Soil Science and Site Analysis Flashcards

What is the standard depth recommended for new planting bed soil preparation in a landscape installation?

Answer: 8–12 inches

Tilling or loosening soil to 8–12 inches allows roots to establish quickly and reduces transplant stress.

What does 'existing grade' refer to in landscape design documents?

Answer: The current elevation of the ground surface before any grading work begins

Existing grade is the natural or previously graded ground elevation documented in a base survey, from which proposed changes are measured.

Which document records the legal boundaries of a property and is essential to any landscape design project?

Answer: Property survey or plat map

A property survey establishes legal boundaries, easements, and setbacks that constrain where landscape elements can be placed.

What is the primary concern with installing landscape features over a septic drain field?

Answer: Root intrusion and soil compaction can damage or block the drain field system

Deep-rooted plants and compacted soil reduce the drain field's ability to disperse effluent, causing system failure.

What is a 'cut and fill' analysis used for in landscape grading design?

Answer: Calculating the volume of soil to be excavated versus filled to achieve proposed grades

Cut and fill analysis ensures that excavated soil is reused on site as fill, minimizing import or export of material.

What type of soil test is recommended before any major landscape fertilization program?

Answer: Laboratory soil test measuring pH, macronutrients, and organic matter percentage

A laboratory soil test gives precise nutrient and pH data so fertilizer applications are based on actual deficiencies, not guesswork.