LARE Plants and Planting Design Flashcards

What is 'allelopathy' and how does it affect planting design?

Answer: The release of chemicals by a plant that inhibit growth of nearby plants

Allelopathy occurs when a plant releases biochemicals that suppress the germination or growth of neighboring plants, which must be accounted for in planting plans.

Which term describes the practice of grouping plants with similar water needs together to improve irrigation efficiency?

Answer: Hydrozoning

Hydrozoning groups plants with similar water requirements into the same irrigation zones, reducing water waste and improving plant health.

On a LARE exam question, which factor is MOST critical when selecting street trees for a narrow tree pit in an urban streetscape?

Answer: Tolerance of compacted, poorly drained soils and limited rooting volume

Urban street trees face severe rooting restrictions, compaction, and poor drainage, so stress tolerance is the primary selection criterion for survival.

What does a 'plant schedule' on construction documents typically include?

Answer: Botanical name, common name, size, quantity, and special conditions

A plant schedule is a tabular legend on planting plans listing each plant's botanical and common name, specified size, quantity, and any special installation requirements.

Which planting design principle recommends using odd numbers of plants in groupings to create a more naturalistic appearance?

Answer: The rule of odd numbers

The rule of odd numbers holds that groupings of 3, 5, or 7 plants appear more natural and visually balanced than even-numbered groupings.

In a LARE planting plan, what does the symbol 'DBH' refer to?

Answer: Diameter at Breast Height — trunk diameter measured at 4.5 feet above grade

DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) is the standard forestry measurement of trunk diameter taken at 4.5 feet above ground, used to describe existing trees.