North Carolina Landscape Contractor Practice Exam – Study
Guide & Practice Questions
Comprehensive exam preparation resource for the North Carolina Landscape Contractor
licensing exam. Covers landscape construction, horticulture, plant identification, irrigation
systems, drainage, site planning, safety regulations, project management, and business practices.
Includes practice questions and answer explanations to help candidates strengthen their
knowledge and prepare for professional licensure.
Question 1
According to North Carolina General Statute Chapter 89G, what is the minimum
dollar threshold for a landscape project (including labor and materials) that
legally requires an individual to hold an active Landscape Contractor license?
A) $1,500
B) $2,500
C) $5,000
D) $10,000
Answer: C) $5,000
Rationale: Under NC General Statutes Chapter 89G, no person may engage in
landscape contracting or use the title "licensed landscape contractor" for any single
project valued at $5,000 or more unless they are legally licensed by the NCLCLB.
Question 2
A licensed North Carolina landscape contractor must complete how many hours
of approved Continuing Education (CE) each year to maintain an active license
status?
A) 5 hours
B) 7 hours
C) 10 hours
D) 12 hours
Answer: B) 7 hours
Rationale: The NCLCLB requires all licensees to complete 7 hours of approved
continuing education annually, which must include at least 3 hours of technical
landscape trade education and up to 4 hours of business education.
,Question 3
What is the minimum statutory dollar amount required for the compliance surety
bond that a North Carolina licensed landscape contractor must maintain?
A) $5,000
B) $10,000
C) $15,000
D) $25,000
Answer: B) $10,000
Rationale: North Carolina law mandates that licensees maintain a $10,000 surety bond
or an irrevocable letter of credit to protect consumers against structural or financial
default on contracting agreements.
Question 4
When planting a container-grown tree in typical North Carolina clay soils, how
wide should the planting hole be excavated relative to the size of the root ball?
A) Exactly the same width as the root ball
B) At least 2 to 3 times the width of the root ball
C) Exactly 5 times the width of the root ball
D) The width is irrelevant, but it must be twice as deep as the root ball
Answer: B) At least 2 to 3 times the width of the root ball
Rationale: Excavating a hole 2 to 3 times wider than the root ball loosens the
surrounding compacted soil, allowing new horizontal roots to establish easily. In heavy
NC clay, digging too deep causes settling, but digging wide ensures survival.
Question 5
Which turfgrass variety widely utilized in North Carolina is categorized as a warm-
season grass that exhibits excellent drought tolerance but turns dormant and
brown during winter months?
A) Kentucky Bluegrass
B) Tall Fescue
,C) Perennial Ryegrass
D) Bermuda grass
Answer: D) Bermuda grass
Rationale: Bermuda grass is an aggressive, warm-season turfgrass commonly used
across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of NC. It thrives in high heat and resists drought,
but enters winter dormancy when soil temperatures drop.
Question 6
What is the standard regulatory maximum deadline for a landscape contractor to
notify the NCLCLB of an official change to their business address or trade name?
A) 10 days
B) 30 days
C) 60 days
D) 90 days
Answer: B) 30 days
Rationale: Board administrative rules dictate that any change in a licensee’s residential
address, business address, or legal operating trade name must be submitted to the
NCLCLB in writing within 30 days of the shift.
Question 7
When designing a low-voltage landscape lighting system, what calculation is
used to determine the total wattage load placed on a transformer?
A) Multiply the total voltage by the total number of fixtures
B) Add the individual wattages of all lamps connected to the circuit together
C) Divide the main breaker voltage by individual fixture lengths
D) Deduct wire resistance from the total run distance
Answer: B) Add the individual wattages of all lamps connected to the circuit
together
Rationale: To prevent overloading a low-voltage transformer, a contractor must sum the
operating wattages of all fixtures on that run. Industry best practices state the total load
should not exceed 80% of the transformer's rated capacity.
, Question 8
Which soil amendment is primarily introduced to highly acidic North Carolina
soils to effectively raise the pH level to a target zone suitable for turf and
ornamentals?
A) Elemental Sulfur
B) Agricultural Limestone
C) Ammonium Sulfate
D) Gypsum
Answer: B) Agricultural Limestone
Rationale: Most native North Carolina soils are highly acidic clays. Applying agricultural
limestone (calcium carbonate) raises the soil pH, making essential macronutrients more
available to plant root systems.
Question 9
Under the North Carolina sedimentation and pollution control laws, what
structural device must be installed at downslope construction perimeters to
capture sediment runoff before it exits the job site?
A) Catch basin
B) Silt fence
C) French drain
D) Drywell
Answer: B) Silt fence
Rationale: Temporary geotextile silt fences are standard sediment barriers required on
disturbed construction sites to slow sheet flow runoff, allowing suspended soil particles
to settle out before leaving the property.
Question 10
What specific physiological plant condition is caused by planting a Balled-and-
Burlapped (B&B) ornamental tree too deep in the soil profile?
A) Rapid taproot elongation
B) Root suffocation and collar rot due to a lack of oxygen exchange
C) Increased resistance to vascular wilts
D) Phototropic distortion
Guide & Practice Questions
Comprehensive exam preparation resource for the North Carolina Landscape Contractor
licensing exam. Covers landscape construction, horticulture, plant identification, irrigation
systems, drainage, site planning, safety regulations, project management, and business practices.
Includes practice questions and answer explanations to help candidates strengthen their
knowledge and prepare for professional licensure.
Question 1
According to North Carolina General Statute Chapter 89G, what is the minimum
dollar threshold for a landscape project (including labor and materials) that
legally requires an individual to hold an active Landscape Contractor license?
A) $1,500
B) $2,500
C) $5,000
D) $10,000
Answer: C) $5,000
Rationale: Under NC General Statutes Chapter 89G, no person may engage in
landscape contracting or use the title "licensed landscape contractor" for any single
project valued at $5,000 or more unless they are legally licensed by the NCLCLB.
Question 2
A licensed North Carolina landscape contractor must complete how many hours
of approved Continuing Education (CE) each year to maintain an active license
status?
A) 5 hours
B) 7 hours
C) 10 hours
D) 12 hours
Answer: B) 7 hours
Rationale: The NCLCLB requires all licensees to complete 7 hours of approved
continuing education annually, which must include at least 3 hours of technical
landscape trade education and up to 4 hours of business education.
,Question 3
What is the minimum statutory dollar amount required for the compliance surety
bond that a North Carolina licensed landscape contractor must maintain?
A) $5,000
B) $10,000
C) $15,000
D) $25,000
Answer: B) $10,000
Rationale: North Carolina law mandates that licensees maintain a $10,000 surety bond
or an irrevocable letter of credit to protect consumers against structural or financial
default on contracting agreements.
Question 4
When planting a container-grown tree in typical North Carolina clay soils, how
wide should the planting hole be excavated relative to the size of the root ball?
A) Exactly the same width as the root ball
B) At least 2 to 3 times the width of the root ball
C) Exactly 5 times the width of the root ball
D) The width is irrelevant, but it must be twice as deep as the root ball
Answer: B) At least 2 to 3 times the width of the root ball
Rationale: Excavating a hole 2 to 3 times wider than the root ball loosens the
surrounding compacted soil, allowing new horizontal roots to establish easily. In heavy
NC clay, digging too deep causes settling, but digging wide ensures survival.
Question 5
Which turfgrass variety widely utilized in North Carolina is categorized as a warm-
season grass that exhibits excellent drought tolerance but turns dormant and
brown during winter months?
A) Kentucky Bluegrass
B) Tall Fescue
,C) Perennial Ryegrass
D) Bermuda grass
Answer: D) Bermuda grass
Rationale: Bermuda grass is an aggressive, warm-season turfgrass commonly used
across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of NC. It thrives in high heat and resists drought,
but enters winter dormancy when soil temperatures drop.
Question 6
What is the standard regulatory maximum deadline for a landscape contractor to
notify the NCLCLB of an official change to their business address or trade name?
A) 10 days
B) 30 days
C) 60 days
D) 90 days
Answer: B) 30 days
Rationale: Board administrative rules dictate that any change in a licensee’s residential
address, business address, or legal operating trade name must be submitted to the
NCLCLB in writing within 30 days of the shift.
Question 7
When designing a low-voltage landscape lighting system, what calculation is
used to determine the total wattage load placed on a transformer?
A) Multiply the total voltage by the total number of fixtures
B) Add the individual wattages of all lamps connected to the circuit together
C) Divide the main breaker voltage by individual fixture lengths
D) Deduct wire resistance from the total run distance
Answer: B) Add the individual wattages of all lamps connected to the circuit
together
Rationale: To prevent overloading a low-voltage transformer, a contractor must sum the
operating wattages of all fixtures on that run. Industry best practices state the total load
should not exceed 80% of the transformer's rated capacity.
, Question 8
Which soil amendment is primarily introduced to highly acidic North Carolina
soils to effectively raise the pH level to a target zone suitable for turf and
ornamentals?
A) Elemental Sulfur
B) Agricultural Limestone
C) Ammonium Sulfate
D) Gypsum
Answer: B) Agricultural Limestone
Rationale: Most native North Carolina soils are highly acidic clays. Applying agricultural
limestone (calcium carbonate) raises the soil pH, making essential macronutrients more
available to plant root systems.
Question 9
Under the North Carolina sedimentation and pollution control laws, what
structural device must be installed at downslope construction perimeters to
capture sediment runoff before it exits the job site?
A) Catch basin
B) Silt fence
C) French drain
D) Drywell
Answer: B) Silt fence
Rationale: Temporary geotextile silt fences are standard sediment barriers required on
disturbed construction sites to slow sheet flow runoff, allowing suspended soil particles
to settle out before leaving the property.
Question 10
What specific physiological plant condition is caused by planting a Balled-and-
Burlapped (B&B) ornamental tree too deep in the soil profile?
A) Rapid taproot elongation
B) Root suffocation and collar rot due to a lack of oxygen exchange
C) Increased resistance to vascular wilts
D) Phototropic distortion
