Req 8b5c — Woody Ornamentals in the Landscape

This track focuses on trees and shrubs grown for their landscape value—form, foliage, flowers, and ecological contributions. All five sub-requirements must be completed. Start planting as early in the season as possible; woody plants need time to establish and for you to observe them adequately.

Requirement 8b5c1

“Landscape setting” means in-ground in a yard, park, Scout camp, or other outdoor site—not containers. The five plants can be the same species or a mix.

Full care for one season includes:

• Watering regularly, especially in the first season (roots haven’t extended beyond the planting hole yet)
• Mulching to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature—2–4 inches, pulled back from the trunk
• Monitoring for pests, disease, deer browse, or mechanical damage
• Staking if needed (remove stakes after one season)
• Fertilizing lightly in mid-spring if growth seems slow

Keep notes on each plant: what you planted, where, when, and how they progressed. Your counselor will want to know.

Requirement 8b5c2

For woody ornamentals, pruning serves structural, health, and aesthetic goals:

• Remove the three Ds: dead, damaged, and diseased wood first.
• Then address crossing and rubbing branches that create wounds.
• Finally, shape for structure and form—preferably by thinning (removing entire branches) rather than heading (shortening), which produces unnatural regrowth.

Always cut just outside the branch collar (the swollen ring at the base of a branch). The collar produces chemicals that close the wound; cutting into it removes that protective tissue.

Be prepared to explain each cut you make to your counselor and why it was necessary.

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Requirement 8b5c3

Your list must be trees you haven’t already discussed in req 6. For each entry, note its primary landscape use—shade, screening, specimen focal point, street tree, wildlife value, seasonal color, etc.

Format your list like this:

Spend time at a nursery or arboretum to observe real specimens—you’ll give a much richer description than if you rely only on reference books.

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Requirement 8b5c4

For each of the 10 trees from 8b5c3, you should be able to describe:

• Size: Mature height × spread (e.g., 20–25 ft tall, 15–20 ft wide)
• Texture: Fine (small leaves, delicate branching), medium, or coarse
• Color: Bark color, summer foliage color, fall color
• Flowers: Color, time of bloom, fragrance if notable
• Leaves: Shape, margin, arrangement (opposite vs. alternate); deciduous or evergreen
• Fruit: Type (berry, capsule, samara, acorn), ornamental or wildlife value
• Hardiness: USDA zone range
• Cultural requirements: Sun, moisture, soil pH preference, drainage needs
• Special characteristics: Anything that makes it stand out—fragrance, multi-season interest, drought tolerance, native status, invasive concerns

You can use a plant database, nursery catalog, or the USDA Plants Database to gather this information—but practice describing it out loud before your conference.

Requirement 8b5c5

Be specific and ready to explain each:

1. Carbon sequestration: Trees absorb CO₂ during photosynthesis and store carbon in their wood, helping offset greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Air quality improvement: Leaves filter particulate matter and absorb pollutants including ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
3. Urban heat island reduction: Tree canopy shades surfaces and releases water vapor through transpiration, cooling air temperatures by several degrees.
4. Stormwater management: Root systems and leaf litter increase soil permeability and slow runoff, reducing flooding and erosion.
5. Wildlife habitat: Trees provide nesting sites, food (fruit, seeds, insects), and cover for birds, mammals, and pollinators.

Bonus talking point: trees also reduce energy costs by shading buildings in summer and blocking wind in winter.

Official Resources