CGM Grounds Maintenance & Landscape Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of topdressing a turfgrass area with sand?
- To increase soil pH
- To improve surface smoothness and thatch decomposition (Correct answer)
- To supply macronutrients directly to roots
- To reduce irrigation frequency
Correct answer: To improve surface smoothness and thatch decomposition
Topdressing with sand improves surface smoothness, dilutes thatch, and enhances drainage in turfgrass areas.
Question 2: Which mowing practice best reduces scalping on undulating terrain?
- Raising the cutting height (Correct answer)
- Increasing mowing frequency
- Using a reel mower exclusively
- Mowing in the same direction each time
Correct answer: Raising the cutting height
Raising the cutting height prevents the mower deck from dipping into low spots and cutting too close to the soil on undulations.
Question 3: A grounds manager notices broadleaf weeds appearing in a cool-season lawn. Which herbicide classification is most appropriate for selective control?
- Pre-emergent graminicide
- Post-emergent broadleaf herbicide (Correct answer)
- Non-selective contact herbicide
- Soil fumigant
Correct answer: Post-emergent broadleaf herbicide
Post-emergent broadleaf herbicides selectively control dicot weeds without harming established cool-season turfgrass.
Question 4: What does the term 'evapotranspiration (ET) rate' represent in irrigation scheduling?
- The rate at which water infiltrates the soil profile
- The combined water loss from soil evaporation and plant transpiration (Correct answer)
- The volume of water applied per irrigation cycle
- The runoff coefficient for a given slope
Correct answer: The combined water loss from soil evaporation and plant transpiration
ET rate measures total water lost to the atmosphere from both soil evaporation and plant transpiration, guiding irrigation replacement needs.
Question 5: Which type of pruning cut removes a branch back to its point of origin or a lateral branch?
- Heading cut
- Thinning cut (Correct answer)
- Pollarding cut
- Crown reduction cut
Correct answer: Thinning cut
A thinning cut removes a branch entirely at its origin or back to a lateral, maintaining natural form and improving light penetration.
Question 6: In a sports field renovation plan, what is the main agronomic benefit of core aeration followed by overseeding?
- It prevents surface water runoff entirely
- It reduces thatch while improving seed-to-soil contact and germination (Correct answer)
- It eliminates the need for fertilization that season
- It hardens the turf surface for heavy athletic use immediately
Correct answer: It reduces thatch while improving seed-to-soil contact and germination
Core aeration removes plugs to reduce compaction and thatch, and the resulting holes improve seed-to-soil contact for successful overseeding.
Question 7: Which environmental condition most commonly causes powdery mildew in landscape plants?
- High humidity with full sun exposure
- Low humidity with shaded, poorly ventilated conditions (Correct answer)
- Waterlogged soils with high nitrogen
- Extreme heat above 95°F
Correct answer: Low humidity with shaded, poorly ventilated conditions
Powdery mildew thrives in shaded areas with poor air circulation and low humidity, unlike most other fungal diseases.
CGM Grounds Maintenance & Landscape Management 2
What is the primary purpose of topdressing a turfgrass area with sand?