Top 20 Things I Learned: Day in the Life of a Landscaper and Groundskeeper
Although the terms landscaper and groundskeeper are sometimes used interchangeably, they define two separate jobs with distinct responsibilities. As explained at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, a landscaper is more involved with the horticultural maintenance of facilities, while a groundskeeper might be involved with refuse removal and snow removal. If you are considering this line of work, here is a list of 20 things we learned when it comes to a day in the life of a landscaper and groundskeeper.
Gathering and removing litter
A day for a landscaper or groundskeeper will start with them gathering and removing litter as per RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. These two tasks are the bread and butter in this line of work and will be carried out daily to ensure the client’s compound is as clean as possible.
Using hand tools
While the work of a landscaper and groundskeeper is now modernized, it is still worth noting that the use of hand tools still forms part of the day for these professionals. This includes using hand tools like shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or bush trimmers, or axes.
Operating vehicles and powered equipment
In addition to using hand tools, landscapers and groundskeepers also operate vehicles or powered equipment daily. According to RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, some of these vehicles and powered equipment include mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, and pruning saws.
Safety precautions when it comes to mowing
Most landscapers mow 10-15 properties a day. This puts a lot of stress on your lower back from the ups and downs of the mower while mowing lawns. One needs to make sure their ears are covered because of the noise made by the mower’s engine, which can affect their hearing. Most also wear a dust mask to cover their mouth and nose to protect them from the dust the mower creates, which can cause serious lung problems.
Watering lawns
One of the daily duties carried out by a landscaper and groundskeeper is watering the lawns, trees, or plants. This is done using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans depending on the size of the lawn or the equipment available to you.
Caring for established lawns
While a landscaper may be involved in establishing lawns from scratch, one of their daily duties is to care for established lawns as articulated at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. This includes mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
Trimming involves a lot of walking
It is worth noting that trimming involves a lot of walking. On average, landscapers walk 5-10 miles a day using a weed-eater trimming around the foundation of the property, around the trees, along the fence line, pools, and so on.
Pruning
There are certain activities that a landscaper and groundskeeper don’t necessarily do daily, but still form part of their duties as captured at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. They include pruning or trimming trees, shrubs, or hedges using shears, pruners, or chain saws, which are done weekly or monthly.
Dealing with chemicals
The work of a landscaper and a groundskeeper does not just entail the use of tools and machinery, but also entails dealing with chemicals. This is because they are required to mix and spray or spread fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides onto the grass, shrubs, or trees, using hand or automated sprayers or spreaders.
Other activities
The activities discussed above aren’t the only ones that a landscaper and groundskeeper have to deal with. There are other weekly or monthly activities to consider such as trimming or picking flowers, cleaning flower beds, raking, mulching, planting, or cultivating lawns or gardens, among others.
Financial considerations
As a landscaper or groundskeeper, there are certain financial considerations you should be aware of. Sometimes a client may propose a payment amount that may not be enough to cover everything that comes with completing the job, something that many professionals here grapple with as covered at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. They include budgeting for gas, paying employees, etc.
Setting goals
As a landscaper or groundskeeper, you must start your day by setting goals on what you want to achieve that day. Additionally, you should also have a list of things that you will need to do each day. This will help you to stay on track and not get sidetracked.
Setting aside time for research
Landscapers and groundskeepers also set aside time each day for research as described at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. This is especially important for those who are members of a landscaping society. By researching and learning new techniques, one will be able to provide their clients with the best service possible.
Business tasks
If you run a landscaping business, some specific days and times are set aside to go over financials, pay bills, and review the paperwork that you have to sign for various things like business insurance among others.
Reviewing sales logs
On a related note, those who own landscaping and groundskeeping businesses also have to set aside time to review their sales log, closing ratios, and sales goals for the current week. As the primary salespeople for their company, they have to stay on top of this.
Not every day is spent in the field
When we think about landscapers and groundskeepers, we immediately think about fieldwork. However, as discussed at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, while landscapers do most of their work in their warm and dry, sometimes they spend the day in boring studios miles away from their project.
People skills
Landscapers usually have to deal with architects and workers of the city council, and every party involved may have their interest, which the landscaper has to balance to appease everyone. For example, the architect who designed the building may not want their creation cluttered with any landscape while the city council may want as much greenery as possible, and it is up to the landscaper to try and make everyone involved happy.
Dealing with customers
It is also worth noting that dealing with customers and issues that arise is part of the job of a landscaper and groundskeeper. As outlined at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, this includes customers not paying on time or at all, complaints, and much more.
Working hours and work schedule
On average, landscaping and groundskeeping workers work about 40 hours per week, in case you were wondering. On a related note, the work schedule is very irregular as it may be affected by changes in weather conditions, production demands, or contract duration.
The work environment
The work environment for a landscaper and groundskeeper is varied. You may be working outdoors, exposed to weather, or in an enclosed vehicle or equipment. You may also be exposed to contaminants, hazardous equipment, or even minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
These are some of the things to consider when it comes to a day in the life of a landscaper and groundskeeper, with more on this topic, and much more, to be found over at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.