CGM Grounds Maintenance & Landscape Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CGM is evaluating a soil test that shows a pH of 5.2 for a cool-season turfgrass area. Which amendment should be applied?
- Sulfur
- Lime (Correct answer)
- Gypsum
- Iron sulfate
Correct answer: Lime
Lime (calcium carbonate) raises soil pH, and most cool-season turfgrasses perform best between pH 6.0 and 7.0.
Question 2: What is the primary function of a backflow preventer in an irrigation system?
- To regulate water pressure throughout the system
- To prevent contaminated water from flowing back into the potable supply (Correct answer)
- To filter debris from irrigation heads
- To automate zone scheduling
Correct answer: To prevent contaminated water from flowing back into the potable supply
A backflow preventer stops reverse flow that could introduce fertilizers, pesticides, or contaminants into the drinking water supply.
Question 3: Which grass species is best suited for a high-traffic athletic field in a warm-season climate?
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Tall fescue
- Bermudagrass (Correct answer)
- Creeping bentgrass
Correct answer: Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass is highly traffic-tolerant, heat-hardy, and recovers rapidly from wear, making it ideal for warm-season athletic fields.
Question 4: When applying pesticides near a water body, which label requirement takes precedence over all other application decisions?
- The applicator's personal experience
- The pesticide label as a legal document (Correct answer)
- Local weather forecasts
- The client's preference
Correct answer: The pesticide label as a legal document
The pesticide label is a legal document under FIFRA, and all applicators must follow its instructions, including buffer zones near water bodies.
Question 5: What is the recommended practice for managing clippings on a healthy, well-fertilized lawn?
- Always bag and remove clippings to prevent thatch
- Mulch clippings back into the turf to return nutrients (Correct answer)
- Rake clippings into beds as mulch immediately
- Compost all clippings off-site before returning
Correct answer: Mulch clippings back into the turf to return nutrients
Mulching clippings returns nitrogen and organic matter to the soil, reducing fertilizer needs without contributing significantly to thatch.
Question 6: Which irrigation scheduling method uses on-site weather data to calculate crop water needs in real time?
- Calendar-based scheduling
- Soil moisture sensor scheduling
- ET-based (smart) controller scheduling (Correct answer)
- Fixed-interval manual scheduling
Correct answer: ET-based (smart) controller scheduling
ET-based smart controllers use local weather station data to calculate evapotranspiration and automatically adjust run times to match plant water demand.
Question 7: A landscape manager discovers that a newly planted tree is exhibiting interveinal chlorosis on young leaves. The most likely nutrient deficiency is:
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Iron (Correct answer)
- Calcium
Correct answer: Iron
Iron deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis (yellow tissue between green veins) on young leaves, common in high-pH soils that limit iron availability.
CGM Grounds Maintenance & Landscape Management 3
A CGM is evaluating a soil test that shows a pH of 5.2 for a cool-season turfgrass area.
Which amendment should be applied?