LARE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield LARE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which soil pH range is considered optimal for most landscape plants in the US? → 5.5–7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
2. On a LARE exam question, which factor is MOST critical when selecting street trees for a narrow tree pit in an urban streetscape? → Tolerance of compacted, poorly drained soils and limited rooting volume
3. What is the minimum recommended slope for turf areas to ensure positive surface drainage away from structures? → 2%
4. What one of the following is necessary for a contract to be enforceable? → There must be an exchange of a thing in return for a promise of another thing
5. What contour interval is most appropriate for detailed grading plans on a residential site with moderate slopes? → 1 foot
6. Which planting zone specification best ensures plant survival when installing trees in urban heat islands? → Select plants rated one zone warmer than the site's USDA zone
7. Which element of a solar analysis is most critical when siting a new passive-solar community building on a temperate northern-hemisphere site? → Maximizing south-facing glass exposure
8. What does a 'plant schedule' on construction documents typically include? → Botanical name, common name, size, quantity, and special conditions
9. What is the typical operating pressure range for standard pop-up spray heads? → 30–45 PSI
10. A client requests a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant planting design. Which design approach best achieves this goal? → Selecting regionally native and climate-adapted plants in naturalistic groupings
11. A landscape architect is designing a playground. Which ASTM standard governs the acceptable impact attenuation of surfacing materials beneath play equipment? → ASTM F1292
12. What is the correct sequence of components from the water meter to the irrigation zone valve in a properly designed system? → Meter → backflow preventer → master valve → filter → zone valve
13. NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) requires federal agencies to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) when a project may: → Significantly affect the quality of the human environment
14. A bid bond is typically set at what percentage of the bid amount? → 5–10%
15. Which of the following would be in a project handbook ALWAYS? Decide which options apply. → General Conditions
16. What is the primary significance of establishing the date of Substantial Completion for a construction project? → It is the date when the owner can occupy or utilize the work for its intended purpose.
17. A final punch list is typically prepared and distributed at what project milestone? → At or shortly before substantial completion
18. On a LARE site section, which layer is typically shown as 'fill' and why must it be identified? → Previously placed non-native material that may be unstable or contaminated
19. Which practice aligns with the stewardship principle of 'closing the loop' in landscape material management? → Chipping cleared vegetation for on-site mulch to reduce waste and improve soil moisture
20. What is the purpose of a payment bond (labor and material bond) on a landscape construction project? → To ensure that subcontractors and suppliers are paid
21. Which of the following determines how much water the soil can store and is therefore the most crucial factor? → The kind of soil
22. Which stormwater management approach best supports groundwater recharge in a suburban residential development? → Incorporating permeable paving, bioswales, and rain gardens to promote infiltration
23. Which federal environmental law requires site assessment for contamination when land use is changing from industrial to public recreational use? → Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
24. In the LARE planning and analysis section, which tool is most commonly used to assess suitability of land for various uses? → Ian McHarg's overlay analysis method
25. Which LARE section focuses on grading, drainage, and construction documentation? → Section B
26. What is a 'climax community' in the context of landscape succession? → The stable, long-term plant community that develops after succession
27. Which backflow preventer assembly provides the highest level of protection and is required for high-hazard irrigation connections? → Reduced pressure zone assembly (RPZ)
28. To reduce their visual impact from pathways or paths used for residential purposes, they have to be hidden by vegetation. → Parking lots and roadways
29. What is the typical purpose of retainage in a construction contract? → To provide the owner security against incomplete or defective work
30. When reviewing a contractor's application for payment, the landscape architect should verify which of the following before certifying payment? → That work claimed as completed has actually been installed per contract documents