Landscape Design Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the Landscape Design exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📚 Landscape Design Topics to Study (52)
✍️ Sample Landscape Design Questions & Answers
1. Which site analysis factor must be determined before locating any underground irrigation or electrical lines?
Calling 811 is legally required before digging in most US states to locate buried utility lines and prevent damage.
2. What is 'zoning' in a landscape lighting control system?
Zoning divides a landscape lighting system into independently controlled circuits, allowing different areas (front entry, patio, garden beds) to be controlled separately with different scenes, schedules, and dimming levels.
3. What is 'silhouetting' as a landscape lighting technique?
Silhouetting places a light source behind a plant or object aimed at a wall or surface, creating a striking dark silhouette of the subject against the illuminated background.
4. What is 'organic matter' in soil and why is it important for landscape planting?
Organic matter consists of decomposed biological materials that improve soil structure, increase water and nutrient holding capacity, and feed soil microorganisms essential for plant health.
5. What does 'markup' versus 'margin' mean in landscape project pricing?
Markup is calculated as a percentage of cost (Cost × 1.30 = 30% markup), while margin is the percentage of the selling price that represents profit (Profit ÷ Price = margin %), resulting in different values even for the same job.
6. What is the purpose of a 'certificate of occupancy' (CO) in relation to large landscape projects?
A Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the local building authority certifying that a structure or improvement meets all applicable building codes and is safe for its intended use, sometimes required for significant hardscape additions.