What Do Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

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. They also gather and remove litter.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• Use irrigation methods to adjust the amount of water consumption and to prevent waste.

We asked Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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71% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 62% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers gather and remove litter. They provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, planters, burial sites, or other grounds features.

A typical day for a Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker will also include:

• Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
• Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.
• Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
• Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers.
• Use irrigation methods to adjust the amount of water consumption and to prevent waste.

We asked some Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	9% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	45% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	66% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	8% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	23% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	34% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers also advise customers on plant selection or care. They may also water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Mix and spray or spread fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides onto grass, shrubs, or trees, using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders. They might also Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers.

In addition, they Rake, mulch, and compost leaves.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Maintain or repair tools, equipment, or structures, such as buildings, greenhouses, fences, or benches, using hand or power tools.

To some Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers, it is also their responsibility to Attach wires from planted trees to support stakes.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/building-and-grounds-cleaning/grounds-maintenance-workers.htm

http://www.isa-arbor.com/

http://www.tcia.org/

https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/