Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Hierarchy of controls

Ranking of hazard controls from most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, then personal protective equipment.

Right to refuse unsafe work

A worker's legal right in Canadian jurisdictions to refuse a task they reasonably believe is unsafe, remaining in effect until the employer investigates and resolves the concern.

WHMIS three elements

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System requires a supplier or workplace label, a safety data sheet, and worker education and training for each controlled product.

Ladder 4-to-1 rule

Set the ladder base out one unit for every four units of working height, giving roughly a 75-degree angle, and secure the top before climbing.

Two-stroke versus four-stroke fuel

Two-stroke engines use gasoline mixed with oil at the manufacturer's ratio; four-stroke engines have a separate crankcase sump and take straight gasoline.

Bypass versus anvil pruner

A bypass blade cuts like scissors and suits live wood; an anvil blade crushes against a flat plate and is reserved for dead wood.

Mower blade balancing

After sharpening, a mower blade must be balanced; an unbalanced blade causes vibration that damages spindle bearings and can throw the blade.

Percent grade formula

Slope expressed as percent grade equals rise divided by run, multiplied by 100; about 2 percent is the practical minimum for drainage away from a building.

Critical root zone

The root protection area around a tree, commonly a radius of about 10 to 12 times trunk diameter or the drip line, whichever is greater; confirm local bylaw standards.

Aspect and microclimate

Slope direction determines exposure: south-facing slopes are warmer and drier, north-facing slopes cooler and wetter, and concave low ground collects frost.

Utility locate before digging

Buried services must be located and marked by the provincial one-call notification service before any excavation, and the marks respected during work.

Cation exchange capacity

The soil's capacity to hold exchangeable cations such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium; clay and organic matter raise it, sand lowers it.

N-P-K analysis meaning

A fertilizer label's three numbers are percent nitrogen as N, phosphorus as P2O5, and potassium as K2O, each by weight of the product.

Soil pH and nutrient availability

Nutrient availability peaks near pH 6.5; above about pH 7 iron, manganese, and zinc become less available, and phosphorus is most available near neutrality.

Soil texture versus structure

Texture is the proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles; structure is how those particles aggregate into peds that govern water and air movement.

Binomial nomenclature rules

Genus is capitalized and the specific epithet lower case, both italicized; a cultivar epithet follows in single quotes, capitalized, and not italicized.

Hardiness zone limits

Hardiness zone maps rate minimum winter temperature only; they ignore soil drainage, snow cover, summer heat, and wind, so zone alone cannot guide selection.

Right plant, right place

Matching a species to site conditions: hardiness, light, soil moisture and pH, mature size, salt tolerance, and the maintenance budget available.

Gymnosperm versus angiosperm

Gymnosperms bear seeds in cones, as conifers do; angiosperms bear seeds enclosed in fruit, which separates flowering trees and shrubs from conifers.

Planting hole width rule

Dig the hole two to three times the root ball diameter but no deeper than the ball, keeping the root flare at or slightly above finished grade.

Backfill amendment caution

Heavy amendment of a planting hole in clay soil creates a bathtub effect; roots stay in the rich pocket instead of growing into native soil.

Balled-and-burlapped handling

Remove twine and burlap from the top of the ball, and remove synthetic burlap and non-decomposing wire baskets so roots can spread.

Mulch depth and placement

Apply about 5 to 10 cm of mulch over the root zone but keep it clear of the trunk flare; mulch piled against the trunk promotes decay and rodent damage.

Old wood versus new wood pruning

Plants blooming on old wood are pruned right after flowering; plants blooming on new wood are pruned in late winter or early spring before growth.

Three-cut pruning method

Remove a heavy limb with an undercut, a top cut outside the branch collar, and a final cut at the collar to prevent bark tearing.

One-third mowing rule

Remove no more than one third of the grass blade at each cut; a dull blade tears tissue and creates entry points for disease.

IPM control sequence

Integrated pest management proceeds from prevention and cultural controls through monitoring and thresholds, then biological controls, using chemicals only as a last resort.

Signs versus symptoms

Signs are direct evidence of the pest, such as insects, frass, or mycelium; symptoms are the plant's response, such as chlorosis, necrosis, or galls.

Disease triangle

Disease requires a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, and a favorable environment at the same time; removing any one factor prevents infection.

Pesticide label as law

The registered label is the legal document governing rate, timing, protective equipment, and re-entry interval; off-label use is a violation.

Retaining wall drainage

Walls need weep holes and drainage aggregate behind the wall to relieve hydrostatic pressure; saturated backfill is a leading cause of wall failure.

Concrete water-cement ratio

The ratio of water to cement controls strength and durability; a lower ratio gives higher strength but reduced workability and requires proper curing.