CPP Landscape Design & Installation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which design principle refers to the visual weight and equilibrium achieved when one side of a landscape mirrors the other?
- Symmetrical balance (Correct answer)
- Rhythm
- Unity
- Proportion
Correct answer: Symmetrical balance
Symmetrical balance occurs when both sides of a central axis are mirror images, creating a formal, stable appearance.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a grading plan in landscape installation?
- To specify plant species locations
- To show existing utility lines
- To define landform and drainage patterns (Correct answer)
- To list hardscape materials
Correct answer: To define landform and drainage patterns
A grading plan shows proposed elevation changes and contours to direct surface water drainage away from structures and toward appropriate outlets.
Question 3: In landscape design, the term 'hardscape' refers to:
- Drought-tolerant plants
- Non-living constructed elements like patios and walls (Correct answer)
- Compacted soil areas
- Native plant communities
Correct answer: Non-living constructed elements like patios and walls
Hardscape encompasses all non-living, constructed features in a landscape such as patios, walkways, retaining walls, and fencing.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'sight lines' in landscape design?
- The height of the tallest plant in a bed
- Visual paths from a viewpoint to focal points or beyond (Correct answer)
- The spacing between plants in a row
- Underground irrigation line routes
Correct answer: Visual paths from a viewpoint to focal points or beyond
Sight lines are the visual corridors that guide the eye from a specific viewpoint to a focal point or borrowed scenery, shaping how space is perceived.
Question 5: When installing balled-and-burlapped trees, the root flare should be positioned at:
- 6 inches below grade
- Grade level or slightly above (Correct answer)
- 12 inches below grade
- The same depth as in the nursery container
Correct answer: Grade level or slightly above
The root flare should sit at or just slightly above finished grade to prevent crown rot and ensure proper establishment.
Question 6: Which factor is MOST important when selecting plants for a specific landscape site?
- Current market price of the plant
- Aesthetic preference of the designer
- Compatibility with site conditions including soil, light, and water availability (Correct answer)
- Availability at local nurseries
Correct answer: Compatibility with site conditions including soil, light, and water availability
Matching plant requirements to site conditions is fundamental to successful establishment, longevity, and reduced maintenance needs.
Question 7: A planting plan drawn at a scale of 1 inch = 10 feet means that a 30-foot-wide planting bed would be represented on the plan as:
- 30 inches
- 10 inches
- 3 inches (Correct answer)
- 300 inches
Correct answer: 3 inches
At 1 inch = 10 feet, a 30-foot bed is drawn as 30 ÷ 10 = 3 inches on the plan.
CPP Landscape Design & Installation 1
Which design principle refers to the visual weight and equilibrium achieved when one side of a landscape mirrors the other?