CH Landscape Design and Installation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Soil compaction during landscape installation is best prevented by:
- Watering soil heavily before equipment use
- Restricting heavy equipment to designated access routes and protecting root zones (Correct answer)
- Rototilling compacted areas after installation
- Adding sand to clay soils
Correct answer: Restricting heavy equipment to designated access routes and protecting root zones
Limiting equipment access to designated lanes and placing matting over root zones prevents compaction of soil pores, preserving aeration and drainage around plants.
Question 2: A landscape contractor following best management practices (BMPs) for erosion control on a new installation should first:
- Apply herbicides to clear existing vegetation
- Install perimeter erosion controls (silt fencing, wattles) before grading begins (Correct answer)
- Plant grass seed over the entire site
- Compact the soil to prevent movement
Correct answer: Install perimeter erosion controls (silt fencing, wattles) before grading begins
Perimeter erosion controls must be installed before any soil-disturbing activities to capture sediment before it can leave the site and enter waterways.
Question 3: When staking newly planted trees, current best practice recommends:
- Staking all trees for 2–3 years
- Staking only when necessary and removing stakes within 1 year (Correct answer)
- Using rigid wire to fix the tree immovably
- Staking below the first main branch
Correct answer: Staking only when necessary and removing stakes within 1 year
Trees should be staked only when they cannot stand alone, using flexible ties, and stakes should be removed within one growing season to allow trunk taper and strength to develop.
Question 4: Which landscape feature is most effective for managing stormwater runoff on residential properties?
- Expanded concrete driveways
- Rain gardens (bioretention areas) (Correct answer)
- Raised decking over lawn
- Conventional turf with underground drainage
Correct answer: Rain gardens (bioretention areas)
Rain gardens are shallow, planted depressions that capture and infiltrate stormwater runoff, reducing peak flow, filtering pollutants, and recharging groundwater.
Question 5: The purpose of a grading plan in landscape installation is to:
- Show plant species selection
- Define finished elevations and direct surface water drainage (Correct answer)
- Specify irrigation head placement
- Indicate lighting fixture locations
Correct answer: Define finished elevations and direct surface water drainage
A grading plan establishes finished grades, slopes, and drainage patterns to ensure water moves away from structures and toward appropriate drainage features.
Question 6: A landscape design element that provides a transition between tall trees and low ground covers is called a:
- Terminus
- Understory layer or shrub layer (Correct answer)
- Canopy element
- Screen planting
Correct answer: Understory layer or shrub layer
The understory or shrub layer bridges the visual and physical gap between tall overstory trees and low ground-level plantings, creating layered depth in a planting design.
CH Landscape Design and Installation 2
Soil compaction during landscape installation is best prevented by: