NORTH CAROLINA LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR LICENSING EXAMINATION
)
North Carolina Landscape Contractor
Covering: Horticulture | Turf Management | Pest Control | Business & Law | Safety
| Design | Irrigation
1. What is the primary purpose of the North Carolina Landscape
Contractors' Licensing Law?
Answer: To protect the public by ensuring landscape contractors meet
minimum competency standards through licensing requirements.
2. Which state agency administers the North Carolina Landscape
Contractors' Licensing Law?
Answer: The North Carolina Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board.
3. What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a landscape contractor
license in North Carolina?
Answer: An applicant must be at least 18 years of age.
4. Define the term 'landscape contractor' as used under North Carolina law.
Answer: A person who, for compensation, engages in the business of landscape
contracting, which includes grading, clearing, seeding, sodding, and installing
plants and related structures.
5. What does the term 'landscaping' encompass under North Carolina
statutes?
Answer: Landscaping includes grading, clearing, excavating, and installing
living plants, ground covers, shrubs, trees, sodding, seeding, and placing of
landscape structures such as walkways, retaining walls, and irrigation systems.
Page 1 of 29
, NORTH CAROLINA LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR LICENSING EXAMINATION
6. What happens if a landscape contractor works without a valid license in
North Carolina?
Answer: Working without a valid license is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which can
result in fines and criminal prosecution.
7. How often must a North Carolina landscape contractor license be renewed?
Answer: The license must be renewed annually.
8. What is the purpose of bonding requirements for landscape contractors in
North Carolina?
Answer: Bonding protects clients by ensuring financial compensation is
available if a contractor fails to complete work or causes damage.
9. What is the significance of a surety bond in the landscape contracting
business?
Answer: A surety bond guarantees that the contractor will fulfill obligations; if
they fail, the bonding company pays the client up to the bond amount.
10. What is the difference between a license and a permit in landscape
contracting?
Answer: A license certifies the contractor's qualifications and legal authority to
operate; a permit is a project-specific approval from a local government to
perform particular work.
11. What is soil pH and why is it important in landscape management?
Answer: Soil pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of soil on a scale of 0–14; it
affects nutrient availability and plant health. Most landscape plants thrive at a
pH of 6.0–7.0.
12. What soil pH range is generally ideal for most turf grasses in North
Carolina?
Answer: Most turf grasses in North Carolina grow best at a soil pH between 6.0
and 6.5.
13. How is lime used in landscape management?
Answer: Lime (calcium carbonate or dolomitic limestone) is applied to raise
soil pH in acidic soils, improving nutrient availability and microbial activity.
14. What does a soil test measure and why should landscape contractors
conduct them?
Page 2 of 29
, NORTH CAROLINA LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR LICENSING EXAMINATION
Answer: A soil test measures pH, nutrient levels (N, P, K), and organic matter;
it allows contractors to make precise fertilizer and amendment
recommendations, avoiding over- or under-application.
15. Define nitrogen's role in plant growth.
Answer: Nitrogen is a primary macronutrient that promotes vegetative growth,
leaf development, and gives plants a deep green color; deficiency results in
yellowing (chlorosis).
16. What is the role of phosphorus in plant health?
Answer: Phosphorus supports root development, flowering, fruiting, and
energy transfer within the plant; it is critical during establishment of new
plantings.
17. What function does potassium serve in landscape plants?
Answer: Potassium strengthens cell walls, improves drought and disease
resistance, and regulates water movement within the plant.
18. What is the difference between macronutrients and micronutrients in
plant nutrition?
Answer: Macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) are needed in large quantities;
micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl) are required in trace amounts but
are equally essential for plant health.
19. What causes iron chlorosis in landscape plants and how is it treated?
Answer: Iron chlorosis is caused by iron deficiency, often in high-pH soils; it is
treated by lowering soil pH or applying chelated iron fertilizer.
20. What is the correct method for reading a fertilizer label such as 10-10-10?
Answer: The three numbers represent the percentage by weight of nitrogen (N),
phosphate (P₂O₅), and potash (K₂O) in the fertilizer.
21. What is slow-release fertilizer and what are its advantages?
Answer: Slow-release fertilizer releases nutrients gradually over time, reducing
the risk of fertilizer burn, nutrient leaching, and providing sustained plant
nutrition.
22. What is organic matter and how does it benefit soil?
Page 3 of 29
)
North Carolina Landscape Contractor
Covering: Horticulture | Turf Management | Pest Control | Business & Law | Safety
| Design | Irrigation
1. What is the primary purpose of the North Carolina Landscape
Contractors' Licensing Law?
Answer: To protect the public by ensuring landscape contractors meet
minimum competency standards through licensing requirements.
2. Which state agency administers the North Carolina Landscape
Contractors' Licensing Law?
Answer: The North Carolina Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board.
3. What is the minimum age requirement to obtain a landscape contractor
license in North Carolina?
Answer: An applicant must be at least 18 years of age.
4. Define the term 'landscape contractor' as used under North Carolina law.
Answer: A person who, for compensation, engages in the business of landscape
contracting, which includes grading, clearing, seeding, sodding, and installing
plants and related structures.
5. What does the term 'landscaping' encompass under North Carolina
statutes?
Answer: Landscaping includes grading, clearing, excavating, and installing
living plants, ground covers, shrubs, trees, sodding, seeding, and placing of
landscape structures such as walkways, retaining walls, and irrigation systems.
Page 1 of 29
, NORTH CAROLINA LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR LICENSING EXAMINATION
6. What happens if a landscape contractor works without a valid license in
North Carolina?
Answer: Working without a valid license is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which can
result in fines and criminal prosecution.
7. How often must a North Carolina landscape contractor license be renewed?
Answer: The license must be renewed annually.
8. What is the purpose of bonding requirements for landscape contractors in
North Carolina?
Answer: Bonding protects clients by ensuring financial compensation is
available if a contractor fails to complete work or causes damage.
9. What is the significance of a surety bond in the landscape contracting
business?
Answer: A surety bond guarantees that the contractor will fulfill obligations; if
they fail, the bonding company pays the client up to the bond amount.
10. What is the difference between a license and a permit in landscape
contracting?
Answer: A license certifies the contractor's qualifications and legal authority to
operate; a permit is a project-specific approval from a local government to
perform particular work.
11. What is soil pH and why is it important in landscape management?
Answer: Soil pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of soil on a scale of 0–14; it
affects nutrient availability and plant health. Most landscape plants thrive at a
pH of 6.0–7.0.
12. What soil pH range is generally ideal for most turf grasses in North
Carolina?
Answer: Most turf grasses in North Carolina grow best at a soil pH between 6.0
and 6.5.
13. How is lime used in landscape management?
Answer: Lime (calcium carbonate or dolomitic limestone) is applied to raise
soil pH in acidic soils, improving nutrient availability and microbial activity.
14. What does a soil test measure and why should landscape contractors
conduct them?
Page 2 of 29
, NORTH CAROLINA LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR LICENSING EXAMINATION
Answer: A soil test measures pH, nutrient levels (N, P, K), and organic matter;
it allows contractors to make precise fertilizer and amendment
recommendations, avoiding over- or under-application.
15. Define nitrogen's role in plant growth.
Answer: Nitrogen is a primary macronutrient that promotes vegetative growth,
leaf development, and gives plants a deep green color; deficiency results in
yellowing (chlorosis).
16. What is the role of phosphorus in plant health?
Answer: Phosphorus supports root development, flowering, fruiting, and
energy transfer within the plant; it is critical during establishment of new
plantings.
17. What function does potassium serve in landscape plants?
Answer: Potassium strengthens cell walls, improves drought and disease
resistance, and regulates water movement within the plant.
18. What is the difference between macronutrients and micronutrients in
plant nutrition?
Answer: Macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) are needed in large quantities;
micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl) are required in trace amounts but
are equally essential for plant health.
19. What causes iron chlorosis in landscape plants and how is it treated?
Answer: Iron chlorosis is caused by iron deficiency, often in high-pH soils; it is
treated by lowering soil pH or applying chelated iron fertilizer.
20. What is the correct method for reading a fertilizer label such as 10-10-10?
Answer: The three numbers represent the percentage by weight of nitrogen (N),
phosphate (P₂O₅), and potash (K₂O) in the fertilizer.
21. What is slow-release fertilizer and what are its advantages?
Answer: Slow-release fertilizer releases nutrients gradually over time, reducing
the risk of fertilizer burn, nutrient leaching, and providing sustained plant
nutrition.
22. What is organic matter and how does it benefit soil?
Page 3 of 29
