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sample question from level 2 Garden Planning
by Janet Prescott - Monday, 2 April 2018, 5:15 PM
 

R2112 Feb ‘17

Q2 a) Name FOUR distinct herbaceous perennial plants suitable for growing in an herbaceous border.      [4 marks]

b) State SIX distinct tasks carried out on an herbaceous border during the dormant

period.  [6 marks]

This question relates to 2.1 and 2.4 of the syllabus:

2.1 Name TEN herbaceous perennial plants suitable for growing in an herbaceous border

2.4 Describe the soil preparation, planting, routine maintenance and control of weeds, pests and diseases (aphids, slugs and snails, vine weevil, grey mould, powdery mildew, stem or bulb eelworm) required for growing herbaceous perennials and bulbs, corms or tubers

Soil preparation to include cultivation, addition of organic matter and/or fertiliser.

Planting to include specification (bare root, container grown, planting techniques for herbaceous perennials and bulbs, corms and tubers.

Routine maintenance tasks to include support, watering, deadheading, feeding, and renovation by division.

Methods of weed control to include Physical (Hand weeding methods), Chemical (Use of Herbicides) and Cultural (Mulches).

Control of pests and diseases for appropriate situations

 

 

For part a) it is important to use full botanical names for the plant examples. There are several listed on the syllabus which you could pick four from:  Aster novi-belgii, Hemerocallis fulva, Papaver orientale, Sedum spectabile, Verbena bonariensis.

You should learn these examples as questions could be asked directly about them. However, for this question, other appropriate examples are also acceptable.

Some of these names have been changed:

·        Sedum spectabile is now renamed Hylotelephium spectabile

·        Aster novi-belgii is now renamed Symphyotrichum novi-belgii.

As these are recent name changes and the old ones are still on the syllabus, either should be acceptable to use. However, it is always good to use the most up to date names.

For part b) the number of tasks required is written in bold and capitals to make it clear, as with the plant names required for part a). It is easier to answer a question like this with bullet points or numbers. For a question that asks you to ‘state’, fairly concise answers are required. The examiner’s comments suggest the following:

·        Cutting back and removing old foliage and flower stems.

·        Removing 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.

The question only wants tasks for the dormant season, so anything that would apply to plants in full growth would not be acceptable. It is a good idea to underline or circle key words on a question like this to check you have answered it correctly.