CGM Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which of the following is a key principle of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as it relates to environmental policy compliance? → Employing economic thresholds to determine when treatment is necessary
2. What is the most important principle in professional Certified Grounds Manager practice? → Maintaining competence through continuous learning and adherence to standards
3. What is a 'right-to-know' posting requirement for grounds operations maintaining chemical storage areas? → An accessible SDS binder or electronic system with emergency contact information
4. Which type of fire extinguisher is most appropriate for a fuel fire on a gasoline-powered grounds vehicle? → Class B (dry chemical or CO2)
5. Which cost is typically classified as a fixed cost in a grounds operations budget? → Building lease for the maintenance facility
6. A grounds manager discovers lead contamination in a children's play area. What is the MOST immediate remediation priority? → Install a clean soil cap and restrict access
7. When conducting a formal landscape audit, what does a 'condition rating scale' primarily evaluate? → The physical health and structural integrity of individual landscape features
8. Which OSHA standard specifically requires employers to provide workers with access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous chemicals in the workplace? → 29 CFR 1910.1200 – Hazard Communication Standard
9. During a heat advisory, which symptom indicates heat stroke rather than heat exhaustion in a grounds worker? → Hot, red, dry or damp skin with confusion or loss of consciousness
10. What is the primary advantage of using data loggers for environmental monitoring compared to manual recording? → Continuous, high-frequency data capture without observer bias
11. Dormant oil applications on woody ornamentals are most effective when applied: → Before bud break when temperatures are above freezing
12. Which interview question is ILLEGAL to ask a job applicant under federal employment law? → 'What is your religious affiliation?'
13. Why is staying current with industry developments important for Certified Grounds Manager professionals? → To provide the best possible service using current knowledge and practices
14. What is a safe practice when refueling gas-powered equipment? → With the engine turned off and in a ventilated area
15. What is 'green infrastructure' as it relates to grounds management and stormwater? → Using vegetation, soils, and natural processes to manage stormwater
16. When applying pesticides near a water body, which label requirement takes precedence over all other application decisions? → The pesticide label as a legal document
17. What is the recommended buffer width of un-mowed vegetation along a water body to help filter runoff? → 25–100 feet or more depending on slope
18. When winterizing an irrigation system in a cold US climate, what is the primary reason for blowing out the system with compressed air? → To remove water from pipes and components to prevent freeze damage and pipe bursting
19. Under the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) framework, which step must occur before any control tactic is selected? → Identify the pest and assess population levels against an action threshold
20. What is the primary purpose of core aerification in sports turf management? → To relieve soil compaction and improve air, water, and nutrient movement
21. When operating a wood chipper, which action poses the greatest risk of a pull-in injury? → Pushing material into the feed chute while reaching forward over the opening
22. Which remote sensing technology allows a grounds manager to detect early turfgrass stress across large areas before it is visible to the naked eye? → Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) imaging via drone or satellite
23. Which regulatory framework most directly governs the cleanup of contaminated sites in the United States? → Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA/Superfund)
24. Which financial metric measures the number of months or years required for an investment to pay for itself through savings? → Payback period
25. What benefit do native plants provide in landscape management? → They thrive in local climates with minimal upkeep
26. What does the term 'Waters of the United States' (WOTUS) determine in grounds management? → Which water bodies are subject to federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act
27. A grounds crew uses a rented wood chipper with a 6-inch diameter capacity. Which feeding practice is most hazardous? → Reaching into the feed chute to push material while running
28. Which cover crop strategy can a grounds manager use in off-season athletic fields to improve soil health sustainably? → Seeding nitrogen-fixing legumes to build soil fertility naturally
29. What is the purpose of a 'muster point' in a grounds department emergency plan? → A designated assembly area where workers report after an evacuation
30. Which carbon sequestration practice can a grounds manager implement to help offset greenhouse gas emissions on a large turf property? → Convert select turf areas to trees and woody shrubs