BLArch Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield BLArch Bachelor of Landscape Architecture facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. The 'Vaux-le-Vicomte' estate in France is an example of which landscape design style? → French Baroque Formal
2. What was the primary design philosophy behind the City Beautiful movement in early 20th-century American urban design? → Civic grandeur through monumental civic spaces, parks, and boulevards
3. Which landscape grass is classified as a 'cool-season' turfgrass used primarily in northern US lawns? → Kentucky Bluegrass
4. The field of natural science known as _____ analyzes the composition, surface-shaping processes, and historical development of the earth. → Geology
5. In landscape construction, what is the standard bedding sand depth recommended under interlocking concrete pavers? → 1 inch
6. What is the minimum recommended slope away from a building foundation to ensure positive drainage? → 2% for 10 feet
7. Which soil amendment is commonly used to improve drainage in heavy clay soils? → Coarse sand or grit
8. A permeable geological stratum or formation that stores and transports significant groundwater. → Aquifier
9. Interior design excludes → None of the above
10. Famous urban designer and planner who once said,Make no tiny ideas, they have no magic to stir men's blood → Daniel Burnham
11. Using the city beautiful movement's guiding principles, Paris was rebuilt as follows: → Baron Hausmann
12. Using water temperature as an example → an abiotic factor.
13. What is 'pH' measuring when applied to soil in landscape horticulture? → Relative acidity or alkalinity
14. What was the primary innovation of Roberto Burle Marx's landscape designs in Brazil? → Use of native Brazilian plants in bold, abstract compositions
15. Which hydrological parameter is commonly used to estimate stormwater runoff from a landscape site? → Runoff Curve Number (CN)
16. During the City Beautiful era, these architects created Brasilia, the new capital of Brazil: → Lucio Costa
17. Which of the following sums up a community the best? → sharks, groupers, anemones and shrimp on a coral reef
18. False; only offered in the most dire circumstances. → Secondary walks need to accommodate only one person and should always be provided
19. Designer of Savannah, a planned European city in Georgia, USA → James Oglethorpe
20. What is the primary purpose of a 'rain garden' in landscape planting design? → Capture and infiltrate stormwater runoff
21. What is the primary goal of Low Impact Development (LID) in landscape design? → Mimic natural hydrology by managing stormwater at the source
22. A natural person with a Board of Interior Design certificate of registration and valid professional license. → None of the above
23. Which construction material is most commonly used for retaining walls in residential landscape projects in the US? → Segmental retaining wall blocks (SRW)
24. Which concrete mix component is responsible for binding aggregates together? → Portland cement paste
25. "This André Le Nôtre-designed garden evolved with the château. The 800-hectare grounds are west of the palace." → Gardens of Versailles
26. Maximum exposure to the sun greatest ventilation a productive drainage system pavement for the ground → To make it drier
27. This process chooses the best site use and development. → Development Sustainability Process
28. The 'triple bottom line' framework evaluates sustainable design projects based on: → Environmental performance, social equity, and economic viability
29. The concept of 'net-zero water' in sustainable design refers to: → Balancing water consumption with water harvesting and reuse on site
30. Floors, Ceilings, and Walls → Outdoor Room Concept, 3 major functions?