Skills
- Operation and Control Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.
- Gardener
- Greenskeeper
- Grounds Maintenance Worker
- Grounds Person
- Grounds Specialist
- Grounds Worker
- Groundskeeper
- Landscape Specialist
What do Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers do?
Landscaping and groundskeeping workers are responsible for the maintenance and beautification of outdoor spaces. Their work typically includes planting flowers, trees, and shrubs, mowing lawns, trimming and edging, and applying fertilizers and pesticides. These workers may also install irrigation systems, maintain pathways, and care for gardens and parks. They often use a variety of tools and machinery, such as lawnmowers, trimmers, blowers, and shovels, to carry out their tasks. The industry encompasses a vast range of environments, including residential areas, commercial properties, parks, and recreational facilities. This role often requires a good understanding of horticulture and landscape design, as well as physical stamina and attention to detail to ensure the quality of outdoor spaces.
What the work actually is
- 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, chainsaws, 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.
Skills employers expect
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.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Control Precision The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
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.
- Chemistry Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
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Education of new hires
Less than high school diploma
Post-secondary certificate
Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)
Bachelor's degree
A normal week
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Getting Information
Tools used on the job
Technology
- Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
- Electronic mail software IBM Notes
- Office suite software Microsoft Office software
- Operating system software Microsoft Windows
- Word processing software Microsoft Word
Tools
- Draglines Drag brooms · Drag leveling bars · Plow pan spikers
- Graders or land levelers Land levelers · Land planes · Landscape rakes
- Rakes Arena rakes · Iron rakes · Leaf rakes
- Lawnmowers Hydrostatic mowers · Manual mowers · Push mowers
- Shovels Dirt shovels · Snow shovels · Sod lifters
Who it suits
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
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Questions people ask
How much do Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers earn in South Africa?
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.
What do Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers do?
Gather and remove litter, Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes and Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
How do I know if this career fits me?
Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.