Gardener 2 - Park Maintenance

Distinguishing Features of Work

This is gardening and grounds maintenance and supervisory work. Work is performed independently under general supervision, with directions for technical work being provided by a supervisor. Employees within the department of division shall be given first consideration.

Examples of Work Performed

• Maintains flowers, shrubs, and trees, including cultivating, transplanting, irrigating, pruning, spraying, and fertilizing.
• Maintains turf grass areas, including irrigating, planting, mowing, edging and trimming, controlling diseases and pests, and fertilizing.
• Maintains the cleanliness of walks and other hard-surfaced areas by sweeping and hosing with water.
• Removes snow from walks and other areas.
• Maintains litter-free areas, as assigned.
• Balls and burlaps trees.
• May be assigned as a park caretaker during the summer.
• Supervises other employees.
• Operates irrigation systems and power mowers.
• Repairs irrigation systems.
• Affords assistance in prescribed burns.

Requirements of Work

• Knowledge of the standard tools, equipment, materials, methods, and practices used in gardening and grounds maintenance work.
• Knowledge of hazards and safety precautions of the work.
• Working knowledge of horticulture, floriculture, irrigation systems, symptoms of plant disease, parasites, and insect pests, and of the means and methods used for their control.
• Skill in the use of standard hand and power equipment employed in the propagation and cultivation of garden and grass areas.
• Ability to push and/or pull and operate a standard lawn mower over rough terrain.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 150 pounds with the assistance of another.
• Ability to tolerate outdoors, open grounds, windy conditions, and pesticide and herbicide handling.
• Ability to shovel snow using a three-pound shovel, and lifting up to a ten-pound load 36 inches high and moving it up to six feet.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize, and supervise the work of others.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a State of Kansas Commercial Pesticide Applicator certification in General Knowledge Category 9A—Noxious Weeds or a General Knowledge 3-A, 3-B ornamental and turf pest control at the department's discretion.
• Ability to maintain a valid Kansas class A commercial driver's license (CDL).
• If you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen, you will be required to have or obtain a CDL from your home country.