WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR ACTUAL
SCRIPT 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What are the two main goals of weed management?
Answer: The primary goal is to minimize weed competition and the
other main goal is to limit the weed's reproduction in order to
manage the weed population in years to come.
◉ Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from
woody plants
Answer: Grasses are considered monocots, meaning they have a
single seed leaf, they also have narrow leaves with parallel veins and
a fibrous root system. Broadleaf plants have two seed leaves and are
therefore called dicots, they have broad leaves with veins that form a
net patterns. Broadleaf plants can be further classified into
herbaceous and woody, where the woody plants have a thick layer of
dense tissue called bark, which herbaceous plants lack.
◉ Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and
perennial plants
Answer: Annual plants live for less than a year, they produce many
seeds in one growing season, and then die. Summer annuals winter
as seeds, and winter annuals winter as a low-growing plant, both
summer and winter annuals are easiest to control when they are
,small. Biennial plants live for two growing seasons, they germinate
from seed in the spring or summer and winter as a rosette of leaves.
They flower in their second year, produce seeds and then die. Both
annuals and biennials reproduce only by seed. Perennial plants live
for at least 2 years and sometimes longer, they may reproduce by
seed or vegetatively through several different mechanisms.
◉ What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and
when is it easiest to do so?
Answer: To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill the whole shoot.
Controlling these weeds with tillage or herbicides will kill them plus
stop seed production, which will reduce future weed problems. The
most effective way to kill perennials is to destroy the underground
vegetative structures by either repeatedly tilling the soil or by using
a herbicide that translocates to destroy all of the plant parts.
◉ How should you time herbicide application with respect to a
plant's life cycle and which timing is most effective?
Answer: All weeds may start as seedlings and it is most effective to
treat the plants at this stage because less energy is required to kill
the plants at this stage than at any other. Biennials and Annuals are
controlled by a fall or early spring treatment, and perennials are
controlled best with a fall treatment as well.
◉ What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on
application of soil herbicides?
,Answer: Soil organic matter and clay particles can adsorb soil-
applied herbicides, meaning more herbicide will be required in
these types of soils because the herbicide will be bound to the soil
particles and will not be available to be absorbed by the weeds.
◉ How do you keep soil herbicides from moving off target?
Answer: Do not apply herbicides to areas where they may leach into
groundwater, or run off into water sources or cropping areas. Also
avoid applying herbicides to areas where desired tree and shrub
roots may extend and DO NOT apply herbicides to frozen soils.
◉ How and when should you apply soil herbicides?
Answer: Soil treatments are commonly used when a site requires
residual non-selective control, such as electric transformer stations,
rail ballasts and signpost bases. They can be applied any time that
the soil is not frozen, and some soil applied herbicides need to be
transported by rain to be absorbed by the plant.
◉ When are foliar sprays appropriate and not appropriate?
Answer: Foliar sprays are not recommended for large brush because
of the potential for drift. Foliar sprays should be operated from the
ground close to the plant and can either be applied through
broadcast or spot application.
◉ What are the factors in timing a foliar spray?
, Answer: Foliar treatments can be made from the time the leaves are
fully expanded until they begin to turn color in the fall, but are most
effective when applied to fully developed foliage of an actively
growing plant. They should be applied at a temperature between 60
and 80 degrees F, and should have adequate time to soak into to
plant, thus applying right before it rains is ineffective.
◉ How are adjuvants used most effectively?
Answer: Adjuvants may be necessary to use for better absorption by
foliage that is extremely waxy or hairy.
◉ What are the similarities and differences between foliar, cut-
surface, and basal bark applications?
Answer: Foliar applications are put directly onto the foliage of a
growing plant. Basal bark applications are used to control shrubs,
canes and thickets or trees up to 5 inches in diameter and are
applied to the lower 18 inches of the stems. Cut-surface treatments
are used to control plants with thick bark or when they have trunks
larger than 5 inches in diameter at the base.
◉ Define and explain "pesticide".
Answer: A pesticide is any substance used to directly control pest
populations or to prevent or reduce pest damage. Pesticides can
range from anything such as an insecticide to a herbicide to a
fungicide.
SCRIPT 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ What are the two main goals of weed management?
Answer: The primary goal is to minimize weed competition and the
other main goal is to limit the weed's reproduction in order to
manage the weed population in years to come.
◉ Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from
woody plants
Answer: Grasses are considered monocots, meaning they have a
single seed leaf, they also have narrow leaves with parallel veins and
a fibrous root system. Broadleaf plants have two seed leaves and are
therefore called dicots, they have broad leaves with veins that form a
net patterns. Broadleaf plants can be further classified into
herbaceous and woody, where the woody plants have a thick layer of
dense tissue called bark, which herbaceous plants lack.
◉ Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and
perennial plants
Answer: Annual plants live for less than a year, they produce many
seeds in one growing season, and then die. Summer annuals winter
as seeds, and winter annuals winter as a low-growing plant, both
summer and winter annuals are easiest to control when they are
,small. Biennial plants live for two growing seasons, they germinate
from seed in the spring or summer and winter as a rosette of leaves.
They flower in their second year, produce seeds and then die. Both
annuals and biennials reproduce only by seed. Perennial plants live
for at least 2 years and sometimes longer, they may reproduce by
seed or vegetatively through several different mechanisms.
◉ What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and
when is it easiest to do so?
Answer: To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill the whole shoot.
Controlling these weeds with tillage or herbicides will kill them plus
stop seed production, which will reduce future weed problems. The
most effective way to kill perennials is to destroy the underground
vegetative structures by either repeatedly tilling the soil or by using
a herbicide that translocates to destroy all of the plant parts.
◉ How should you time herbicide application with respect to a
plant's life cycle and which timing is most effective?
Answer: All weeds may start as seedlings and it is most effective to
treat the plants at this stage because less energy is required to kill
the plants at this stage than at any other. Biennials and Annuals are
controlled by a fall or early spring treatment, and perennials are
controlled best with a fall treatment as well.
◉ What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on
application of soil herbicides?
,Answer: Soil organic matter and clay particles can adsorb soil-
applied herbicides, meaning more herbicide will be required in
these types of soils because the herbicide will be bound to the soil
particles and will not be available to be absorbed by the weeds.
◉ How do you keep soil herbicides from moving off target?
Answer: Do not apply herbicides to areas where they may leach into
groundwater, or run off into water sources or cropping areas. Also
avoid applying herbicides to areas where desired tree and shrub
roots may extend and DO NOT apply herbicides to frozen soils.
◉ How and when should you apply soil herbicides?
Answer: Soil treatments are commonly used when a site requires
residual non-selective control, such as electric transformer stations,
rail ballasts and signpost bases. They can be applied any time that
the soil is not frozen, and some soil applied herbicides need to be
transported by rain to be absorbed by the plant.
◉ When are foliar sprays appropriate and not appropriate?
Answer: Foliar sprays are not recommended for large brush because
of the potential for drift. Foliar sprays should be operated from the
ground close to the plant and can either be applied through
broadcast or spot application.
◉ What are the factors in timing a foliar spray?
, Answer: Foliar treatments can be made from the time the leaves are
fully expanded until they begin to turn color in the fall, but are most
effective when applied to fully developed foliage of an actively
growing plant. They should be applied at a temperature between 60
and 80 degrees F, and should have adequate time to soak into to
plant, thus applying right before it rains is ineffective.
◉ How are adjuvants used most effectively?
Answer: Adjuvants may be necessary to use for better absorption by
foliage that is extremely waxy or hairy.
◉ What are the similarities and differences between foliar, cut-
surface, and basal bark applications?
Answer: Foliar applications are put directly onto the foliage of a
growing plant. Basal bark applications are used to control shrubs,
canes and thickets or trees up to 5 inches in diameter and are
applied to the lower 18 inches of the stems. Cut-surface treatments
are used to control plants with thick bark or when they have trunks
larger than 5 inches in diameter at the base.
◉ Define and explain "pesticide".
Answer: A pesticide is any substance used to directly control pest
populations or to prevent or reduce pest damage. Pesticides can
range from anything such as an insecticide to a herbicide to a
fungicide.
