Overview of the Groundskeeper Role
A Groundskeeper is employed where an outdoor area needs to be maintained and cleaned for public or private use. It is their responsibility to plant flowers, trim trees and verges, mow grass, and prune hedges in all weather conditions.
A Groundskeeper will also need to use specific machinery and tools to perform their job to a high standard, using leaf blowers, saws, lawn mowers, and other machines specific to gardening.
It is important to have good strength and stamina to perform daily tasks. You will also need good communication skills for talking to clients, supervisors or other Groundskeepers to make sure the job is done to a high standard.
Other similar roles in facilities jobs can be found here.
Dress Code
A Groundskeeper will typically wear casual clothing which is weather appropriate, such as t-shirts or overalls. Sometimes, they may need to wear protective gear, such as headphones, to protect their hearing.
Groundskeeper Responsibilities
A Groundskeeper is responsible for maintaining a garden area by keeping it clean and using various machinery and tools to grow and maintain plants and flowers.
Groundskeeper Tips
Focus on developing your knowledge of horticulture and landscaping techniques and build your physical fitness to succeed in this role. Try to gain as much hands-on experience as possible before becoming a Groundskeeper to understand the role better.
Qualifications and Skills of a Groundskeeper
A Drivers Mate needs good stamina to assist a driver with loading and unloading vehicles, and a good knowledge of proper loading and unloading processes.
A Groundskeeper does not necessarily need specific qualifications, but they should have special skills such as an understanding of horticulture. They will also need knowledge of landscaping techniques, physical fitness for using gardening machinery and tools and an understanding of said machinery.
Landscaping/Horticulture Knowledge
Horticulture is the understanding of plants and their needs for sunlight and water. A Groundskeeper must be able to choose plants and flowers that will survive in specific areas of a landscape. It is important to know how they will respond to certain weather conditions or the amount of sunlight they receive.
It is also important to know some landscaping techniques such as trimming hedges and bushes, pruning trees, edging pathways and controlling pests to maintain a visually appealing outdoor space.
Physical Fitness
A job as a Groundskeeper is physically draining and requires a lot of stamina, strength and endurance for digging, lifting heavy materials such as bags of soil, mowing large areas of grass and working in various weather conditions.
A Groundskeeper will perform numerous repetitive tasks such as hedge trimming and digging. It is important to be flexible and have a strong back and legs for the physical work that is necessary for this work.
Familiarity with Gardening Tools/Machinery
A Groundskeeper will use a wide range of tools and machinery to assist in their daily work. You must learn how to use these machines correctly, following the proper health and safety procedures such as wearing PPE or making sure there’s no debris before using a lawnmower or leaf blower.
It will also be necessary to use smaller tools such as shovels, hedge clippers or rakes, these will need to be maintained so that they do not rust or break.
Duties of a Groundskeeper
The duties of a Groundskeeper include maintaining outdoor areas by planting flowers, pruning hedges and landscaping to make sure everything looks neat and well-kept.
Maintaining Outdoor Areas
Make sure an area does not become overgrown. Grass should not be patchy; walkways should be kept tidy by edging around paths using a strimmer and washed to avoid weed and moss buildup.
It is the duty of a Groundskeeper to make sure that any area that looks untidy or needs more care should be dealt with appropriately; this could mean ordering grass seed, weed killer, or new plants.
Planting, Pruning, & Landscaping
Planting the correct flowers, pruning hedges and trees, and landscaping are some of the most important parts of a Groundskeeper’s job, as this will require daily maintenance. It is important to use the correct tools and make sure an area is clear of litter or debris before taking care of any problem areas.
You will need good physical strength to perform these tasks on a regular basis, as not only does it require reaching high places and lifting heavy objects, but it may also involve a lot of walking and carrying.
Groundskeeper Career Progression and Advancement
A Groundskeeper can look into Estate or Park Management roles after gaining experience in their current role. If you intend to stay in a similar field, it is also possible to specialise in Horticulture or Landscape Design.
Estate or Park Management Roles
A Groundskeeper will need experience in overseeing large maintenance projects, managing Groundskeeper staff, budgeting and dealing with contractors to progress into a management role.
These roles require building your skills as a Groundskeeper to deal with larger areas that may be split into different sections and demand different requirements. A manager will delegate tasks, manage budgets for materials and maintenance and oversee health and safety training.
Specialising in Horticulture or Landscape Design
It is important to focus on the landscaping aspect of a Groundskeeper’s job to progress into Landscape Design, utilising your knowledge and experience with plants and landscaping to create new and creative designs. Learn what flowers work well together and how design patterns work to excel in this role.
Specialising in Horticulture means focusing on the science of plants. There are Horticulture courses that you can enrol in to learn more for this role while still working as a Groundskeeper.
FAQs on Becoming a Groundskeeper
Which Industries Employ Groundskeepers?
All kinds of industries employ Groundskeepers, such as schools, hospitals, universities, parks, businesses and private estates.
How Much Can a Groundskeeper Earn in the UK?
A Groundskeeper can expect to earn around £25,000 per year in the UK, depending on their experience, level of responsibilities, and location.
What Does a Groundskeeper Do?
A Groundskeeper is responsible for maintaining the outdoor areas of a property or business. This includes trimming hedges, planting flowers, removing weeds, cutting grass, and making sure the area looks generally clean and well-kept.
