Gardener

Provides general gardening care and grounds maintenance involving trees, lawns, turf, shrubs, hedges, ground cover, flowers, and athletic fields.

Cares for lawns and turf on athletic fields by watering, mowing, edging, raking, fertilizing, re-seeding, spraying, and weeding.

Plants and cares for trees, shrubs, hedges, flowers, and ground cover by cultivating, pruning and shaping, trimming, staking, fertilizing, spraying, watering, weeding, transplanting, and removing hazardous or unnecessary growth.

Operates power gardening equipment such as mowers, edgers, sprayers, trimmers, blowers, chain saws, tractors, and cultivators.

Adjusts and performs minor maintenance on power gardening equipment and tools.

Mixes and applies insecticides in accordance with safety requirements.

Applies fertilizers and soil amendments.

Sets out traps for pests.

Checks safety hazards in gardening areas and takes appropriate actions.

Maintains and adjusts all types of lawn sprinkler systems.

Keeps drains and flow lines free from debris.

Composts materials.

May furnish requested plants and insects to instructors.

May assist the athletic department in laying out and marking athletic and recreation fields.

May mix and apply poisons, dusts, and fungicides.

May perform special floral decorating duties for special college events.

May maintain and replace planter boxes.

May provide work direction and training to semi-skilled gardening staff and student employees.

Performs related duties as assigned.

A Gardener provides general gardening care and grounds maintenance involving trees, lawns, turf, shrubs, hedges, ground cover, flowers, and athletic fields.

A Gardening Supervisor supervises and participates in the gardening care and the grounds maintenance of a college site, including the care and upkeep of a variety of athletic facilities.

A Lead Gardener acts as a lead and participates in the work of a gardening crew engaged in providing general gardening care and grounds maintenance at a college site, including the care and upkeep of a variety of athletic facilities. Lead responsibilities are typically exercised over a group of at least three employees and include guidance and instruction on techniques, methods, and procedures for accomplishing assigned tasks and solving problems.

A Groundskeeper performs semiskilled tasks and general labor related to garden and grounds maintenance at a college campus.

Immediate supervision is received from supervisory gardening staff or facilities management staff. May provide work direction to semi-skilled gardening staff, student employees, and persons performing community service work.

Knowledge of:

Plants adapted to the Southern California climate

Methods, materials, equipment and tools used in the care of trees, lawns, turf, shrubs, hedges, ground cover, and flowers grown in Southern California

Soil, fertilizer, and moisture requirements of Southern California plant life

Appropriate uses of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides

Protection and safety requirements needed when working with power equipment and/or handling hazardous or toxic materials

Skill in:

Proper use of gardening hand tools

The safe operation and use of power gardening equipment and other tools

Pruning and shaping trees, shrubs, and other plants

Ability to:

Plant and maintain healthy growth of trees, lawns, turf, shrubs, hedges, ground cover, and other plants

Mix sprays and insecticides in accordance with simple written directions and safety requirements

Apply fertilizers and soil amendments in proper proportions and sequence

Make minor repairs and adjustments to power gardening equipment and tools

Make minor repairs and adjustments to sprinkler systems

Safely lift and move heavy gardening materials

Set out traps

Work effectively and harmoniously with college staff and students

Learn the characteristics of new equipment in the field of gardening and grounds maintenance and update skills to adapt to changing technology

Education and Experience:

A. Graduation from high school or its equivalent AND One year of full-time, paid experience in general gardening work including care of trees, lawns, shrubs, hedges, and flowers.

OR

B. Successful completion of a two-year program in horticulture or related subjects from a community college, adult, vocational, or high school.

Special:

A current and valid California Qualified Applicator Certificate for the use of restricted pesticides may be required for some positions.

A valid Class "C" California driver's license may be required for some positions.

Travel to locations throughout the District may be required for some positions.

Physical Requirement:

Ability to lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds.

• Medical and dental insurance and vision care plans are provided for employees and their dependents.
• A $50,000 life insurance policy is provided free of charge for each employee.
• New employees receive 12 full-pay days and 88 half-pay days of illness leave.
• At least 15 paid holidays per year.
• Vacation days accrue annually beginning at 10 days and increasing incrementally to 24 days depending on years of service with the District. Vacation days for management and confidential positions begin at 15, 20, or 24 days.
• Other paid time off includes: bereavement leave, personal necessity leave, court subpoena, and jury duty.
• Employees become members of the Public Employees Retirement System. Employees are also covered by Social Security.
• Employee Assistance Program

The examination process may consist of one or more parts which may include a training and experience evaluation, written test, performance test and/or oral interview.

Our class specification generally describes the duties, responsibilities, and requirements characteristic of the position(s) within this job class. The duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a particular position within this class may vary from the duties of other positions within the class.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Los Angeles Community College District provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with covered disabilities on a case-by-case basis throughout the application, examination, and hiring processes and throughout employment. If an individual is in doubt about his or her ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a position or possession of any other requirement noted in a class specification or job announcement, he or she should always apply for a position and request reasonable accommodation at the appropriate time.