Grounds Keeper

Location: Nags Head

Grounds Keeper

Reports to:

Director of Maintenance

NATURE OF WORK

The employee uses a variety of tools and equipment to maintain grounds including planting, cultivating, weeding, spraying, pruning, and cutting plants, trees, shrubs, grass, and flowers. This employee coordinates the use of and repairs minor irrigation system components. The employee is responsible for the care and treatment necessary to maintain grounds in good condition.

ILLUSTRATIVE AND SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF WORK

• Cuts lawns.

• Trims and edges.

• Prunes shrubs and trees to shape and improve growth.

• Removes damaged leaves, branches or twigs.

• Sprays lawns, plants, shrubs, and trees with fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides, using hand or automatic sprayer (as licensed).

• Conditions and prepares soils and transplants or plants seeds, seedlings or bulbs according to instructions and planned design of the landscaped area.
• Plants grass, flowers, trees, and shrubs following sketches and designs when available.

• Waters lawns, shrubs, and flowers.

• Maintains paths or road surfaces.

• Performs ground maintenance duties, using riding lawn mowers, powered trimmers, tractor equipped with attachments e.g., mowers, spreaders, lawn roller, and other equipment.

• Makes minor repairs to mowers and other equipment.

• Sharpens tools.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Working knowledge of grounds keeping and elementary horticultural practices.
• Working knowledge of planting, cultivating, pruning, spraying, and trimming requirements of flowers, shrubs and trees.

• Ability to use, sharpen and make minor repairs to tools and equipment.
• Ability to follow oral or written instructions.

• Ability to follow simple landscape sketches and designs.

SUGGESTED TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Considerable experience in the care and maintenance of turf, plants, trees, flowers, and shrubs.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The employee must be willing to obtain or hold a pesticide applicator's license based on State requirements, as directed by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

This employee must hold an appropriate North Carolina drivers license for the weight and type of vehicles operated as required by the Department of Motor Vehicles.