Landscape Installation and Maintenance
What the exam tests
Landscape Installation and Maintenance tests planting procedure, soil preparation, mulching, pruning, staking, watering, and seasonal maintenance, including ANSI A300 pruning principles.
Core rules
- Dig the planting hole two to three times the width of the root ball and no deeper than the root ball. Set the root flare at or slightly above grade.
- Remove twine, burlap, and wire basket from the upper half of a balled-and-burlapped root ball; pull back burlap after backfilling.
- Backfill with native soil unless the soil is severely compacted or depleted; amend the whole planting bed, not just the hole.
- Mulch 2-3 inches deep, keeping it away from the trunk. Never create a mulch volcano.
- Water thoroughly at installation and through the first two growing seasons. Stake only if the plant cannot stand or is in a high-traffic area; remove ties after one season.
- Prune with sharp, clean tools; make proper cuts at the branch collar; avoid flush cuts and stub cuts.
Worked example
A bed measures 10 ft by 20 ft. At 3 inches (0.25 ft) of mulch, volume = 200 sq ft x 0.25 ft = 50 cubic feet. Since 27 cubic feet = 1 cubic yard, 50 divided by 27 is about 1.85 cubic yards. Order 2 cubic yards. Reasoning: convert depth to feet first, then divide by 27. Keep mulch 6-12 inches from trunks.
Traps
Planting too deep buries the root flare and kills trees slowly. Amending only the hole can create a bathtub effect in clay soil. Overstaking produces weak trunks. Topping trees and flush cuts create decay. Do not overprune at transplant; water is the priority.