Landscapers and Groundskeepers

Landscapers and groundskeepers plant and take care of flowers, lawns, shrubs, and trees.

Landscapers and groundskeepers water and mowing lawns, trim plants, prune trees and shrubs, and rake leaves. They may plant trees, shrubs, lawns, and flowers and apply mulch, fertilizers, and pesticides.

On the Job

Overview

Landscapers and groundskeepers plant and take care of flowers, lawns, shrubs, and trees.

Do you envision a delightful, informal cottage garden, full of roses, perennials, and sweet-smelling herbs? How about a beautiful Japanese garden, with carefully pruned shrubs, bonsai trees, and clean lines? Perhaps you'd like a more architectural approach, with terraced plots and carefully designed garden paths. Whatever your fancy, landscapers and groundskeepers take a person's vision of their outdoor space and turn it into reality.

Landscapers and groundskeepers water and mow lawns, trim plants, prune trees and shrubs, and rake leaves. They may plant trees, shrubs, lawns, and flowers and apply mulch, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Landscapers work on large properties, such as office buildings and shopping malls. They put in plants following plans drawn up by a landscape architect. Landscapers also work for residential customers. For these customers, landscapers terrace hillsides, build retaining walls, and spread rocks. Some landscapers are called lawn service workers. They specialize in maintaining lawns and shrubs. Others specialize by working for chemical lawn service firms. They inspect lawns for problems and apply chemicals. Some landscapers specialize in trimming trees. These workers are called pruners. They use ladders to reach trees, or climb trees using climbing belts and hooks.

Groundskeepers do routine or special types of maintenance for athletic fields, golf courses, cemetery grounds, or park and recreation facilities. They are often classified as either grounds managers or grounds maintenance personnel. They maintain a variety of facilities. These include athletic fields, golf courses, cemeteries, university campuses, and parks. Grounds managers have more knowledge of plants, landscape design, pest management, irrigation, and erosion control than maintenance personnel. They also have supervisory duties. Groundskeepers in parks and recreation facilities care for plants, maintain playgrounds and athletic fields, clean buildings, and pick up litter. In the winter, particularly in the North, groundskeepers may remove snow from driveways, roadways, walkways, and parking lots.

Landscapers and groundskeepers use hand tools such as shovels, pruning saws, hedge and brush trimmers, axes, rakes, and saws. They also use power lawnmowers, snow blowers, electric clippers, and chain saws. They may make minor repairs to power equipment.

In some cases, landscapers and groundskeepers operate independently. This may mean that they have employees that they supervise. They may also advise customers on proper plant and tree care and develop budgets.

Work Activities

The following list of occupational tasks is specific to this career.

• Plant flowers. Dig holes, add fertilizer, and plant trees and shrubs.
• Water and fertilize plants. Seed new lawns.
• Mow and mulch lawns. Care for natural turf fields.
• Clean and maintain hand tools and power equipment.
• Operate power equipment, such as lawn mowers and hedge trimmers.
• Maintain outdoor recreation equipment and swimming pools.
• Remove snow and ice.
• Prune trees and shrubs. Trim back flowers and weed flower beds.
• Climb trees using ladders or climbing hooks and belts.
• Mix and apply pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other chemicals.
• Follow plans from landscape architect or directions from home owner when adding new plants.
• Maintain irrigation systems, especially in winter and spring.
• Clean and service machinery and tools.
• May use special equipment, such as shredding and chipping machines.
• Haul yard debris away, using trucks.
• Inspect trees and plants to see if they have diseases.
• May advise customers on tree and plant care. May assist developing budgets.

People in this career perform the following list of tasks, but the tasks are common to many occupations.

• Perform activities that use the whole body.
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials.
• Control machines and processes.
• Identify objects, actions, and events.
• Handle and move objects.
• Get information needed to do the job.
• Make decisions and solve problems.
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings.
• Repair and maintain mechanical equipment.
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates.
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work.
• Update and use job-related knowledge.
• Work with the public.
• Evaluate information against standards.
• Establish and maintain relationships.
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed.
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people.
• Schedule work and activities.
• Think creatively.

Working Conditions

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

Interpersonal Relationships

• Have a medium level of social interaction. They speak with supervisors or customers, but also spend time alone.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of others.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by others.
• Communicate primarily by telephone or face-to-face discussions.
• Often work as part of a team.

Physical Work Conditions

• Often work outdoors.
• Always wear protective and safety attire. This may include specialized safety gear.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous chemicals.
• Are regularly exposed to distracting and loud sounds and noise levels.
• Are sometimes exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures while working outside.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazards that produce cuts, burns, and insect bites.
• Are sometimes exposed to extremely bright or inadequate lighting.
• Are often exposed to high places if working as a pruner.
• Usually travel to and from work sites in trucks.

Work Performance

• Must be exact in their work and be sure all details are done so that customers are happy with their work.
• Repeat the same physical and mental activities.
• Must sometimes match the pace of work with the speed of equipment.
• Regularly make decisions that greatly impact the look of their client's outdoor spaces.
• Often act without consulting another person first.
• Set some, but not all, of their daily tasks and goals without consulting a supervisor first.
• Must meet daily and weekly deadlines.

Hours/Travel

• May work part time or full time.
• May work less or be laid off during winter months.
• May travel from site to site.

Physical Demands

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

People in this career frequently:

• Use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Walk, stand, kneel, stoop, or crouch while tending plants.
• Bend or twist the body.

It is important for people in this career to be able to:

• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move arms and legs while remaining in one place.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Use fingers or hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for people in this career to be able to:

• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Keep or regain balance.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.

Wages & Outlook

Wages

Wage for landscapers and groundskeepers vary by the type of work they do. The wages for different types of landscaping and groundskeeping workers are given below.


Wages vary by employer and area of the country.

Some landscapers and groundskeepers who work full time receive benefits. Typical benefits include health insurance and sick leave. Many landscapers and groundskeepers, however, must provide their own insurance.

View the Regional Wage Comparison Chart for:

• Tree Trimmers and Pruners
• Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
• Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

 

Employment

In Minnesota, about 14,722 landscapers and groundskeepers work in this large occupation.

About 20 percent of all landscapers and groundskeepers are self-employed.

Major employers:

• Landscaping and horticultural services
• Amusement parks and golf courses
• Local government agencies (parks and recreation departments)

Outlook

Increased construction of malls, office buildings, and homes will create new demand for landscaping. In addition, existing landscaping will need continued maintenance and updating. As the population ages, elderly homeowners will need help caring for their lawns and yards. The turnover rate for these workers is high because the pay is low and the work is physically demanding. A large number of jobs will open to replace those who retire or leave the occupation.

Employment Outlook for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

	Employment		Employment Change
	2009	2019	Number	Percent
U S	1,220,054	1,441,326	221,272	18.1%
Minnesota	14,747	16,996	2,249	15.3%
Central Minnesota	1,676	2,171	495	29.5%
Northeast Minnesota	889	1,002	113	12.7%
Northwest Minnesota	1,849	2,212	363	19.6%
Southeast Minnesota	1,491	1,821	330	22.1%
Southwest Minnesota	1,231	1,454	223	18.1%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	8,335	9,818	1,483	17.8%

Skills

People in this career need to:

Communicate

• Listen to others, understand, and ask questions.
• Express ideas clearly when speaking.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and Problem Solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Develop rules or follow guidelines when arranging items.

Manage Oneself, People, Time and Things

• Manage the time of self and others.
• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with People

• Use several methods to learn or teach others how to do something.
• Change behavior in relation to others¿ actions.

Work with Things

• Maintain equipment on a routine basis. Determine when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Determine the tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Repair machines or systems.
• Determine the causes of technical problems and find solutions for them.

Perceive and Visualize

• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Knowledge

People in this career need knowledge in the following areas:

• Mechanical: Knowledge of designing, using, and repairing machines and tools.
• Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of providing special services to customers based on their needs.
• Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of protecting people, data, and property.

Interests

People in this career are people who tend to:

• Consider relationships important. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment. They like to do things for other people. They prefer jobs where they are not pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

• Have realistic interests. They like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like to work with plants, animals, and physical materials such as wood, tools, and machinery. They often prefer to work outside.

Tools & Technology for Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers

Tools

Draglines Drag brooms Drag leveling bars Drag mats Drag spikers Nail drags Plow pan spikers X-drags Graders or land levelers Box blades Bunker rakes Drawn box scrapers Land levelers Land planes Landscape rakes Power rakes Rakes Arena rakes Artificial turf groomers Infield grooming rakes Iron rakes Turf sweepers Lawnmowers Flail mowers Greens mowers Manual mowers Push mowers Riding lawnmowers Cultivators Soil pulverizers Tillers Fertilizer spreaders or distributors Fertilizer spreaders Hand spreaders Salt spreaders Shovels Dirt shovels Snow shovels Sod lifters Soil core sampling apparatus Hex pluggers Soil probes Soil profilers Harrows Flexible chain-link harrows Reversible spike harrows Hedge clippers Hedge shears Hedge trimmers Hoes Scuffle hoes Hydraulic truck cranes Aerial lift trucks Hydraulic booms Ladders Extension ladders Paint sprayers Paint sprayguns Wheeled paint sprayers Power chippers Leaf-grinding machines Wood chippers Power drills Hammer drills Power saws Chain saws Rollers for lawn or sports grounds Turf rollers Turf striping rollers Saws Handsaws Pole saws Scrubbing machines Power sweepers Tractor broom attachments Sprayers Pressurized sprayers Truck-mounted chemical sprayers Tape measures Field layout systems Measuring tapes Weeders Brush trimmers String trimmers Adjustable wrenches Agricultural tractors Tractors All terrain vehicles tracked or wheeled Utility vehicles Axes Backhoes Cable reels Electrical cord reels Cargo trucks Concrete mixers or plants Concrete mixers

Dump trucks Files Hand files Forestry saws Pruning saws Forklifts Front end loaders Garden forks Mulching forks Gas generators Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus Gas welders Grinding machines Knife sharpeners Hammers Hand sprayers Backpack pump sprayers Handheld thermometer Digital soil thermometers Levels Mound slope gauges Measuring wheels for distance Measuring wheels Pallet trucks Picks Ground picks Power blowers Leaf blowers Screwdrivers Screw drivers Secateurs or pruning shears Loppers Seeder attachment Overseed enhancing tools Snow blowers Snowblowers Snowplow attachments Snow plow attachments Sockets Socket wrenches Spades Squeegees or washers Roller squeegees Stencils or lettering aids Field painting stencils Tarpaulins Ground tarps Trowels Water pumps Puddle pumps Water sprinklers Sprinklers Welders Electric air welders Wheel loaders Bucket loaders

Technology

Electronic mail software IBM Lotus Notes Operating system software Microsoft Windows

Word processing software Microsoft Word

 

Education & Training

Preparation

To work as a landscaper or groundskeeper, you must:

• complete on-the-job training;
• have a driver's license if you need to drive a truck; and
• be in good physical condition.

Education after high school

No formal training is required for landscapers and groundskeepers.

On-the-job training

Most landscapers and groundskeepers learn their skills on the job from an experienced worker. Training includes:

• proper use and maintenance of equipment such as mowers and trimmers;
• safety procedures; and
• customer service.

As a trainee, you usually begin as a helper and load and unload supplies. You work on more difficult tasks as you gain experience. Training generally lasts about a month. Those who apply pesticides may receive additional training. It's also important to remember that you will learn additional skills as seasons change.

Related Programs (Current training programs available)

• Landscaping and Groundskeeping
• Plant Nursery Operations and Management
• Turf and Turfgrass Management

Fields of Study (What to study to prepare for this career)

Click on any of the Fields of Study listed below to find out more about preparing for this career.

• Horticulture Operations
• Landscaping and Groundskeeping
• Ornamental Horticulture
• Pest Management
• Turf and Turfgrass Management

Level of Education

The table below lists the level of education attained by a subset of workers in this occupation. The workers surveyed were between age 25 and 44.

Education level attained	Percentage of workers in this occupation*
Bachelor's degree or higher	6
Some college (includes associate degree)	17
High school, GED, or apprenticeship	77

* National data

Helpful High School Courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this occupation include:

• Driver Education
• Horticulture
• Physical Education
• Plant and Soil Science

Many landscapers and groundskeepers are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career.

Licensing / Certification

Certifications

Certifications are examinations that test or enhance your knowledge, experience or skills in an occupation or profession.

There are 6 certifications related to this career.

Licensing

Click on occupations listed below to find State of Minnesota licensing information.

Tree Care Company Registry

Jobs

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Hiring Practices

Employers prefer applicants who have a good driving record. Experience driving a truck is also helpful. Some employers require applicants to have a high school diploma or GED.

Workers who deal directly with customers must get along well with people. Employers also look for responsible, self-motivated workers. This is because many landscapers and groundskeepers work alone.

Advancement Opportunities

Laborers who demonstrate good communication and technical skills may advance to crew leader or other supervisory positions. Supervisors can advance to grounds manager or facility superintendent. Courses in agronomy, horticulture, and botany are helpful for advancement. Supervisors can also become managers of lawn maintenance firms. Some landscapers and groundskeepers open their own businesses.

Job Title Examples

Gardener,  Greenskeeper,  Grounds Maintenance Worker,  Grounds Supervisor,  Grounds/Maintenance Specialist,  Groundsman,  Lawn Specialist,  Pesticides Applicator,  Plant Health Care Technician,  Tree and Shrub Technician,  Utility Worker,  Tree Trimmer,  Lawn Technician,  Outside Maintenance Worker 

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