Planting Design and Ecology Flashcards
6 cards from real CLARB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Planting Design and Ecology flashcards as text
What does the term 'caliper' refer to when specifying nursery stock trees on a CLARB planting plan?
Answer: The diameter of the trunk measured 6 inches above grade for trees up to 4-inch caliper
Caliper is the standard measurement of trunk diameter taken 6 inches above ground level for nursery stock up to and including 4-inch caliper, per ANSI Z60.1 standards.
Which invasive species management strategy involves repeated cutting of above-ground growth to exhaust root reserves over time?
Answer: Mechanical control through repeated mowing or cutting
Repeated mechanical cutting depletes the carbohydrate reserves stored in roots of invasive species, eventually killing the plant without chemicals.
What is the primary ecological function of a riparian buffer planting along a stream?
Answer: Filter runoff, stabilize stream banks, provide wildlife habitat, and shade the stream to regulate temperature
Riparian buffers intercept nutrients and sediment from upland areas, prevent bank erosion, create wildlife corridors, and keep water temperatures lower for aquatic species.
A planting specification requires 'containerized stock' rather than B&B. What is a primary advantage of container-grown plants?
Answer: The intact root system reduces transplant shock and extends the planting season
Container-grown plants retain all roots within the container, minimizing transplant shock, and can be planted almost any time of year when soil is workable.
When designing a pollinator garden for a civic project, which plant selection criterion is most ecologically important?
Answer: Include a diversity of native flowering species with staggered bloom times to support pollinators throughout the growing season
Native plant diversity with sequential bloom times provides continuous nectar and pollen resources for a wider range of native bee, butterfly, and other pollinator species.
What soil test result would most commonly prompt a landscape architect to recommend sulfur amendments prior to planting acid-loving species like azaleas?
Answer: Soil pH above 6.5, indicating alkaline conditions unsuitable for acid-loving plants
Azaleas and other ericaceous plants prefer pH 4.5–6.0, so elemental sulfur is added to lower soil pH when results show neutral to alkaline conditions.