choosing alternative pesticides from
pesticide resistance? different chemical classes
What is an Indicator plant? Plants that can indicate the onset of a pest infestation
What does proper mowing mean? Using sharp mower blades to make a clean cut
What do you need to do to promote healthy turf and Water thoroughly when you first see wilting
reduce disease?
What should you do when fertilizing? Determine fertilizer need through results of a soil test
Cool-season cultivars... Can be mixed to minimize disease
What does good soil drainage do? Promotes healthy turfgrass
What are the 3 major geographical regions in the 1.) Mountains: (Cool-season grasses)
southeastern U.S.? 2.) Piedmont: (The transitional zone where both warm and cool-season grasses are
used)
*Cool-season gasses do better in the upper-piedmont region
*Warm-season grasses do better in the lower-piedmont region
3.) Coastal plain: (Warm-season grasses)
What are 4 mistakes in turf plant management that could 1.) Not enough water
contribute to poor turf stands and pest problems? 2.) Not aerating
3.) A lot of thatch
4.) No regular mowing
What are 3 site problems that could contribute to poor turf 1.) Poor drainage
stands and pest problems? 2.) Shade
3.) Humidity
What are Cultivars? The different plant groups within a species
What is Compaction? This is when the ground gets hard from foot traffic, machine traffic, etc..
, Ornamental/Turf Pesticide Applicators Licence Exam Study Guide
What are 4 of the major cool-season grasses? 1.) Creeping bentgrass
2.) Tall fescue
3.) Kentucky bluegrass
4.) Perennial ryegrass
What are 4 of the major warm-season grasses? 1.) Bermudagrass
2.) Centipede grass
3.) Bahia grass
4.) Zoysia grass
What is Certified seed? The appropriate turf grass seed that meets the standards for that specific condition
that you are using it for
What does it mean when a grass goes dormant? The grass has died off (turned brown) because of too cold or too hot of conditions
and will green up when when the conditions are right again
What is Thatch? A layer of living and dead plant stems, leaves, and roots that develop between the
soil surface and green vegetation
What is Dethatching? The process of reducing or removing thatch
What is Aeration? Practice that removes plugs from the soil and lets in air flow and nutrients
Which method will NOT help monitor cutworms? Pitfall traps
What is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) ? A common bacterium that kills many types of caterpillars
When should you apply an insecticide? When the insect is at its most vulnerable stage
What is the Milky spore disease? A bacterial disease that is caused by the bacterium, Bacillus popilliae, and kills
Japanese beetles
What do you do to control fire ants? Use a combination of broadcast bait and mound treatments
Sod webworms... Spin silk webbing near the soil in turf
An insecticide applied to control white grubs... Should be watered in to reach the soil
Mole crickets... Have only one generation per year
