ORNAMENTAL AND SHADE TREE PESTICIDE PA
CATEGORY 6 FINAL PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What are the 5 cultural practices for plant health? Answer: -watering
-fertilizing
-planting
-resistant varieties
-pruning
◉ What watering practices improve plant health? Answer: -use deep and
infrequent waterings
-be careful not to over or underwater
-water in the early morning
◉ What fertilizing practices improve plant health? Answer: -test soil to
determine nutrients needed
-avoid overfertilizing; may cause leggy roots that are easily damageable
◉ What planting practices improve plant health? Answer: -plant in early
spring and fall
,-plant to the proper depth
-make sure hole is appropriately sized
-check root ball for encircling roots
◉ What pruning practices improve plant health? Answer: -remove
infested and diseased plant parts
-use approved pruning methods
-allow better air movement and light penetration
◉ How can cultural practices influence plant health? Answer: -They are
one tool of an IPM program
-they use environmental modifications to help manage pests
-they help plants tolerate stress and better survive through drought,
adverse weather, and pest problems
-Less vulnerable to insects and disease
◉ What resistant variety practices improve plant health? Answer: -pest
resistant varieties and high quality specimen may establish faster and are
less likely to introduce pest problems
◉ How big should a hole be for planting based on varying soil quality?
Answer: -high quality soil: hole should be 6 inches beyond the walls of
the root ball
,-poor quality soil: hole should be 2-4 times the size of the root ball
diameter
◉ Tree planting practices for healthy roots. Answer: -trees should not be
planted deeper than the root system of the plant (plant up to "root flare")
-never bend or twist roots to fit into the hole (it's always better to prune
the root to fit the hole)
-split or broken roots should be pruned
-disrupt circular root ball roots by cutting an x on the sides and bottom
of the root ball
◉ What is the watering rate for new plants during their first year?
Answer: 1 gallon of water per sq. foot of root zone/ once per week
◉ Where is the correct place to prune a branch? Answer: prune to the
branch collar, which is where the branch and trunk meet
◉ How should you prune a branch if it is over 2 inches in diameter?
Answer: Make a series of three cuts at the branch collar:
1. underside of branch (approx. 1/4 of the way through the branch)
2. upperside of branch, slightly higher up the branch than the first cut
(approx. 1/4 of the way through the branch)
3. below the first cut, but just outside the branch collar, removing the
stub
, ◉ What are the 4 IPM management tools? Answer: 1. Cultural
2. Mechanical
3. Biological
4. Chemical
◉ What is the problem solving process with an ornamental plant issue?
Answer: 1. general plant/problem knowledge
2. diagnosis
3. action
4. evaluation
◉ key pests. Answer: pests that occur within the landscape that cause
damage year after year
◉ key locations. Answer: A location in the landscape that has a history
of pest problems or is a likely place for problems to develop.
◉ preventative pesticides. Answer: pesticides are used before a pest
appears in order to prevent an outbreak
◉ reactive (curative) pesticides. Answer: attempt to cure the pest
problem after it has been positively identified
CATEGORY 6 FINAL PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What are the 5 cultural practices for plant health? Answer: -watering
-fertilizing
-planting
-resistant varieties
-pruning
◉ What watering practices improve plant health? Answer: -use deep and
infrequent waterings
-be careful not to over or underwater
-water in the early morning
◉ What fertilizing practices improve plant health? Answer: -test soil to
determine nutrients needed
-avoid overfertilizing; may cause leggy roots that are easily damageable
◉ What planting practices improve plant health? Answer: -plant in early
spring and fall
,-plant to the proper depth
-make sure hole is appropriately sized
-check root ball for encircling roots
◉ What pruning practices improve plant health? Answer: -remove
infested and diseased plant parts
-use approved pruning methods
-allow better air movement and light penetration
◉ How can cultural practices influence plant health? Answer: -They are
one tool of an IPM program
-they use environmental modifications to help manage pests
-they help plants tolerate stress and better survive through drought,
adverse weather, and pest problems
-Less vulnerable to insects and disease
◉ What resistant variety practices improve plant health? Answer: -pest
resistant varieties and high quality specimen may establish faster and are
less likely to introduce pest problems
◉ How big should a hole be for planting based on varying soil quality?
Answer: -high quality soil: hole should be 6 inches beyond the walls of
the root ball
,-poor quality soil: hole should be 2-4 times the size of the root ball
diameter
◉ Tree planting practices for healthy roots. Answer: -trees should not be
planted deeper than the root system of the plant (plant up to "root flare")
-never bend or twist roots to fit into the hole (it's always better to prune
the root to fit the hole)
-split or broken roots should be pruned
-disrupt circular root ball roots by cutting an x on the sides and bottom
of the root ball
◉ What is the watering rate for new plants during their first year?
Answer: 1 gallon of water per sq. foot of root zone/ once per week
◉ Where is the correct place to prune a branch? Answer: prune to the
branch collar, which is where the branch and trunk meet
◉ How should you prune a branch if it is over 2 inches in diameter?
Answer: Make a series of three cuts at the branch collar:
1. underside of branch (approx. 1/4 of the way through the branch)
2. upperside of branch, slightly higher up the branch than the first cut
(approx. 1/4 of the way through the branch)
3. below the first cut, but just outside the branch collar, removing the
stub
, ◉ What are the 4 IPM management tools? Answer: 1. Cultural
2. Mechanical
3. Biological
4. Chemical
◉ What is the problem solving process with an ornamental plant issue?
Answer: 1. general plant/problem knowledge
2. diagnosis
3. action
4. evaluation
◉ key pests. Answer: pests that occur within the landscape that cause
damage year after year
◉ key locations. Answer: A location in the landscape that has a history
of pest problems or is a likely place for problems to develop.
◉ preventative pesticides. Answer: pesticides are used before a pest
appears in order to prevent an outbreak
◉ reactive (curative) pesticides. Answer: attempt to cure the pest
problem after it has been positively identified
