Landscaping and groundskeeping workers landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.

 

How to be supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers. Discover qualifications and knowledge. Check salaries and benefits.

How to be landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping worker. Discover qualifications and knowledge required. Check salaries and benefits.

  • Gather and remove litter.
  • Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.
  • Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
  • Water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans.
  • Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws.
  • Mix and spray or spread fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides onto grass, shrubs, or trees, using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders.
  • Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
  • Follow planned landscaping designs to determine where to lay sod, sow grass, or plant flowers or foliage.
  • Trim or pick flowers and clean flower beds.
  • Attach wires from planted trees to support stakes.
  • Plant seeds, bulbs, foliage, flowering plants, grass, ground covers, trees, or shrubs and apply mulch for protection, using gardening tools.
  • Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers.
  • Rake, mulch, and compost leaves.
  • Decorate gardens with stones or plants.
  • Use irrigation methods to adjust the amount of water consumption and to prevent waste.
  • Provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, planters, burial sites, or other grounds features.
  • Shovel snow from walks, driveways, or parking lots and spread salt in those areas.
  • Maintain irrigation systems, including winterizing the systems and starting them up in spring.
  • Plan or cultivate lawns or gardens.
  • Maintain or repair tools, equipment, or structures, such as buildings, greenhouses, fences, or benches, using hand or power tools.
  • Care for artificial turf fields, periodically removing the turf and replacing cushioning pads or vacuuming and disinfecting the turf after use to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
  • Install rock gardens, ponds, decks, drainage systems, irrigation systems, retaining walls, fences, planters, or playground equipment.
  • Care for natural turf fields, making sure the underlying soil has the required composition to allow proper drainage and to support the grasses used on the fields.
  • Advise customers on plant selection or care.
  • Haul or spread topsoil or spread straw over seeded soil to hold soil in place.
  • Mark design boundaries and paint natural or artificial turf fields with team logos or names before events.
  • Build forms and mix and pour cement to form garden borders.
Work Context
  • Outdoors, Exposed to Weather — 99% responded "Every day".
  • Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 75% responded "Every day".
  • Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — 86% responded "Every day".
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 81% responded "Every day".
  • Exposed to Hazardous Equipment — 57% responded "Every day".
  • Spend Time Standing — 64% responded "Continually or almost continually".
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 58% responded "Continually or almost continually".
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Work Activities
  • Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Operate grounds maintenance equipment.
  • Drive trucks or other vehicles to or at work sites.
  • Trim trees or other vegetation.
  • Operate grounds maintenance equipment.
  • Remove snow.
  • Cultivate lawns, turf, or gardens.
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Knowledge

English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Skills

Operation and Control
  • Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Abilities

Multilimb Coordination
  • The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Manual Dexterity
  • The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Trunk Strength
  • The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Extent Flexibility
  • The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Electronic mail software
  • IBM Notes Hot Technology
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
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