Page 1 of 99
South Carolina Category 3 – Ornamental and Turf Pest Control
Exam COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST RELEASED
SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE (CONDENSED)
South Carolina Category 3 Exam =
1. SC Laws + Licensing + Records
2. Label Reading and Legal Use
3. Toxicology, PPE, First Aid
4. Environmental Protection (drift, runoff, groundwater)
5. IPM and Resistance Management
6. Turf & Ornamental Biology
7. Weed Identification + Herbicide Use
8. Turf Insects and Control
9. Ornamental Insects and Control
10. Plant Diseases and Fungicide Use
11. Nematodes and Soil Pest Basics
12. Formulations and Adjuvants
13. Calibration and Application Equipment
14. Storage, Transport, and Disposal
15. Public Safety and Best Practices
1.
A lawn care company applies herbicide near a customer’s flower bed and the roses curl badly afterward.
What is the most likely cause?
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A) Soil compaction from mowing equipment
B) Herbicide drift or volatilization onto sensitive ornamentals
C) Nitrogen deficiency in roses
D) Overwatering immediately after pruning
Answer: B
Rationale: Herbicide drift or vapor movement commonly causes curling and distortion in sensitive
ornamental plants.
2.
A pesticide label requires chemical-resistant gloves and protective eyewear during mixing. What is the
best reason to follow this requirement?
A) PPE prevents pesticide exposure from splashes and concentrated product contact
B) PPE improves pesticide performance and weed kill speed
C) PPE reduces runoff into groundwater after rainfall
D) PPE is only recommended but not legally required
Answer: A
Rationale: Mixing exposes applicators to concentrated pesticide, making PPE critical for legal
compliance and safety.
3.
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A turf manager sees patches of grass that pull up easily like carpet, with chewed roots underneath.
What pest is most likely present?
A) White grubs feeding on turf roots below the surface
B) Dollar spot fungal disease spreading through leaf blades
C) Crabgrass infestation weakening turf density
D) Iron chlorosis caused by alkaline soil conditions
Answer: A
Rationale: Turf that lifts easily with damaged roots is a classic symptom of grub infestation.
4.
A pesticide label states “do not apply when wind speed exceeds 10 mph.” Why is this restriction
important?
A) Wind prevents weeds from absorbing herbicide properly
B) Wind increases pesticide drift onto non-target areas and water sources
C) Wind makes insects more active and resistant
D) Wind causes fertilizer to break down faster in soil
Answer: B
Rationale: Wind increases drift risk, which can injure non-target plants and violate environmental
restrictions.
5.
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A landscape crew repeatedly uses the same fungicide for years and now sees poor disease control. What
is the most likely explanation?
A) Turf has become immune to all fungicides
B) Fungicide resistance developed due to repeated same mode-of-action use
C) Fertilizer prevented the fungicide from activating
D) The fungus disappeared but symptoms remain permanent
Answer: B
Rationale: Repeated use of one fungicide group can select resistant pathogen strains.
6.
A commercial applicator wants to spray a public park lawn but children are currently playing nearby.
What is the best decision?
A) Apply quickly at higher rate to finish before children return
B) Delay application and follow posting and re-entry restrictions to prevent exposure
C) Spray only around playground equipment where weeds are worst
D) Spray in the direction of the playground to reduce travel distance
Answer: B
Rationale: Public safety requires avoiding exposure, following label REI restrictions, and applying during
low-use periods.
7.
South Carolina Category 3 – Ornamental and Turf Pest Control
Exam COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST RELEASED
SUMMARIZED EXAM COVERAGE (CONDENSED)
South Carolina Category 3 Exam =
1. SC Laws + Licensing + Records
2. Label Reading and Legal Use
3. Toxicology, PPE, First Aid
4. Environmental Protection (drift, runoff, groundwater)
5. IPM and Resistance Management
6. Turf & Ornamental Biology
7. Weed Identification + Herbicide Use
8. Turf Insects and Control
9. Ornamental Insects and Control
10. Plant Diseases and Fungicide Use
11. Nematodes and Soil Pest Basics
12. Formulations and Adjuvants
13. Calibration and Application Equipment
14. Storage, Transport, and Disposal
15. Public Safety and Best Practices
1.
A lawn care company applies herbicide near a customer’s flower bed and the roses curl badly afterward.
What is the most likely cause?
, Page 2 of 99
A) Soil compaction from mowing equipment
B) Herbicide drift or volatilization onto sensitive ornamentals
C) Nitrogen deficiency in roses
D) Overwatering immediately after pruning
Answer: B
Rationale: Herbicide drift or vapor movement commonly causes curling and distortion in sensitive
ornamental plants.
2.
A pesticide label requires chemical-resistant gloves and protective eyewear during mixing. What is the
best reason to follow this requirement?
A) PPE prevents pesticide exposure from splashes and concentrated product contact
B) PPE improves pesticide performance and weed kill speed
C) PPE reduces runoff into groundwater after rainfall
D) PPE is only recommended but not legally required
Answer: A
Rationale: Mixing exposes applicators to concentrated pesticide, making PPE critical for legal
compliance and safety.
3.
, Page 3 of 99
A turf manager sees patches of grass that pull up easily like carpet, with chewed roots underneath.
What pest is most likely present?
A) White grubs feeding on turf roots below the surface
B) Dollar spot fungal disease spreading through leaf blades
C) Crabgrass infestation weakening turf density
D) Iron chlorosis caused by alkaline soil conditions
Answer: A
Rationale: Turf that lifts easily with damaged roots is a classic symptom of grub infestation.
4.
A pesticide label states “do not apply when wind speed exceeds 10 mph.” Why is this restriction
important?
A) Wind prevents weeds from absorbing herbicide properly
B) Wind increases pesticide drift onto non-target areas and water sources
C) Wind makes insects more active and resistant
D) Wind causes fertilizer to break down faster in soil
Answer: B
Rationale: Wind increases drift risk, which can injure non-target plants and violate environmental
restrictions.
5.
, Page 4 of 99
A landscape crew repeatedly uses the same fungicide for years and now sees poor disease control. What
is the most likely explanation?
A) Turf has become immune to all fungicides
B) Fungicide resistance developed due to repeated same mode-of-action use
C) Fertilizer prevented the fungicide from activating
D) The fungus disappeared but symptoms remain permanent
Answer: B
Rationale: Repeated use of one fungicide group can select resistant pathogen strains.
6.
A commercial applicator wants to spray a public park lawn but children are currently playing nearby.
What is the best decision?
A) Apply quickly at higher rate to finish before children return
B) Delay application and follow posting and re-entry restrictions to prevent exposure
C) Spray only around playground equipment where weeds are worst
D) Spray in the direction of the playground to reduce travel distance
Answer: B
Rationale: Public safety requires avoiding exposure, following label REI restrictions, and applying during
low-use periods.
7.
