ADVANCED INSECT, DISEASE AND WEED EXAM

The Insect, Disease and Weed (IDW) Exam is a comprehensive one. There are three sections that are graded separately. Passing score is 80% on each section.

STUDY MANUAL - "Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs; An Integrated Pest Management Guide". This publication is your study manual for this exam. It is available through the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers. See registration and study materials form below. 

Exam Sections:

IDENTIFICATION - You will be required to identify 50 photos that have been selected from the more than 200 photos shown in the "Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs An Integrated Pest Management Guide" publication. (Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7) You will need to give a complete description of each slide shown. (Points are not deducted for spelling errors) 

Examples:     Adult klamath weed beetle
                     Dead leaves of coast live oak caused by oak twig blight
                     Flatheaded borer damage

QUESTIONS - You will be required to answer 200 True/False questions based on the publication. 

MATCHING – You will be required to answer 55 matching questions based on the publication  – such as which are beneficial insects and which are not.   

There is no need to memorize any charts or tables. However, be sure to thoroughly review the following chapters and pages from the "Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs An Integrated Pest Management Guide" publication:               Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

THE TURF ADVANCED EXAM

The exam is based on the Ortho 'All About Lawns' booklet.  This exam has three sections:

General Questions based on the All About Lawns publication and pratical experience.

Three Matching Sections where a description of a weed, insect or disease is matched up with its official name.  

Calculation Problem is just as if a customer came into your nursery and told you he has an area that is to be planted in lawn and he has come to your garden center to purchase the materials.  He/she arrives and has a landscape plan which has been designed by a fellow CCN Pro. 

By referring to the landscape plan and using the data given –    calculate the square footage of the lawn area, the amount of the soil amendment for soil amending and topdressing, pre-plant fertilizer, lawn seed, and the total cost of the materials.find a turf matching quiz, which will test you on three major areas affecting turf—weeds, insects and diseases.

Contact Ann Quinn for more information at (916) 928-3900 ext. 3314 or aquinn@cgfa.org