Landscape Horticulturist Study Guide — Year 1

Year 1 Exam Topics

Study each topic below — these are the core knowledge areas tested in Year 1. Build a solid foundation here before advancing to Year 2 material.

💡Soil Science Basics

Soil texture triangle: sand / silt / clay percentages — loam is ideal for most plants
pH scale: 0-14; most plants prefer 6.0–7.0; below 6.0 = acidic, above 7.0 = alkaline
Soil amendments: compost (adds organic matter), lime (raises pH), sulfur (lowers pH)
Drainage test: dig 30 cm hole, fill with water — should drain within 1 hour for good drainage

📖Plant Identification

Deciduous trees: lose leaves in fall (maple, oak, birch, ash, elm)
Coniferous/evergreen: retain needles year-round (spruce, pine, cedar, fir)
Shrubs: woody plants under 5 m; multi-stemmed (lilac, spirea, juniper, dogwood)
Perennials: return each year from roots (hosta, daylily, black-eyed susan, ornamental grass)

📖Fertilizer — N-P-K

N (Nitrogen): promotes leaf and stem growth — green, leafy growth
P (Phosphorus): promotes root and flower development — especially important at planting
K (Potassium): overall plant health, disease resistance, fruit/seed quality
Analysis: 10-10-10 means 10% N, 10% P₂O₅, 10% K₂O by weight

💡Pruning Principles

Remove dead, diseased, damaged wood first (3 Ds)
Cut to a node, bud, or branch union — never leave stubs longer than 5 mm
Flush cuts are wrong — leave the branch collar intact to prevent decay entry
Deciduous shrubs: prune after flowering (spring bloomers) or in late winter (summer bloomers)

📖Canadian Growing Zones

Canada uses Plant Hardiness Zones 0–9; based on minimum winter temperatures
Vancouver: Zone 8; Toronto: Zone 6b; Winnipeg: Zone 3; Ottawa: Zone 5
Choose plants rated at or below your zone number — not above
Microclimates: south-facing walls, urban heat islands can shift zone by 1–2 zones

⚙️Hardscape Installation

Interlock pavers: 100 mm compacted gravel base + 40 mm bedding sand + paver + edge restraint
Retaining walls: drainage aggregate behind wall; drainage pipe at footing; cap on top
Slope drainage: minimum 2% grade away from structures; swales direct water to outlet
Concrete curbs: used to define bed edges and restrain pavers — set before paving

Study each topic below — these are the core knowledge areas tested in Year 1. Build a solid foundation here before advancing to Year 2 material.

📖Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

IPM hierarchy: cultural controls → biological controls → mechanical controls → chemical last
Economic threshold: pest population level at which control becomes economically justified
Scouting: regular monitoring of pest populations before making control decisions
Record keeping: required when applying pesticides — date, product, rate, target, and area

🦺Pesticide Safety (PMRA)

PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency): federal body that registers pesticides in Canada
Pesticide licence: required in all provinces for commercial pesticide application
Label is law: always follow label rates, re-entry intervals, and PPE requirements exactly
Buffer zones: label specifies minimum distance from water bodies — must be observed

📖Irrigation Systems

Drip/micro-irrigation: most efficient; delivers water directly to root zone; low pressure
Rotor heads: rotate to cover large areas; require 25–45 psi operating pressure
Spray heads: fixed pattern; cover small areas; require 15–30 psi
Evapotranspiration (ET): water lost through soil evaporation + plant transpiration; drives scheduling

💡Irrigation Design Principles

Head-to-head spacing: each head must reach the next; typical spacing = nozzle throw radius
Precipitation rate: mm/hr — match spray and rotor rates on same zone (matched precipitation)
Backflow prevention: required by plumbing code where irrigation connects to potable supply
Winterization: blow out system with compressed air before ground freeze — typically 50 cfm/zone

📖Plant Health & Disease

Disease triangle: susceptible host + pathogen present + favourable environment = disease
Fungal diseases: powdery mildew, black spot, botrytis — improve air circulation, reduce moisture
Winter damage types: winter burn (desiccation), frost heave, mechanical breakage, ice damage
Nutrient deficiencies: chlorosis (yellowing) often indicates iron, manganese, or N deficiency

📖Estimating & Project Management

Area calculations: rectangle = L × W; circle = π × r²; triangle = ½ × base × height
Mulch depth: 75–100 mm for weed suppression; keep 50 mm away from plant stems
Planting density: plants/m² = 1 ÷ (spacing in m)²; used for mass planting estimates
Retention wall design: maximum height without engineer approval typically 1.2 m