Tree Selection and Planting Flashcards
7 cards from real ISA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Tree Selection and Planting flashcards as text
Which principle best describes selecting a tree species whose mature size, form, and cultural needs match the available space and site conditions?
Answer: Right tree, right place
The 'right tree, right place' principle ensures long-term tree health by matching species requirements to existing site conditions and spatial constraints.
When evaluating an urban planting site, which soil characteristic is most critical to assess first?
Answer: Soil drainage
Poor drainage leads to anaerobic conditions that suffocate roots and is one of the leading causes of tree decline, making it the most critical factor to assess.
What does a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone designation primarily indicate for tree selection?
Answer: Minimum average annual temperature a plant can survive
USDA Hardiness Zones are based on average minimum winter temperatures, indicating whether a plant can survive winter cold in a given location.
Which tree growth form is MOST appropriate for planting in corridors beneath overhead utility lines?
Answer: Columnar or fastigiate
Columnar or fastigiate trees have a narrow, upright growth habit that minimizes horizontal spread and conflict with overhead utilities.
When selecting trees for a site with chronically compacted soils, which characteristic is MOST desirable?
Answer: Tolerance of reduced oxygen in the root zone
Compacted soils have reduced pore space and lower oxygen levels; selecting species tolerant of low oxygen ensures better establishment and long-term survival.
A tree being considered for a parking lot island should be evaluated primarily for tolerance of:
Answer: Heat, drought, and reflected radiation from pavement
Parking lot environments create extreme heat, drought, and radiant heat stress from surrounding pavement, requiring species with high tolerance for these stressors.
Which factor is MOST important when determining the appropriate canopy spread of a tree selected for a residential planting?
Answer: Proximity to overhead utilities, structures, and property lines at maturity
The tree's canopy spread at full maturity must be evaluated in relation to overhead utilities, buildings, and property lines to prevent future conflicts.