Positions in this occupational category are responsible for the maintenance of grounds, landscapes, athletic fields, nurseries and/or greenhouses, performing various maintenance types of operations. Positions may be involved in litter control, recycling activities, and sprinkler irrigation/maintenance within a grounds maintenance program. 

Seeds, mows, irrigates, sweeps, fertilizes, top dresses, edges and maintains lawns; 

Plants, cultivates and maintains greenhouse plants; 

Assists with or prepares soil for planting seed, sod, turf, plants, trees and shrubs; 

Cleans, services, sterilizes and maintains tools and equipment; 

Uses a variety of manual tools and equipment, such as rakes, hand edger’s, loppers, shovels, wheelbarrows, weeding forks, hoes, pruning shears and pesticide sprayers; 

Assists in installation and repair of lawn sprinkler system components; 

May operate power and motorized equipment such as small trucks, lawn mowers, edger’s, chain saws, weed trimmers, backpack blowers and sweepers; 

Labels plants and maintains records; 

Harvests, cleans, treats and stores seed; 

Applies pesticides and herbicides to greenery and plant material; 

Assists in moving materials and supplies.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position. 

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Positions typically require the ability to perform heavy, outside work in inclement weather; follow oral and written directions and one year of gardening or grounds keeping experience.

New class consolidates 5120 Gardener I, 5128 Greenhouse Attendant, 90080 Gardening Aide; adopted January 1, 2006.
Revise class. General revision; adopted May 10, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 6/30/2017, effective 7/1/2017.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 6/13/2019, effective 7/1/2019.

 

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.