Ornamental and Turf Pesticide Applicator
Exam Prep – Practice Questions & Study Guide
| Latest Update 2026 | Graded A+
What are some of the basic principles of Integrated pest management? - correct
answer1.) PREVENTION: Produce healthy plants that resist plants: (Selecting healthy
plants, using certified seed, providing good growing conditions, and making a good
match between the plant and the site)
2.) MONITOR AND IDENTIFY THE PEST: Identify the problem: (Finding out whether
the damage to a particular plant is caused by a pest or by an environmental condition
such as freezing or drought and always determine the exact pest that you are dealing
with)
3.) SET ACTION THRESHOLDS: Expect some pests and tolerate some damage:
(Deciding how many pests and how much damage to tolerate)
4.) CONTROL: Use pesticides as a last choice-Not a first choice
What are 4 tools or techniques that you could use to study a plant problem as you look
for pests? - correct answer1.) Keep records
2.) Use a hand lens
3.) Learn about symptoms
4.) Carry an index card
What are 2 kinds of drift? - correct answer1.) Particle drift: (The movement of fine
particles (droplets or dust) through the air while the pesticide is being applied)
2.) Vapor drift: (The movement of the pesticide in the form of a gas or vapor during or
after application)
What is a Buffer? - correct answerThis is the non treated zone between the area to be
treated and sensitive areas such as ponds, streams, wells, and drains
What is a Re-entry period? - correct answerThe length of time that must pass before
anyone can enter a treated area
Resistance to pesticides come from... - correct answerUsing the same pesticides over
and over again
What will happen to Pesticides in the soil over time? - correct answerThey are
eventually broken down by bacteria and fungi
When should you apply a pesticide? - correct answerWhen pests are abundant enough
cause unacceptable damage
,What hand lens magnification is recommended for insect identification? - correct
answer5 power to 10 power
What should you do in an IPM program? - correct answerProduce healthy plants that
can resist pests
Why should pesticide application be the last choice in pest management? - correct
answerBecause they are labeled for use only on specific pests and types of plants and
because it is safer to use other controls
What is Integrated pest management (IPM) ? - correct answerIt is an effective and
environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of
common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the
life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment
What is Phytotoxicity? - correct answerA toxic effect by a compound on plant growth
What is Pesticide breakdown? - correct answerThe breakdown of pesticides into non-
toxic substances from bacteria and fungi in the soil
What is a Threshold? - correct answerA 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 pesticide resistance? - correct
answerUsing a pesticide only when needed and choosing alternative pesticides from
different chemical classes
What is an Indicator plant? - correct answerPlants that can indicate the onset of a pest
infestation
What does proper mowing mean? - correct answerUsing sharp mower blades to make a
clean cut
What do you need to do to promote healthy turf and reduce disease? - correct
answerWater thoroughly when you first see wilting
What should you do when fertilizing? - correct answerDetermine fertilizer need through
results of a soil test
Cool-season cultivars... - correct answerCan be mixed to minimize disease
What does good soil drainage do? - correct answerPromotes healthy turfgrass
What are the 3 major geographical regions in the southeastern U.S.? - correct
answer1.) Mountains: (Cool-season grasses)
, 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 contribute to poor turf stands
and pest problems? - correct answer1.) Not enough water
2.) Not aerating
3.) A lot of thatch
4.) No regular mowing
What are 3 site problems that could contribute to poor turf stands and pest problems? -
correct answer1.) Poor drainage
2.) Shade
3.) Humidity
What are Cultivars? - correct answerThe different plant groups within a species
What is Compaction? - correct answerThis is when the ground gets hard from foot
traffic, machine traffic, etc..
What are 4 of the major cool-season grasses? - correct answer1.) Creeping bentgrass
2.) Tall fescue
3.) Kentucky bluegrass
4.) Perennial ryegrass
What are 4 of the major warm-season grasses? - correct answer1.) Bermudagrass
2.) Centipede grass
3.) Bahia grass
4.) Zoysia grass
What is Certified seed? - correct answerThe 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? - correct answerThe 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? - correct answerA layer of living and dead plant stems, leaves, and
roots that develop between the soil surface and green vegetation
What is Dethatching? - correct answerThe process of reducing or removing thatch
What is Aeration? - correct answerPractice that removes plugs from the soil and lets in
air flow and nutrients
Exam Prep – Practice Questions & Study Guide
| Latest Update 2026 | Graded A+
What are some of the basic principles of Integrated pest management? - correct
answer1.) PREVENTION: Produce healthy plants that resist plants: (Selecting healthy
plants, using certified seed, providing good growing conditions, and making a good
match between the plant and the site)
2.) MONITOR AND IDENTIFY THE PEST: Identify the problem: (Finding out whether
the damage to a particular plant is caused by a pest or by an environmental condition
such as freezing or drought and always determine the exact pest that you are dealing
with)
3.) SET ACTION THRESHOLDS: Expect some pests and tolerate some damage:
(Deciding how many pests and how much damage to tolerate)
4.) CONTROL: Use pesticides as a last choice-Not a first choice
What are 4 tools or techniques that you could use to study a plant problem as you look
for pests? - correct answer1.) Keep records
2.) Use a hand lens
3.) Learn about symptoms
4.) Carry an index card
What are 2 kinds of drift? - correct answer1.) Particle drift: (The movement of fine
particles (droplets or dust) through the air while the pesticide is being applied)
2.) Vapor drift: (The movement of the pesticide in the form of a gas or vapor during or
after application)
What is a Buffer? - correct answerThis is the non treated zone between the area to be
treated and sensitive areas such as ponds, streams, wells, and drains
What is a Re-entry period? - correct answerThe length of time that must pass before
anyone can enter a treated area
Resistance to pesticides come from... - correct answerUsing the same pesticides over
and over again
What will happen to Pesticides in the soil over time? - correct answerThey are
eventually broken down by bacteria and fungi
When should you apply a pesticide? - correct answerWhen pests are abundant enough
cause unacceptable damage
,What hand lens magnification is recommended for insect identification? - correct
answer5 power to 10 power
What should you do in an IPM program? - correct answerProduce healthy plants that
can resist pests
Why should pesticide application be the last choice in pest management? - correct
answerBecause they are labeled for use only on specific pests and types of plants and
because it is safer to use other controls
What is Integrated pest management (IPM) ? - correct answerIt is an effective and
environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of
common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the
life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment
What is Phytotoxicity? - correct answerA toxic effect by a compound on plant growth
What is Pesticide breakdown? - correct answerThe breakdown of pesticides into non-
toxic substances from bacteria and fungi in the soil
What is a Threshold? - correct answerA 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 pesticide resistance? - correct
answerUsing a pesticide only when needed and choosing alternative pesticides from
different chemical classes
What is an Indicator plant? - correct answerPlants that can indicate the onset of a pest
infestation
What does proper mowing mean? - correct answerUsing sharp mower blades to make a
clean cut
What do you need to do to promote healthy turf and reduce disease? - correct
answerWater thoroughly when you first see wilting
What should you do when fertilizing? - correct answerDetermine fertilizer need through
results of a soil test
Cool-season cultivars... - correct answerCan be mixed to minimize disease
What does good soil drainage do? - correct answerPromotes healthy turfgrass
What are the 3 major geographical regions in the southeastern U.S.? - correct
answer1.) Mountains: (Cool-season grasses)
, 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 contribute to poor turf stands
and pest problems? - correct answer1.) Not enough water
2.) Not aerating
3.) A lot of thatch
4.) No regular mowing
What are 3 site problems that could contribute to poor turf stands and pest problems? -
correct answer1.) Poor drainage
2.) Shade
3.) Humidity
What are Cultivars? - correct answerThe different plant groups within a species
What is Compaction? - correct answerThis is when the ground gets hard from foot
traffic, machine traffic, etc..
What are 4 of the major cool-season grasses? - correct answer1.) Creeping bentgrass
2.) Tall fescue
3.) Kentucky bluegrass
4.) Perennial ryegrass
What are 4 of the major warm-season grasses? - correct answer1.) Bermudagrass
2.) Centipede grass
3.) Bahia grass
4.) Zoysia grass
What is Certified seed? - correct answerThe 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? - correct answerThe 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? - correct answerA layer of living and dead plant stems, leaves, and
roots that develop between the soil surface and green vegetation
What is Dethatching? - correct answerThe process of reducing or removing thatch
What is Aeration? - correct answerPractice that removes plugs from the soil and lets in
air flow and nutrients
