CATS Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Seiridium canker on Italian cypress and other Cupressus species in the Southwest is most accurately described as: → A fungal disease causing dieback of branches with resinous cankers on affected stems
2. Which of the following pruning practices is explicitly forbidden under ANSI A300 standards? → Leaving a flush cut by removing the branch collar
3. Which factor is most important when assessing tree stability? → Structural defects and root integrity
4. Which species commonly found in Albuquerque is particularly prone to sudden limb failure (SLF) during calm, hot summer days? → Arizona ash and cottonwood
5. Sodium accumulation in soil causes deflocculation of clay particles, resulting in which detrimental effect? → Loss of soil structure and severely reduced permeability
6. What is the purpose of constructing a watering berm around a newly planted tree? → To direct and concentrate irrigation water to the root zone
7. What is the primary structural advantage of a branch attachment with a visible branch bark ridge (BBR) compared to one without? → Represents a strong union where the tree has compartmentalized the attachment
8. Which New Mexico tree produces clusters of bright red or orange berries in autumn and has pinnately compound leaves with 11–17 leaflets? → Smooth sumac
9. Before planting near Albuquerque sidewalks, which factor should be evaluated to prevent infrastructure damage? → The species' root architecture and surface root growth potential
10. Which mitigation option is most appropriate when a significant defect cannot be adequately addressed by pruning or cabling? → Tree removal
11. Which hormone primarily promotes cell elongation in tree shoots and plays a major role in apical dominance? → Auxin
12. In Albuquerque, what is the recommended mulch depth for trees in landscape beds to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature? → 2–4 inches of organic mulch
13. A 'heading cut' differs from a 'thinning cut' in that a heading cut: → Cuts a branch back to a stub or small lateral not large enough to assume dominance
14. Which of the following is a common indicator of internal wood decay in a standing tree? → Fruiting bodies (conks or mushrooms) growing on the trunk
15. What does the N-P-K ratio on a fertilizer label represent? → Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium percentages by weight
16. Which pruning technique is best for reducing the overall size of a tree while maintaining its natural shape? → Crown reduction
17. What term describes the total amount of water lost from a landscape through plant transpiration and soil evaporation combined? → Evapotranspiration (ET)
18. Which fertilizer application method places nutrients directly into the root zone and is most effective for trees in compacted urban soils? → Deep root liquid injection
19. Which wind-related factor is most unique to Albuquerque that arborists must account for during urban tree risk assessments? → Seasonal high-wind events from the Rio Grande valley and mountain downslope winds
20. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been detected moving into New Mexico. Which ash species native to the Rio Grande riparian corridor is most at risk? → Fraxinus velutina (Arizona ash)
21. A native New Mexico shrub-tree with pinnately compound leaves, showy pink flowers in racemes, and flattened seed pods that persist into winter is: → New Mexico locust
22. In Albuquerque urban forestry, what is the primary reason for maintaining a clear branch union (no included bark) in young trees during formative pruning? → To prevent future structural failures as the tree matures and branches grow larger
23. What is the primary concern when applying nitrogen fertilizer to trees in a drought-stressed condition? → Fertilizer salts can worsen root stress when soil moisture is low
24. What is the primary cause of soil compaction around urban trees? → Foot and vehicle traffic
25. What does the term 'target' refer to in tree risk assessment? → A person, structure, or area that could be struck by a failing tree or branch
26. Which environmental factor increases tree failure risk? → High winds and saturated soil conditions
27. Which New Mexico riparian tree has opposite, simple, heart-shaped leaves, showy white tubular flowers, and long bean-like pods up to 20 inches? → Western catalpa
28. A 'natural target pruning' cut is guided by which two anatomical features? → Branch bark ridge and branch collar
29. When performing a three-cut method to remove a large branch, what is the purpose of the first undercut? → To prevent bark stripping down the trunk as the branch falls
30. Which soil horizon is most important for tree root development and nutrient uptake? → A horizon (topsoil)