Landscape Design Plant Selection and Horticulture 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended minimum soil depth for planting a 2-inch caliper shade tree?
- 24 inches (Correct answer)
- 6 inches
- 12 inches
- 36 inches
Correct answer: 24 inches
A minimum of 24 inches of quality soil depth is generally required to support the root system of a 2-inch caliper shade tree.
Question 2: Which characteristic defines a 'specimen plant' in landscape design?
- Unique ornamental quality that draws attention (Correct answer)
- Fast growth rate
- Ability to grow in shade
- Low water requirements
Correct answer: Unique ornamental quality that draws attention
A specimen plant has a striking ornamental quality such as unusual form, color, texture, or bloom that makes it a focal point in the landscape.
Question 3: What is the term for the gradual transition from taller plants at the back to shorter plants at the front of a border?
- Layering (Correct answer)
- Massing
- Drifting
- Edging
Correct answer: Layering
Layering creates visual depth by placing tall plants at the rear, mid-sized plants in the middle, and low plants at the front.
Question 4: Which invasive grass species commonly encroaches into cool-season lawns and must be considered when specifying turf?
- Bermudagrass (Correct answer)
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Zoysia
- Fescue
Correct answer: Bermudagrass
Bermudagrass spreads aggressively into cool-season lawns and is considered invasive outside its intended warm-season application zones.
Question 5: What are 'chill hours' in horticulture and why do they matter for plant selection?
- Hours below 45F needed for fruit or flower production (Correct answer)
- Hours of full sun required daily
- Irrigation frequency in cold months
- Time for roots to establish in winter
Correct answer: Hours below 45F needed for fruit or flower production
Chill hours are cumulative hours at temperatures below 45 degrees F that deciduous fruit trees and some ornamentals need to break dormancy and bloom or fruit properly.
Question 6: Which landscape design principle involves repeating plants, colors, or forms throughout a design to create visual unity?
- Rhythm (Correct answer)
- Contrast
- Balance
- Proportion
Correct answer: Rhythm
Rhythm uses repetition of design elements such as plant species, color, texture, or form to create a cohesive, flowing visual pattern.
Landscape Design Plant Selection and Horticulture 2
What is the recommended minimum soil depth for planting a 2-inch caliper shade tree?