SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Tree Trimmers and Pruners

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Arborist
  • Climber
  • Grounds Worker
  • Groundsman
  • Laborer
  • Plant Health Care Technician
  • Tree Climber
  • Tree Trimmer
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What do Tree Trimmers and Pruners do?

Tree Trimmers and Pruners are skilled professionals who specialize in the maintenance and care of trees, shrubs, and other vegetation. Their primary responsibilities include trimming branches, removing dead or diseased wood, and shaping plants to promote healthy growth and enhance aesthetic appeal. These workers use a variety of tools, such as hand saws, chainsaws, and pruning shears, to carry out their tasks effectively. They often work in various settings, including residential, commercial, and public areas, and must adhere to safety practices while using specialized equipment. Additionally, Tree Trimmers and Pruners may provide advice on proper plant care and landscaping practices, contributing to the overall health and beauty of outdoor spaces. Their work not only improves the appearance of properties but also plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by ensuring that trees and plants are healthy and well-managed.

What the work actually is

  • Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.
  • Operate boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools.
  • Cut away dead and excess branches from trees, or clear branches around power lines, using climbing equipment or buckets of extended truck booms, or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers.
  • Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.
  • Hoist tools and equipment to tree trimmers, and lower branches with ropes or block and tackle.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Operation and Control Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Operations Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Abilities

  • Control Precision The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Reaction Time The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

Knowledge

  • 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.
  • Mechanical Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

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How people get into it

Education of new hires

Less than high school diploma
High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
Some college, no degree

A normal week

  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Getting Information
  • Handling and Moving Objects

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Electronic mail software Microsoft Outlook
  • Word processing software Microsoft Word
  • Web page creation and editing software Facebook

Tools

  • Secateurs or pruning shears Bypass pruners · Hand pruners · Hydraulic pruners
  • Pruning saw Pole pruners · Pole saws · Tree pruning saws
  • Ladders Pole ladders · Tripod ladders
  • Dump trucks Brush trucks · Chipper trucks
  • Sprayers Hydraulic chemical sprayers · Mist sprayers

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 Tree Trimmers and Pruners earn in South Africa?

Tree Trimmers and Pruners salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Tree Trimmers and Pruners do?

Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines, Operate boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools and Cut away dead and excess branches from trees, or clear branches around power lines, using climbing equipment or buckets of extended truck booms, or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers.

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.