NALP LCT flashcards

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

Labor burden

The percentage added to base wages for payroll taxes, workers compensation, insurance, and benefits. It typically runs 25-40 percent and must be included in every estimate to avoid underpricing jobs.

Gross margin formula

Revenue minus direct job costs, divided by revenue. Direct costs include field labor with burden, materials, equipment, and subcontractors, but exclude general overhead such as office rent and owner salary.

Break-even revenue

Fixed costs divided by gross margin percentage. It states the sales volume a company must reach before generating profit, and it is useful for setting monthly minimum targets.

Overhead recovery rate

Annual overhead divided by billable field hours. The resulting per-hour figure is loaded into estimates so each sold hour contributes to covering office, insurance, and equipment costs.

Change order procedure

A written, signed agreement to modify scope, price, or schedule before the extra work proceeds. Without it, disputed extras are difficult to collect and often become unpaid work.

Accounts receivable aging

A report grouping unpaid invoices by days outstanding, such as 0-30, 31-60, and 61-90. It flags collection problems early, since profit on paper does not guarantee cash in the bank.

Buy versus rent equipment

Compare purchase price plus maintenance, insurance, and depreciation against rental rates, weighted by annual utilization hours. Low-utilization equipment is usually cheaper to rent than to own.

Hydrozone

An irrigation design grouping of plants with similar water demand, sun exposure, and soil, served by the same valve. Matching precipitation rates within a zone prevents overwatering some plants to satisfy others.

Root flare at grade

The practice of setting a tree so the widening base of the trunk sits at or slightly above soil surface. Burying the flare causes girdling roots, trunk rot, and gradual decline.

One-third mowing rule

Remove no more than one-third of the turfgrass blade height in a single mowing. Cutting more severely stresses the plant, reduces root growth, and invites weeds and disease.

Branch collar pruning

A cut made just outside the swollen collar where a branch meets the trunk, allowing the tree to seal the wound. Leaving stubs or flush cuts impairs healing and invites decay.

Right plant, right place

Selecting species by matching hardiness zone, light, mature size, soil pH, and drainage to the site. Correct placement reduces water use, pruning, replacement costs, and long-term maintenance.

Call 811 before digging

The free utility locate request required before excavation. Locate markings expire after a limited period, so contractors must re-request if work is delayed beyond that window.

Soil test purpose

A laboratory analysis of pH, phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter that determines lime and fertilizer rates. Applying nutrients without a test risks waste, runoff, and plant damage.

Punch list walk

A documented inspection with the client before final billing that lists incomplete or defective items and a completion date. Photographs of finished work support the record if disputes arise later.

NALP career ladder

The typical progression from crew member to crew leader, then supervisor or manager. Each step adds estimating, scheduling, and client communication duties beyond hands-on field production.

Continuing education units

Credits earned through approved courses, workshops, or conferences and logged by date, provider, and hours. Most industry certifications require a set number of units for renewal.

State pesticide license

A credential issued by the state agriculture department after examination, separate from voluntary trade certification. It authorizes restricted-use product application and requires periodic recertification.

OSHA 10-hour course

A general construction safety awareness class covering common hazards and worker rights. It is awareness training, not a competency certification, and does not replace task-specific qualification.

Skills sign-off checklist

A written list of field tasks, such as pruning or planting, that a trainee must demonstrate to a qualified evaluator. Signed entries document competence and support promotion decisions.

Apprenticeship hours

Documented on-the-job training hours paired with related classroom instruction. Recorded hours are the standard currency for wage progression and credential eligibility in landscape trades.

Cross-training benefit

Training employees across irrigation, hardscape, and horticulture so they can fill multiple roles. This reduces seasonal layoffs and gives small firms flexibility when schedules shift.

Hazard communication program

A written OSHA-required program with labeled containers, accessible Safety Data Sheets, and worker training on chemical hazards. It applies to every employee who may be exposed to hazardous chemicals.

Restricted-entry interval

The label-specified period after pesticide application during which entry into the treated area is prohibited without required protective equipment. It appears on the label and must be communicated to crews.

Hierarchy of controls

The ranked approach to hazard reduction: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and finally personal protective equipment. PPE is the last line of defense, not the first.

Hearing protection threshold

An 85 dBA time-weighted average over eight hours triggers hearing protection requirements. Because noise doubles roughly every five decibels, allowable exposure time halves with each increase.

Heat acclimatization

A gradual buildup of work in hot conditions over one to two weeks, allowing the body to adapt. New and returning workers are at highest risk and need close monitoring.

Competent person inspection

A daily examination of excavations, scaffolds, and other hazardous conditions by a trained individual authorized to take corrective action. Required for trench protective systems in most jurisdictions.

Near-miss reporting

Documenting incidents that caused no injury but could have. Near-miss data reveals hazards and control failures before they produce lost-time injuries, making it a leading safety indicator.

Chipper safety controls

Established procedures including feed-control devices, kill switches, a spotter, and required eye, ear, and hand protection. Never reach into the feed chute or wear loose clothing near the infeed.

Trench protective systems

Shoring, shielding, or sloping required for excavations at five feet depth in most jurisdictions. A competent person inspects the excavation daily and after rain or other changing conditions.

Seasonal cash flow

The pattern of income and expenses across the year, with installation peaks and winter troughs. Recurring maintenance contracts billed monthly help smooth winter cash flow against seasonal install revenue.