2022 Nursery Test

A designer paired a red/purple barberry with a yellow sunshine ligustrum near the front door. These evergreen shrubs grow to similar size. Which of these was the designer probably trying to achieve?

• Rhythm

• Focalization

• Simplicity

• Symmetrical balance

Which of these statements is true about early spring flowering shrubs?

• They should be pruned in mid-winter.

• Their flower buds develop on wood from the previous growing season.

• Early spring pruning means more flowers, which develop quickly.

• They develop flowers on new spring growth.

Which of these is an herbaceous perennial?

• Mahonia

• Spiraea

• Hosta

• Azalea

Non-verbal communication skills are important in salesmanship and client relations. One non-verbal signal that helps indicate that you are listening intently to the client is:

• Eye contact

• Looking outside the sales space

• Hands on hips

• Wrinkling the nose

Mulching landscape plants has several benefits. Which of these is NOT a significant benefit of mulching?

• Winter protection

• Reducing water loss from the soil

• Nutrient modification

• Moderation of soil temperatures

In the landscape plant botanical name, Acer saccharum cv., the 'cv.' stands for:

• Color variation

• Cultivar vitae

• Common variety

• Cultivar

A landscape plant is tagged “Zones 5-9”. What does this mean?

• That the plant will survive the winters in USDA Climatic Zones 5-9.

• That the plant will survive with natural rainfall in Zones 5-9.

• That the plant will survive in the National Association of Landscaper’s Zones 5-9.

• That the plant will survive all naturally occurring conditions in Zones 5-9.

Lawn grasses vary in their ideal soil pH range, but a general range for best nutrient availability is:

• 6.5 to 7.0

• 5.0 to 6.0

• 4.5 to 5.5

• 5.5 to 5.7

Auxin is important in plant production. It is best described as:

• A naturally occurring resin for stem elongation.

• A plant hormone used to stimulate the rooting of cuttings.

• A synthetic herbicide.

• A city in Texas with a huge international nursery trade.

When using a walk-behind mower on a steep sloping lawn, it is safest to mow:

• across the slope

• in a crosshatch pattern

• up and down the slope

• up the slope only