Practise exam questions

Question 1

Describe TWO tasks carried out when thinning hardy annuals in a decortive border

Answer 1

Watering lightly, using a fine sprinkler or a watering can with a fine rose along the row to help re-settle disturbed plants after thinning, weeding or gapping up

Weeding using a hoe or by hand to remove annual/ephemeral weeds ensuring that the roots of the hardy annuals are not disturbed. Seedlings of hardy annuals can look like weeds

Gapping up is carried out when areas have failed or if seeds are station sown. Small groups of seedlings are replanted approximately 20cm apart

Checks are made for any signs of pests and disease damage .e.g botrytis and slug and snail damage. Affected seedlings are removed by ahdn and controls can be put in place to avoid further damage

Question 2

State SIX distinct tasks carried out on an harbaceous border during the dormant period

Answer 2

Cutting back and removing old foliage and flower stems

Removeing dead plants and replacing them

Weeding by hand pulling or hoeing

Mulching with garden compost before growth commences in the spring

Lifting and dividing overcrowded plants with a fork and replanting

Removing/replacing/repairing stakes, canes and supports

Reshaping the border/tidying the edge with a half moon cutter if it is positioned within a lawn

Question 3

State TWO dfferences between planting a bare-root and a container grown tree for 1. Timing
2. Staking

Answer 3

1. Bare-root trees are planted in the dormant season between November and February,

whereas container -grown trees are planted anytime in the year as long as the weather and soil conditions are suitable

2. Bare-root trees are staked using a single upright stake placed in the planting hole between the roots at the time of planting. They can also be satked using double stakes, inserted upright with a cross bar/ties or an angled stake.

Container gorwn trees are staked using an angled stake or double stakes, inserted upright with a cross bar/ties to avoid damage to the rootball

Question 4

Describe a suitable method of pruning a shrub grown for its winter stem interest

Answer 4

Pruning arried out in early spring e.g. march,

Using clean sharp secateurs or loppers.

The shrub is stooled by pruning all stems to approximately 5cm above a bud at an angle or horizontally above a pair of buds

Question 5

Describe the characteristics of a container suitable for aquatic plants

Answer 5

Describe the size of the container linked to the plant to be grown

the use of plastic mesh basket to allow water movement or the need for the container to be watertight

The durability of the container

the matierial that the container was made from and whether the visual appearance was important

Question 6

List FOUR characteristics of a growing medium/compost suitable for aquatic plants

Answer 6

stable structure

suitable pH

Ability to hold nutrients

weed free

pest and disease free

heavy

loam or clay

Question 7

Describe FOUR maintenance tasks carried out on a newly sown lawn from sowing to establishment

Answer 7

Irrigation in hot weather to provide a thorought soaking without disturbing the seedlings, The can be carried out in the evening with the use of a sprinkler

Roll the lawn with a garden roller or a cylinder mower to push in the stones and to induce tillering

Oversow patches where germination has failed with the same grass species mix at a rate of 30g per sq m

Control of weeds either by hand or with the use of a selective herbicide e.g. 2.4-D

Initial mowing carried out when grass is 100mm high, Redue by a third by setting the blades high on the mower

Question 8

State the term usually applied to plants used in summer bedding schemes

Answer 8

They are usually half-hardy annuals or plants grown as half-hardy annuals

Question 9

List in chronological order the tasks that are carried out in bed preparation and planting of summer bedding

Answer 9

Removal of spring bedding and weeds

Soil cultivation i.e. single or double digging

Incorporation of organic matter

Raking/levelling/shaping of bed

Consolidation, and final raking to include application of base dressing

Position of plants, spacing

Planting plants e.g. removal of pot, teasing out roots etc.

Order of planting i.e. dot plants, edging, groundwork/infill

Watering in

Question 10

Describe a suitable method to lift and divide an herbaceous perennial, in an herbaceous border

Answer 10

Cut back the selected plant and remove any dead foliage

Fork around the rootball an loosen it

Lift the plant carefully and place in onto a tarpaulin or work bench

Use two forks back-to-back to prise the plant apart or split it using a sharp knife or use a spade for woodym dense plants or tease the plant apart by hand

Discard the old woody centre

Divide the plant into sections of a suitable size each containing buds/shoots and roots

Remove any weeds or diseased material

Trim back the roots

Prepare the new planting area

Replant the divisions

Question 11

State the meaning of the terms climber and wall shrub

Answer 11

Climber is a plant that has adaptations or modifications to enable it to climb e.g. twinging stems, tendrils or adventitious roots

Wall shrub is a woody shrub which is planted next to a wall for decorative reasons or to benefit from the microclimate provided by the wall

Question 12

Describe TWO distinct methods that can be used to provide winter protection for alpine plants

Answer 12

cover the plants with a cloche or pane of glass

lifting and containerising the plants and palcing them in a cold frame overwinter or plants that have been plunged in the rock garden can be lifted and placed in the alpine glasshouse or coldframe during the winter

Alpines can be growin in an alpine galsshouse which is well ventilated and unheated

Question 13

Describe the planting of a NAMED deep water aquatic plant suitable for a garden pool

Answer 13

Selection of mesh container/basket

Line the container with hessian to prevent loss of compost

Trim roots and larger foliage before planting

Place a heavy loam compost in the base of the container

Position the plant in the centre of the container

Fill the container with compost and firm well

Water the container

Fold in the hessian at the top of the basket and trim off excess

Place gravel on the top of the container to prevent loss of the compost

Attach strings to the side of the container to assist lowering it into the pond

Slowly lower the container into the water and place on a platform of bricks or a shelf within the pond

Question 14

Describe the establishment of a high quality ornamental lawn from seed under EACH of the following headings

i. application of base dressing
ii. selection and sowing of grass species

Answer 14

i. a compound fertiliser e.g. Growmore can be applied broadcast or by machine at a rate of 35-75g/ sqm by dividing the fertiliser in half and then applying it in two directions before raking it in.
ii. Agrostis capillaris or Agrostis tenuis and Festuca rubra subsp. commutata can be sown at a rate of 35g/sq m by dividing the seed in half and then sowing it in two directions before lightly raking it in.

Question 15

State FOUR maintenance tasks carried out to ensure the establishment of a newly planted tree

Answer 15

Loosening or retying tree ties

Watering the tree by giving it a thorough soaking through tube/water pipe to ensure it reaches the roots

Replenish the mulch e.g. chipped bark around the base of the tree to ensure that it is 75-00mm deep

Keep up to 1m around the base of the tree weed free by hoeing or forking them out

Carry out formative pruning and removing 3 D’s

Question 16

Describe the planting of an herbaceous border with the use of bare-rooted perennials

Answer 16

Mark out the border using canes or sand to the required plant spacing and design

Remove any surface weeds from the plant and trim the roots

Protect the roots from drying out prior to planting

Ensure dug to the correct depth for the plant allowing the crown of the plant to be at surface level and the main stem above ground

Backfill with compost

Firm in to allow roots greater contact with soil, but gently so as not to damage them

Water

Question 17

Describe TWO distint methods of staking when planting trees

Answer 17

1. A short stake at an angle of 45 degress at a height up to 1m and angled towards the direction of the wind can be used. A buckle tie can be used to secure the tree to the stake
2. Double stakes which can be short up to 1m or up to the crown 2m and 30-45cm between the stakes can be used. Cross ties or a cross beam are used to secure the tree to the stakes
3. A single upright stake can be used that is either 1m or 2m in height. A buckle tie can be used to secure the tree to the stake

Question 18

Describe the maintenance of alpine or rock garden plants under EACH of the following headings

i. mulching

Answer 18

i. mulch with gravel in autumn or mid-late spring to a depth of 8-25mm - apply around the plant up to the collar of the plant

Question 19

Describe the process of establishin a lawn from turf under EACH of the following headings

i. soil preparation
ii. turf laying
iii. aftercare

Answer 19

i. remove weeds by digging or the use of a translocated herbicide e,g, glyphosate

Primary cultivation involves single or double digging

Secondary cultivation includes the rough levelling of the site using a landscape rake, consolidation of the soil by treading or the use of a roller and the creation of a fine tilth using a garden rake

ii. commence at a long edge of the sie and lay whole turves in a brick bond pattern ensuring the joints are well butted together.

Turf is laid standing on aboard to avoid damage to existing turves

The whole area is systematically filled in with smaller pieces cut to fill the gaps

Once turf laid consolidate by walking on the soil or using a roller to ensure good contact with the soil

Joints are then dressed with top dressing of soil and sand by brushing it into the the joints with a broom

iii. Irrigation, especially important in hot, dry weather until it is established and mowing to a height of 10-15mm should take place once the lawn is established

Further consolidation with a roller may be required and the lawn should be monitored for any signs of pest, disease or damage

Question 20

State distinct characteristics of a scree bed suitable for alpine or rock garden plants in a domestic garden

Answer 20

Would be on a slope to mimic mountain

Free draining soil

Devoid of larger rocks

Covered in a mass of small stones

Question 21

Describe FOUR distinct maintenance tasks carried out on margina plants in a garden pool

Answer 21

Lifiting an dividing plants in spring but cutting or pulling apart the roots and putting in new containers or back in their old ones

Carrying out any weeding by untangling blanket weed, replacing pebbles, hand weeding and removing weed seedlings throughout the spring and summer

Repotting in spring when they have grown out of their containers, by planting appropriately and using appropriate aquatic/clay potting compost

Cut back dead and dying material in spring

Question 22

How to station sow and sow in drills

Answer 22

Station sowing - make a hole to the correct depth according to the size of the seed and packet instructions) using a dibber, placing 1-3 seeds in each hole before replacing the soil over each hole and firming it.

Drill sowing - draw out a drill to a depth of 1-2cm and sowing the seed evenly along the drill. Cover with soil by using the back of a rake and tamping it down

Question 23

Describe the symptons of i. powdery mildew and ii. grey mould on herbaceous perennials

Answer 23

i. powdery mildew - produces white, dusty spreading patches of the fungus no the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf, flowers and buds. Plant tissue can become stunted and distorted, The infection can cause the infected plant parts to turn a purple-brown colour

ii. grey mould - is a fuzzy grey/brown mould which affects the osft plant tissue, leaves and flowers and can spread rapidly where there is high humidity. The disease causes a slimy rot and death of the plant.

Question 24

How to mulch and alpine/rock plant

Answer 24

Ensure the layer of mulch is even and to a depth of 15-30mm.

Lift up carpeting leaves and place mulch underneath them, up to their collar.

Avoid getting mulch on the crown of the plants

Question 25

What are marginal plants?

What are bog plants?

Answer 25

grow in shallow water with water over the crown of the plant. The roots are fully submerged and the foliage is above the level of the water. Planted in containers or in the soil of a natural pond. Planted in the first shelf of a pond.

planted in situ, directly in the soil over the membrane. The soil must be constantly wet and can grow in temporarily waterlogged soil.

Question 26

Describe the maintenance of a high quality lawn for

i. aeration
ii. two distinct methods of controlling weeds

Answer 26

i. should take place during spring or autumn using a range of equipment e.g. fork, hollow tine fork etc.. Aeration carried out to a depth of 50-10mm and spacing of 100-200mm of the tines. Where hollow tines are used a core of soil is removed from the lawn. When using the aerator the spacing between holes should be 0.5m
ii. weeds can be controlled by handweeding using a daisy grubber , spade or fork to remove all the roots. This is mainly carried out during the spring or autumn but it can be done whenever the weeds are seen.

The use of selective herbicide e.g. 2,4-D can be used to control weeds in lawns pplying it as a spray to the whole lawn or as a spot treatment. It is often incorporated into the lawn feed which is applied during spring or autumn.

Question 27

Describe a method of naturalising a bulb

Answer 27

Distribute the bulbs on the lawn by scattering them randomly - where they land dig a whole three times the depth of the bulb, place it into the hole with the roots facing down ‘nose up’ - the bulbs should be spaced approximately the width of the bulb apart. Replace the soil and turf and firm in

Question 28

What is rose powdery mildew?

Answer 28

appears as grey/white growth mainly on the upper side of the leaves and buds but can affect all aerial parts of the plant. Flowering is poor and there is reduced vigour of the plant.

Question 29

Identify SIX factors which need to be considered when planting a bare rooted herbaceous perennial

Answer 29

Plant from March to early May or late September to October

Do no allow roots of plants to dry out during planting

The rootball may need soaking prior to planting

Trim roots and any damaged material prior to planting

Prepare an appropriate sized planting hole

Remove roots of weeds entangled within the root systen prior to planting to avoid spread

Spread out roots when planting

Plant sat same level as ‘nursery mark’ and firm well

Question 30

Describe the process of trimming during the routine maintenance of alpine or rock garden plants

Answer 30

Timing e.g. after flowering or at the start of the growing season

Reasons e.g. maintains the shape of the plant ie reduce the size and spread

Removal of spent flowers, diseased or damaged plant material

Position of cuts e.g. just above a node or near the base of previous season’s growth

Question 31

Describe maintenance task of netting a garden pool

Answer 31

plastic netting with small mesh can be positioned safely and securely above the level of the water during late summer to autumn to prevent fallen leaves from trees entering the pool. These will need to be cleared regularly. The netting will also prevent access to the pool to predators