MN Landscape study plan

Define and diagram the full site-analysis sequence (grading, drainage, solar aspect, soil volume, utility conflicts) and explain why each step precedes planting design.

Calculate slope percentage, cut-and-fill volumes, and finished grade elevations for three worked examples without reference notes.

Compare base, subbase, and bedding requirements for paver, segmental retaining wall, and concrete flatwork installations, and list the compaction standard for each.

Match five hardscape materials (clay brick, natural stone, concrete paver, timber, permeable grid) to Minnesota freeze-thaw and salt exposure conditions with a written justification.

Sketch planting plans that satisfy right-plant-right-place spacing at mature size for canopy, understory, shrub, and perennial layers.

Compute amendment and mulch quantities from bed area and depth for four beds of differing shapes.

Identify the Minnesota cold-hardiness and soil-pH constraints for a 15-plant palette and flag any species that fail the site conditions.

Explain the permit and utility-locate steps required before excavation on a residential project.

Build a 12-month Minnesota maintenance calendar covering mowing height, fertilization timing, aeration, overseeding, and leaf cleanup.

Diagnose eight turf and ornamental problems (thatch, compaction, chlorosis, winter burn, salt damage, grub injury, dollar spot, drought stress) from written symptom descriptions.

Write integrated pest management decision steps for two common landscape pests, including scouting thresholds and least-toxic first responses.

Distinguish pruning timing rules for spring-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering shrubs, and evergreens, and justify each.

Explain how a garden center prices live goods, including shrink, markdown cadence, and the effect of perishability on margin.

Compare three plant-handling workflows (receiving, holding, displaying) for their effect on quality loss and labor hours.

Describe the labeling and signage requirements that keep a retail yard compliant and shopper-friendly, including hardiness and sun exposure callouts.

Outline a seasonal staffing and ordering cycle for a northern garden center, noting peak windows.

Calculate germination percentages, seeding rates, and expected transplant yields from given tray counts and viability figures.

Explain the roles of media pH, electrical conductivity, and micronutrient balance in container production, and interpret three sample lab reports.

Compare photoperiod, DIF, and vernalization strategies for scheduling a spring crop to a target sale date.

List the common greenhouse pests and the scouting and biological-control responses appropriate to each.

Compute precipitation rate, run time, and weekly application depth for rotor, spray, and drip zones from given flow and area figures.

Perform a zone-by-zone audit walkthrough mentally: identify head-to-head spacing errors, mixed-head zones, tilt, and pressure problems from described field conditions.

Explain backflow protection options and when each is required, plus the winterization sequence for a Minnesota system.

Draft a water-conservation recommendation set using soil-moisture-based control, matched precipitation, and hydrozoning.

Compare ANSI A300-style pruning approaches for clearance, structure, and reduction, and state the cut-position rule for each.

Identify defect categories used in risk assessment (cracks, decay, poor attachment, root problems) and rank three described trees by risk level.

Explain cabling, bracing, and support-system limits, including when removal is the better recommendation.

Describe safe rigging and removal planning steps for a tree near a structure, including drop-zone and load considerations.

Re-test every domain with timed question sets and log weak subtopics by domain.

Re-derive the five calculations most often missed: slope percent, material volume, germination rate, precipitation rate, and application depth.

Rehearse written explanations of hardscape, IPM, irrigation, and tree-risk decisions in exam-style short answers.

Build a one-page formula and reference sheet from memory, then verify it against notes.