Based on the Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist exam blueprint: horticultural principles, landscape construction and maintenance
Practice on the go and jump straight back to where you left off.
About the certification
In Ontario, Horticultural Technician is trade code 441C, regulated by Skilled Trades Ontario. The apprenticeship asks for Grade 12 and combines about 5,400 hours of on-the-job training with 720 hours of technical training. Across Canada the matching Red Seal trade is Landscape Horticulturist, and Ontario's training standard has been harmonized with the Red Seal standard since September 2022.
The Red Seal exam has 120 multiple-choice questions in four major work activities: common occupational skills (23), horticultural principles (29), landscape construction (40) and landscape maintenance (28). The heaviest tasks are horticultural practices (18 questions), installing hardscape (13) and maintaining softscape (13). About two-thirds of the questions apply procedures to a situation, and fewer than one in ten tests critical thinking.
ExamHub's free 441C practice quiz has 220 original questions weighted to the real exam blocks. They cover plants, soil and pests, Ontario pesticide and workplace safety rules, hardscape, irrigation, turf and green infrastructure, with an explanation and a source for every answer.
What's covered
Categories follow the 14 Red Seal exam tasks, weighted like the real exam.
Try a few
Five sample questions from the question bank, with the answer and explanation.
Why: The table in O. Reg. 213/91, s. 188(2) sets 3 m for lines of 750 V or more up to 150 000 V. 4.5 m applies above 150 000 V up to 250 000 V, and 6 m above that.
Why: Elemental sulphur is oxidized by soil bacteria to sulphuric acid and gradually lowers pH. Limestone, dolomitic lime and wood ash all raise pH, which is the wrong direction for acid-loving plants.
Why: Manufacturer and agency specifications typically require base and reinforced backfill compacted to at least 95% of standard Proctor (ASTM D698). Tamping by feel cannot be verified.
Why: Section 7.1 prohibits using an active ingredient for a cosmetic purpose unless the Director has listed it as appropriate. Exceptions include golf courses, agriculture, forestry and public health uses such as controlling poison ivy or giant hogweed.
Why: The one-third rule says to remove no more than one-third of the leaf blade in one mowing. One-third of 9 cm is 3 cm, bringing the lawn back to 6 cm.
FAQ
The Red Seal Landscape Horticulturist exam has 120 multiple-choice questions, each with four options. ExamHub's bank has 220 questions, and Test Mode draws a full 120-question timed simulation.
Skilled Trades Ontario sets the minimum passing mark for its certification exams at 70%, with up to four hours to write. ExamHub's Test Mode uses the same 70% and 4-hour limit.
Four major work activities: common occupational skills (23 questions: safety 5, tools and vehicles 6, organizing work 7, marketing and sales 3, communication 2), horticultural principles (29: horticultural practices 18, environmental practices 11), landscape construction (40: pre-construction 10, hardscape 13, softscape 11, green infrastructure 6) and landscape maintenance (28: hardscape 9, softscape 13, green infrastructure 6).
Horticultural Technician (441C) is the Ontario name of the trade, and Landscape Horticulturist is its Red Seal name. Ontario's training standard, effective September 2022, is harmonized with the Red Seal Occupational Standard.
No. These are original practice questions written from the Red Seal standard, Ontario regulations and public technical sources. They are not copies of exam questions.