Penn State Master Gardener Exam
Practice
What type of tree should be planted on the south side of a house to shade in summer
and provide warmth and light through winter? - CORRECT ANSWER-Deciduous
What is the definition of a coniferous tree? - CORRECT ANSWER-A conifer is a cone
bearing plant
What is a semi-dwarf tree? - CORRECT ANSWER-A tree in which root stock is used in
the grafting process which enables the tree to reach between 10 and 16 feet
T or F: Most trees have a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungal. - CORRECT
ANSWER-True
Beech, Oak, and Pine trees will not reach maturity with the absence of certain fungi.
These trees are ______________________. - CORRECT ANSWER-Mycorrhizal
obligated
When planting a bare root tree, how should the hole be prepared? - CORRECT
ANSWER-There should be firm soil at the bottom of the planting hole.
What does B&B stand for in reference to trees? - CORRECT ANSWER-Balled-and-
Burlapped trees
When prepping a hole for a B&B tree, how wide should the hole be? - CORRECT
ANSWER-The hole should be 1 to 2 feet wider than the root ball.
How deep should the tree be planted and what should the base be like? - CORRECT
ANSWER-The tree should be planted as deep as the distance from the root flare to the
bottom of the root ball. The bottom hole should be firm to prevent the tree from sinking.
If a container shrub has a root mass that has grown in a tight compact circle around the
soil ball, what should you do prior to planting it in the ground? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Cut the outer roots with a sharp knife to break up any circling roots.
What are the four categories of woody ornamentals? - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Trees
2. Shrubs
3. Vines
4. Ground covers
, What should you consider when choosing a tree or shrub for a landscape? - CORRECT
ANSWER-1. Size and shape of tree or shrub when it is mature
2. Susceptibility to disease
3. Fruits that are large, messy, smelly
PA USDA hardness Zones range from... - CORRECT ANSWER-5a to 7b
When pruning a newly planted tree, you should remove _______ and
________________. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Suckers
2. Damaged branches
Artillery fungi growth on mulch can be reduced by doing what 2 things? - CORRECT
ANSWER-1. Avoid high wood based mulch
2. Mix wood mulch with compost
What is the recommended depth of organic mulch around trees or shrubs? - CORRECT
ANSWER-2 to 3 inches
When you mulch around a tree, you should keep the mulch how far away from the tree
trunk? - CORRECT ANSWER-6 inches
When should an early blooming clematis vine be pruned? - CORRECT ANSWER-Prune
immediately after the clematis flowers finish blooming
Name 3 positive aspects of planting groundcover - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Erosion
control
2. Unifies landscape design element
3. Conserves soil moisture
Plants with leaves and stems that die back to the ground each winter and then produce
new shoots from the crown in the spring are called ____________________. -
CORRECT ANSWER-Herbaceous perennials
Perennials that the top does not die back after a frost . Trees and shrubs are this type of
perennial. - CORRECT ANSWER-Woody perennials
What do angiosperms produce? - CORRECT ANSWER-Angiosperm produces seeds
inside a protective fruit. All vegetables and flowering ornamental plants are angiosperm.
What are gymnosperms? - CORRECT ANSWER-Gymnosperms are plants with
exposed seeds on cones instead of being found within a fruit.
A plant that produces vegetative root growth in the first season and flowers and seeds
the second in the second season prior to dying is a ______________. - CORRECT
ANSWER-Biennial
Practice
What type of tree should be planted on the south side of a house to shade in summer
and provide warmth and light through winter? - CORRECT ANSWER-Deciduous
What is the definition of a coniferous tree? - CORRECT ANSWER-A conifer is a cone
bearing plant
What is a semi-dwarf tree? - CORRECT ANSWER-A tree in which root stock is used in
the grafting process which enables the tree to reach between 10 and 16 feet
T or F: Most trees have a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungal. - CORRECT
ANSWER-True
Beech, Oak, and Pine trees will not reach maturity with the absence of certain fungi.
These trees are ______________________. - CORRECT ANSWER-Mycorrhizal
obligated
When planting a bare root tree, how should the hole be prepared? - CORRECT
ANSWER-There should be firm soil at the bottom of the planting hole.
What does B&B stand for in reference to trees? - CORRECT ANSWER-Balled-and-
Burlapped trees
When prepping a hole for a B&B tree, how wide should the hole be? - CORRECT
ANSWER-The hole should be 1 to 2 feet wider than the root ball.
How deep should the tree be planted and what should the base be like? - CORRECT
ANSWER-The tree should be planted as deep as the distance from the root flare to the
bottom of the root ball. The bottom hole should be firm to prevent the tree from sinking.
If a container shrub has a root mass that has grown in a tight compact circle around the
soil ball, what should you do prior to planting it in the ground? - CORRECT ANSWER-
Cut the outer roots with a sharp knife to break up any circling roots.
What are the four categories of woody ornamentals? - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Trees
2. Shrubs
3. Vines
4. Ground covers
, What should you consider when choosing a tree or shrub for a landscape? - CORRECT
ANSWER-1. Size and shape of tree or shrub when it is mature
2. Susceptibility to disease
3. Fruits that are large, messy, smelly
PA USDA hardness Zones range from... - CORRECT ANSWER-5a to 7b
When pruning a newly planted tree, you should remove _______ and
________________. - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Suckers
2. Damaged branches
Artillery fungi growth on mulch can be reduced by doing what 2 things? - CORRECT
ANSWER-1. Avoid high wood based mulch
2. Mix wood mulch with compost
What is the recommended depth of organic mulch around trees or shrubs? - CORRECT
ANSWER-2 to 3 inches
When you mulch around a tree, you should keep the mulch how far away from the tree
trunk? - CORRECT ANSWER-6 inches
When should an early blooming clematis vine be pruned? - CORRECT ANSWER-Prune
immediately after the clematis flowers finish blooming
Name 3 positive aspects of planting groundcover - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Erosion
control
2. Unifies landscape design element
3. Conserves soil moisture
Plants with leaves and stems that die back to the ground each winter and then produce
new shoots from the crown in the spring are called ____________________. -
CORRECT ANSWER-Herbaceous perennials
Perennials that the top does not die back after a frost . Trees and shrubs are this type of
perennial. - CORRECT ANSWER-Woody perennials
What do angiosperms produce? - CORRECT ANSWER-Angiosperm produces seeds
inside a protective fruit. All vegetables and flowering ornamental plants are angiosperm.
What are gymnosperms? - CORRECT ANSWER-Gymnosperms are plants with
exposed seeds on cones instead of being found within a fruit.
A plant that produces vegetative root growth in the first season and flowers and seeds
the second in the second season prior to dying is a ______________. - CORRECT
ANSWER-Biennial
