Profession groundsman / groundswoman

Groundsmen/groundswomen provide landscape and lawn services and maintain grounds for private households, commercial and public facilities, schools, hotels, botanical gardens, golf courses, parks and athletic fields.\

Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

Related professions horticulture, gardening

• First line supervisor horticultural nursery gardeners
• Floral arranger
• Flower binder
• Garden architect
• Garden helper
• Gardener (cemetery)
• Gardener (public parks)
• Gardener, all other
• Greenkeeper sports grounds
• Groundsman
• Head groundsman
• Horticultural grower
• Horticultural technician
• Horticultural worker
• Landscape architect

Knowledge

• Pest control in plants

  Types and features of pests in plants and crops. Different kinds of pest control methods, activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the type of plant or crop, environmental and climate conditions and health and safety regulations. Storage and handling of products.

• Principles of landscape construction

  Principles and techniques to prepare ground or site for construction of wooden and brick terraces, fences and ground surfaces. This includes knowlege on how to measure and plan out the site, lay stone and tiles.

• Water chemistry analysis

  Principles of complex water chemistry.

• Soil structure

  Diversity of soil elements and types of soil in relation to plant growth.

• Watering principles

  Methods, principles and systems for supplying water to land or crops by means of pipes, sprinklers, ditches or streams.

• Environmental legislation in agriculture and forestry

  Awareness on enviromental legislation, policies, principles relevant for agriculture and forestry. Awareness of the impact on the enviroment of local agricultural precedures and practices. Means to adjust the production to new enviromental regulations and policies.

• Plant species

  The variety of plants, trees and shrubs and their special characteristics. 

• Horticulture principles

  The standard horticultural practices, including but not limited to planting, pruning, corrective pruning, and fertilisation.

• Turf management

  Planting and maintainance of turf.

• Ecology

  The study of how organisms interact and their relation to the ambient environment.

• Plant disease control

  Types and features of diseases in plants and crops. Different kinds control methods, activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the type of plant or crop, environmental and climate conditions and health and safety regulations. Storage and handling of products.

Skills

• Maintain irrigation systems

  Install irrigation, plumbing and sprinkler systems. Inspect and assess these systems according to agreed time schedules. Identify defects and wear in irrigation systems and arrange repairs.

• Operate turf management equipment

  Operate turf management equipment like hedge cutters, mowers and strimmers.

• Plan sports areas

  Carry out an initial survey which identifies the type, function and required dimensions of the sports area. Produce accurate plans which are consistent with the rules of the sport. Ensure the positioning and dimensions of the sports area are consistent with the rules of the sport and the function, use and safety of the site.

• Transport physical resources within the work area

  Transport physical resources such as products, equipment, materials, and liquids. Carefully load, transport and unload resources safely and efficiently, keeping the load in good condition.

• Construct greens and grounds

  Project, construct, reconstruct playing fields and bunkers, tees at greens.

• Prepare sites for planting of grass

  Prepare lawn areas by spreading top soil and planting grass, and by laying instant turf.

• Prepare land for turf laying

  Coordinate the work involved in clearing and preparing sites ready for planting. Ensure that the working methods for site clearance and preparation are established and clearly communicated. Oversee site clearance and preparation in accordance with specifications and maintain the quality of work.

• Perform pest control

  Carry out crop spraying pest and disease operations in line with National industry and customer requirements. Carry out slurry and fertiliser spreading in accordance with local environmental regulations

• Prepare the ground

  Prepare the ground for laying turf or seeding by clearing the area, choosing the optimal soil, choosing the ground deepness and the appropriate fertilisers.

• Spray pesticides

  Spray pesticide solutions to keep insects, fungus, weed growth, and diseases under control.

• Maintain turf management equipment

  Install and service equipment like nets, posts and protective covers for sports and recreation purposes.

• Maintain turf and grass

  Establish and maintain fine turf, grassed fields, and synthetic surfaces for sports events. Ensure a pleasant appearance of the property grounds.

• Use gardening equipment

  Use gardening equipment such as clippers, sprayers, mowers, chainsaws, complying to health and safety regulations.

• Estimate consumption of water

  Estimate, measure and register comsuption of water required for watering of greens or grounds areas.

• Perform weed control operations

  Carry out crop spraying for weeds and plant disease operations in line with national industry and customer requirements.

• Prepare ground for construction

  Select materials to meet specifications, prepare the site in accordance with specifications.

• Prepare planting area

  Prepare planting area and soil for planting by for example fertilising, mulching by hand or using mechanical tools or machinery; prepare seeds and plants for sowing and planting by ensuring the quality of seed and plants.Sow and plant by hand, using mechanical tools or machinery and in accordance with national legislation.

• Maintain landscape site

  Maintain the site by mowing, applying fertiliser, controlling weed, aerating, trimming and pruning. Perform clean-ups according to needs and requirements.

• Handle chemical products for soil and plants

  Handle chemical products for soil and plants includes cleaning the equipment used for spreading and spraying, mixing of chemicals, preparing pesticides and herbicides for spraying, preparing fertilisers for spreading.

• Execute disease and pest control activities

  Execute disease and pest control activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the climate, plant or crop type, health and safety and environmental regulations. Store and handle pesticides in accordance with recomandation and legislation.

• Monitor water quality

  Measure water quality: temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, N2, NO2,NH4, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll. Monitor microbiological water quality.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB