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Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Occupation Detailed Description

Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

The main tasks and work activities of Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers are to operate grounds maintenance equipment, trim trees or other vegetation, remove snow, cultivate lawns, turf, or gardens. In general, for the Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers, operation and Control and other -2 skills are required.
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Job Description
EducationSome of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Related ExperienceLittle or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
ExampleThese occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, sewing machine operators, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers jobs. 8.22% of Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 31.20% of Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
39.15%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
8.22%
Post-Secondary Certificate
31.20%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
3.10%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
18.33%

Tasks and Work Activities of Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

  • Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers.
  • Shovel snow from walks, driveways, or parking lots and spread salt in those areas.
  • Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
  • Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.
  • Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws.
  • Gather and remove litter.
  • Maintain or repair tools, equipment, or structures, such as buildings, greenhouses, fences, or benches, using hand or power tools.
  • Mix and spray or spread fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides onto grass, shrubs, or trees, using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders.
  • Provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, planters, burial sites, or other grounds features.
  • Water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans.
  • Trim or pick flowers and clean flower beds.
  • Rake, mulch, and compost leaves.
  • Follow planned landscaping designs to determine where to lay sod, sow grass, or plant flowers or foliage.
  • Plant seeds, bulbs, foliage, flowering plants, grass, ground covers, trees, or shrubs and apply mulch for protection, using gardening tools.
  • Decorate gardens with stones or plants.
  • Maintain irrigation systems, including winterizing the systems and starting them up in spring.
  • 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.
  • Use irrigation methods to adjust the amount of water consumption and to prevent waste.
  • Haul or spread topsoil or spread straw over seeded soil to hold soil in place.
  • Advise customers on plant selection or care.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming 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 InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Operate grounds maintenance equipment.
  • Trim trees or other vegetation.
  • Remove snow.
  • Cultivate lawns, turf, or gardens.
  • Dispose of trash or waste materials.
  • Maintain equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
  • Treat greenery or surfaces with protective substances.
  • Prepare chemicals for work application.
  • Irrigate lawns, trees, or plants.
  • Clean facilities or sites.
  • Remove debris from work sites.
  • Evaluate reports or designs to determine work needs.
  • Plant greenery to improve landscape appearance.
  • Decorate indoor or outdoor spaces.
  • Provide information about landscaping services or costs.
  • Install equipment to protect or support trees.
  • Drive trucks or other vehicles to or at work sites.

Skills and Abilities for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe 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 DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Trunk StrengthThe 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.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Extent FlexibilityThe ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • StaminaThe ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
  • Adjustable widemouth plierse.g. Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable wrenches
  • Hydraulic truck cranese.g. Aerial lift trucks
  • Rakese.g. Arena rakes
  • Rakese.g. Artificial turf groomers
  • Axese.g. Axes
  • Backhoese.g. Backhoes
  • Power blowerse.g. Backpack blowers
  • Hand sprayerse.g. Backpack pump sprayers
  • Graders or land levelerse.g. Box blades
  • Weederse.g. Brush trimmers
  • Wheel loaderse.g. Bucket loaders
  • Graders or land levelerse.g. Bunker rakes
  • Cargo truckse.g. Cargo trucks
  • Power sawse.g. Chain saws
  • Concrete mixers or plantse.g. Concrete mixers
  • Cultivatorse.g. Cultivators
  • Handheld thermometere.g. Digital soil thermometers
  • Shovelse.g. Dirt shovels
  • Draglinese.g. Drag brooms
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge 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.