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. In a master plan for a coastal site, a 'living shoreline' approach differs from traditional hardened riprap by: → Incorporating native marsh vegetation and oyster reefs to absorb wave energy naturally
2. On a stormwater management plan, 'INV EL' notation refers to: → The invert elevation (inside bottom) of a pipe or structure
3. What is the primary function of a 'root barrier' installed along a sidewalk adjacent to a large-caliper tree? → To direct root growth downward and away from pavement
4. A site inventory map shows existing underground utilities crossing the center of a proposed plaza. The most appropriate early design response is to: → Locate plaza features to avoid deep excavation over utility corridors
5. Which soil pH range is considered optimal for most landscape plants in the US? → 5.5–7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
6. 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
7. A landscape architect is designing a bioretention basin. The typical ponding depth allowed before overflow should not exceed: → 12 inches
8. Which irrigation method is generally the most water-efficient for trees and shrubs in a landscape? → Subsurface drip irrigation
9. Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into: → Waters of the United States, including wetlands
10. Which type of structural soil is specifically engineered to support urban tree root growth beneath paved surfaces? → CU-Structural Soil (Cornell University mix)
11. Which master planning concept organizes uses along a linear corridor that intensifies toward a central node? → Linear hierarchy
12. What is the minimum recommended slope for turf areas to ensure positive surface drainage away from structures? → 2%
13. A designer is selecting plants for a bioswale in a cold climate. Which characteristic is most critical beyond aesthetics? → Tolerance of periodic inundation and drought cycles
14. 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
15. Which section of the CSI MasterFormat addresses site preparation and earthwork? → Division 31 – Earthwork
16. During the programming phase of a master plan, which tool best captures stakeholder priorities across multiple user groups? → Charrette workshop
17. What contour interval is most appropriate for detailed grading plans on a residential site with moderate slopes? → 1 foot
18. 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
19. A stormwater system must pass a 100-year storm event. Which design element is specifically sized to convey this extreme flow? → The major conveyance system including overland flow paths and open channels
20. What does the term 'headwater protection' mean in the context of stormwater and watershed management? → Conserving upstream source areas to maintain downstream water quality and flow regimes
21. Which spatial concept describes a sequence of outdoor spaces that progressively reveal a destination, building anticipation? → Compression and release
22. A landscape architect specifies a tree with a 'caliper' measurement. Caliper refers to the trunk diameter measured: → At 6 inches above grade for trees up to 4-inch caliper
23. Which document establishes the professional standards of care and ethical obligations for licensed landscape architects in the United States? → The ASLA Code of Professional Ethics
24. 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
25. What does a 'plant schedule' on construction documents typically include? → Botanical name, common name, size, quantity, and special conditions
26. What is the typical operating pressure range for standard pop-up spray heads? → 30–45 PSI
27. 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
28. A landscape architect is designing a playground. Which ASTM standard governs the acceptable impact attenuation of surfacing materials beneath play equipment? → ASTM F1292
29. Which of the following describes the primary function of a bioretention cell (rain garden) in a low-impact development (LID) stormwater system? → Temporarily store, infiltrate, and filter stormwater through engineered soil media
30. 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