LCA Agriculture/Horticulture study guide
LCA Agriculture/Horticulture · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The LCA Agriculture/Horticulture certification is a landscape-industry credential aimed at practitioners who install and maintain planted landscapes - crew leads, horticulturists, grounds supervisors, and landscape contractors who want documented competence across both ornamental horticulture and production agriculture settings. It is not a university degree or a licensed trade ticket; it signals that you can reason about soil, water, plants, pests, nutrients, hardscape, equipment, project delivery, and regulatory compliance as one connected system rather than as isolated tasks. The LCA Agriculture/Horticulture study guide has 9 sections and about 3,123 words.
01Site Assessment, Soil, and Water Management
Domain 1 tests whether you can read a site before drawing a plan: topography and grading, soil texture and structure, infiltration and drainage, existing vegetation, utilities and microclimate. Expect numeric questions - slope percent, percolation rate, pH, bulk density - so practise interpreting them, not just reciting them.
367 words, about 2 min02Plant Selection, Establishment, and Maintenance
Domain 2 covers choosing the right plant and carrying it through planting, establishment and long-term care. Questions blend hardiness zoning, site matching, correct planting technique, watering through establishment, mulching and ANSI A300 pruning principles.
362 words, about 2 min03Irrigation and Drainage Systems
Domain 3 tests hydraulic common sense: how much water each zone receives, whether it arrives evenly, and where it goes once it leaves the surface. Expect precipitation-rate and runtime calculations, plus backflow and hardware identification.
345 words, about 2 min04Pest, Disease, and Weed Management
Domain 4 tests integrated pest management and the legal frame around pesticide use. Questions ask you to identify the pest, decide whether action is justified, and choose the least-risk effective tactic in the correct order.
340 words, about 2 min05Nutrient Management and Fertilization
Domain 5 tests soil-based nutrient decisions and accurate application. Expect questions on soil tests, N-P-K labelling, release patterns, application rates, timing and nutrient loss to water.
338 words, about 2 min06Landscape Construction and Hardscape Installation
Domain 6 tests whether you can build a surface that stays flat, drains and lasts. Expect subgrade preparation, base thickness, compaction, edge restraint, retaining-wall drainage and the standards behind them.
348 words, about 2 min07Equipment, Tools, and Safety Practices
Domain 7 tests safe practice with hand tools, powered equipment and site hazards under the general duty to provide a workplace free of recognised hazards. Expect PPE selection, machine guarding, chainsaw and mower behaviour, fuel and electrical safety, and trenching rules.
344 words, about 2 min08Project Planning, Estimating, and Contracts
Domain 8 tests commercial judgement: defining scope, measuring quantities, pricing labour and materials correctly, and controlling change through the contract. Expect takeoff arithmetic, markup versus margin, and questions about contract documents.
324 words, about 2 min09Regulations, Environmental Compliance, and Best Practices
Domain 9 tests the compliance framework around landscaping work: erosion and sediment control, stormwater, pesticide and fertilizer rules, water restrictions, protected trees and species, and waste handling. Expect scenario questions where the correct answer is the documented procedure.
355 words, about 2 min