Plant Selection and Horticulture Flashcards

What is the primary advantage of using native plants in a US landscape design?

Answer: Adapted to local climate and support local wildlife

Native plants evolved with local climate, soils, and wildlife, requiring less water, fertilizer, and pest control while providing habitat for native insects and birds.

What term refers to a group of the same plant species massed together for visual impact?

Answer: Mass planting

Mass planting of a single species creates bold, unified sweeps of color or texture that read strongly from a distance.

What does 'full sun' mean on a plant label in terms of daily light exposure?

Answer: 6 or more hours of direct sun per day

Full sun means the plant requires at least 6 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day to thrive and bloom properly.

Which root system issue is most commonly associated with planting trees too close to pavement?

Answer: Root heaving and pavement cracking

Tree roots grow outward and upward near hard surfaces, causing pavement to heave and crack as the roots expand over time.

What is the correct time of year to prune spring-flowering shrubs like azaleas in the US?

Answer: Immediately after flowering

Spring-flowering shrubs set their flower buds in summer and fall on old wood, so pruning immediately after bloom avoids removing next year's buds.

Which soil amendment is most commonly recommended to lower soil pH for acid-loving plants like azaleas?

Answer: Elemental sulfur

Elemental sulfur is oxidized by soil bacteria to produce sulfuric acid, gradually lowering soil pH to create acidic conditions preferred by azaleas and blueberries.