Beijing Paradise BBS Backup/PARADISE.ISO/software/BBSDOORW/JOB4.ZIP/OOHB0186.HBK

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Gardeners and Groundskeepers

(D.O.T.  182.167-014; 406.381-010, .683-010, .684-010, -014,-018,
.687-010; 408.161-010, .662-010, .684-010, -014, -018, and .687-014)

Nature of the Work

Attractively designed, healthy, and well-maintained lawns, gardens,
trees, and shrubbery create a positive first impression, establish a
peaceful mood, and increase property values.  A growing number of
individuals and organizations rely on gardeners and groundskeepers
to care for them.

   Some landscape gardeners work on large construction projects, such
as office buildings and shopping malls.  Following the plans drawn
up by the landscape architect, gardeners plant trees, hedges, and
flowering plants and apply mulch for protection.  For residential
customers, these workers terrace hillsides, build retaining walls,
and install patios, as well as plant flowers, trees and shrubs.

   Gardeners working for homeowners, estates, and public gardens feed,
water, and prune the flowering plants and trees and mow and water
the lawn.  Some landscape gardeners, called lawn service workers,
specialize in maintaining lawns and shrubs for a fee.  A growing
number of residential and commercial clients, such as managers of
office buildings, shopping malls, multiunit residential buildings,
and hotels and motels favor this full-service landscape maintenance.
These workers perform a full range of duties, including mowing,
edging, trimming, fertilizing, dethatching, and mulching.  Those
working for chemical lawn service firms are more specialized.  They
inspect lawns for problems and apply fertilizers, weed killers, and
other chemicals.

   Groundskeepers, often classified as either grounds managers or
grounds maintenance personnel, maintain a variety of facilities
including, athletic fields, golf courses, cemeteries, and parks.
Grounds managers usually participate in many of the same tasks as
maintenance personnel but typically have more extensive knowledge on
pest, disease, and erosion control.  Managers also may have
supervisory responsibilities.

   Groundskeepers who care for athletic fields keep natural and
artificial turf fields in top condition and mark out boundaries and
paint turf with team logos and names before events.  Groundskeepers
must make sure the underlying soil on natural turf fields has the
proper consistency to sustain new sod.  They regularly mow, water,
fertilize, and aerate the fields.  In addition, groundskeepers apply
chemicals and fungicides to control weeds, crabgrass, and prevent
diseases.  Groundskeepers also vacuum and disinfect synthetic turf
after use in order to prevent growth of harmful bacteria.  They
periodically remove the turf and replace the cushioning pad.

   Those who maintain golf courses are called greenskeepers.  They do
many of the same things athletic turf groundskeepers do.  In
addition, greenskeepers periodically relocate the holes on putting
greens to eliminate uneven wear of the turf and add interest and
challenge to the game.  Greenskeepers also keep canopies, benches,
ball washers, and tee markers repaired and freshly painted.

   Cemetery workers prepare graves and maintain cemetery grounds.  They
dig graves to specified depth, generally using a back-hoe.  They may
place concrete slabs on the bottom and around the sides of the grave
to line it for greater support.  When readying a site for the burial
ceremony, they position the casket-lowering device over the grave,
cover the immediate area with an artificial grass carpet, erect a
canopy, and arrange folding chairs to accommodate mourners.  They
regularly mow grass, prune shrubs, plant flowers, and remove debris
from graves.  They also must periodically build the ground up around
new gravesites to compensate for settling.

   Groundskeepers in parks and recreation facilities care for lawns,
trees, and shrubs, maintain athletic fields and playgrounds, clean
buildings, and keep parking lots, picnic areas, and other public
spaces free of litter.  They may also remove snow and ice from roads
and walkways, erect and dismantle snow fences, and maintain swimming
pools.  These workers inspect buildings and equipment, make needed
repairs, and keep everything freshly painted.

   Gardeners and groundskeepers use handtools such as shovels, rakes,
pruning saws, saws, hedge and brush trimmers, and axes, as well as
power lawnmowers, chain saws, snow blowers, and electric clippers.
Some use equipment such as tractors and twin-axle vehicles.  Park,
school, cemetery, and golf course groundskeepers may use sod cutters
to harvest sod that will be replanted elsewhere.  Athletic turf
groundskeepers use magnetic sweepers and vacuums and other devices
to remove water from athletic fields.  In addition, some workers in
large operations use spraying and dusting equipment.

   Many jobs for gardeners and groundskeepers are seasonal, mainly in
the spring and summer.

Working Conditions

Many of the jobs for gardeners and groundskeepers are seasonal,
mainly in the spring and summer, when cleanup, planting, and mowing
and trimming take place.  Gardeners and groundskeepers work outdoors
in all kinds of weather.  They frequently are under pressure to get
the job completed, especially when they are preparing for scheduled
events, such as athletic competitions or burials.

   They may work with pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals and
must exercise safety precautions to prevent exposure.  They also
work with dangerous equipment and tools such as power lawnmowers,
chain saws, and electric clippers.

Employment

Gardeners and groundskeepers held about 884,000 jobs in 1992.  Four
of every 10 worked for lawn and garden service companies.  One of
every 10 worked for private households and estates.  Many worked for
firms that operate real estate and for local government, including
parks departments, and recreational facilities such as golf courses,
race tracks, and amusement parks.  Others were employed by schools,
hospitals, cemeteries, hotels, retail nurseries, and garden stores.

   One of every 5 gardeners and groundskeepers was self-employed,
providing landscape maintenance directly to customers on a contract
basis.  One of every 4 worked part time, most likely students
working their way through school.  Others working part time were
older workers who might have been cutting back their hours as they
approached retirement.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Entrance requirements for gardeners and groundskeepers are modest.
Most workers are high school graduates, although a high school
diploma is not necessary for some jobs.  Experience can be attained
through home gardening or working in a nursery, a sod production
operation, or a tree service.  High school students may gain
experience in the Future Farmers of America and other associations.

   There are no national standards for gardeners and groundskeepers,
but most States require certification for workers who apply
pesticides.  Certification requirements vary, but usually include
passing a test on the safe use and disposal of insecticides,
herbicides, and fungicides.

   Employers prefer applicants with a good driving record and some
experience driving a truck.  Workers who deal directly with
customers must get along well with people.  Employers also look for
responsible, self-motivated individuals, since many gardeners and
groundskeepers work with little supervision.

   Courses in agronomy, horticulture, and botany are helpful for
advancement.  There are many 2- and 4-year programs in landscape
management, turfgrass management, interiorscape, and ornamental
horticulture.  Courses include equipment use and care, landscape
design, plant biology, and irrigation.  There are cooperative
education programs in which students work alternate semesters or
quarters for a lawn care or landscape contractor.  Generally, a
gardener or groundskeeper can advance to supervisor after several
years of progressively responsible experience, including the
demonstrated ability to deal effectively with both coworkers and
customers.  Supervisors can advance to grounds manager or
superintendent for a golf course or other athletic facility, a
cemetery, a campus, a school system, or manager of a lawn
maintenance firm.  Many gardeners and groundskeepers become
landscape contractors.

   The Professional Grounds Management Society offers certification to
those managers who have a combination of 8 years of experience and
formal education beyond high school.

Job Outlook

Employment of gardeners and groundskeepers is expected to increase
faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005 in
response to increasing demand for gardening and landscaping
services.  Furthermore, a large number of job openings are expected
to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other
occupations or leave the labor force.

   Expected growth in the construction of commercial and industrial
buildings, shopping malls, homes, highways, and parks and
recreational facilities should stimulate demand for these workers.
Developers are increasingly using landscaping services, both
interior and exterior, to attract prospective buyers and tenants.
In addition, owners of many existing buildings and facilities are
upgrading their landscaping.  Also, a growing number of homeowners
are using lawn maintenance and landscaping services to enhance the
beauty and value of their property as well as to conserve their
leisure time.  Growth in the number of parks, athletic fields, golf
courses, cemeteries, and similar facilities also can be expected to
add to the demand for these workers.

   Job openings should be plentiful because the occupation is large and
turnover is high.  This occupation attracts many young people who
are not committed to the occupation.  Some take gardening or
groundskeeping jobs to earn money for school, others only take these
jobs until a better paying job is found.  Because wages for
beginners are low and the work is physically demanding, many
employers have difficulty attracting enough workers to fill all
openings.

   Employment opportunities in landscaping are tied to local economic
conditions.  During economic downturns, many individuals turn to
landscaping as a second source of income or a new career.  At the
same time, demand for landscaping services often slows as
corporations, governments, and homeowners reduce spending on all
nonessential expenditures, increasing noticeably the level of
competition for available jobs.

Earnings

Median weekly earnings of gardeners and groundskeepers were about
$275 in 1992; the middle 50 percent earned between $210 and $365.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $175, and the top 10 percent
earned more than $475 a week.

Related Occupations

Gardeners and groundskeepers perform most of their work outdoors.
Others whose jobs may be performed outdoors or are otherwise related
are construction workers, landscape architects, nursery workers,
farmers, horticultural workers, tree surgeon helpers, tree trimmers
and pruners, and forest conservation workers.

Sources of Additional Information

   For career information, contact:

   Associated Landscape Contractors of America, Inc., 12200 Sunrise
Valley Dr., Suite 150, Reston, VA 22091.

   National Landscape Association, 1250 I St.  NW., Suite 500,
Washington, DC 20005.

   For career and certification information, contact:

   Professional Grounds Management Society, 12 Galloway Ave., Suite 1E,
Cockeysville, MD 21030.