Groundskeeper

Job Summary

The incumbent is responsible for the overall appearance and maintenance of the external grounds and facilities of the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, MO. Performs seasonal gardening tasks such as fertilizing, seeding, cutting grass, laying sod, aerating lawns, and general pruning and care of trees, shrubs and plants. Performs pruning trees and shrubs to maintain proper balance between root and top growth to keep natural shape.

• Lawn/Grounds Maintenance:
  Plans and carries out gardening work based on project plans, master landscape, long-range facility plans, and supervisor guidance, making independent judgments within the framework of good gardening practices. Recommends plants for particular purposes, such as shade, boundary lines, ground cover, erosion control, or pleasing appearance. Performs gardening and grounds keeping tasks such as fertilizing, preparing seed beds, and grounds for planting, seeding, laying sod, aerating, planting, transplanting, pruning, trimming, and applying pesticides and herbicides to plants, turf, flowers and trees considering individual needs of specific plants to have a healthy growing media.
  
  Increases or decreases mineral content with lime, calcium salt, and Sulphur to achieve a proper Ph balance (alkaline or acidity) in soils for specific plants. S/he must consider weather, moisture in the soil, and stage of plant growth and calculates quantities of plants, seeds, fertilizer, and other landscaping materials. Selects and mixes fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides for the control of common plant diseases, insects, and weeds.
  
  Through aeration and top dressing, reduces turf disease and water usage while promoting a more vigorous lawn with fewer weeds. Diagnoses gardening problems and records corrective procedures used, including any new processes applied and the results achieved and takes corrective action. Manages growth of both ornamental and functional turf and herbaceous plantings. The incumbent performs heavy and burdensome labor tasks necessary for the maintenance of grounds such as building and correctly sloping plant terraces and applying sod on steep slopes with staples to prevent sod from slipping until a root base can be established.
  
  Removes debris of grass after mowing, weeding parking islands and plant beds, rakes leaves, sweeps and general clean-up of grounds. Maintains and replaces fence posts and signage as needed.
• Equipment Operation/Maintenance:
  Operates equipment used in landscape maintenance and turf management. Safely operates motorized equipment and vehicles, such as riding and push-type lawn mowers, soil aerator, sod cutter, weed eaters, power trim edgers, chain saws, hedge trimmers, axes, street cleaners, backhoe, tractor with implements, snow removal equipment, etc. Backhoes, and front-end loaders are used to push, pull, pile, or load materials such as sand, gravel, earth, or refuse.
  
  For example, the operator uses equipment which is fitted with a front-end loader to maneuver to a specific spot to transfer material; adjusts the attachments for proper level, angle, or depth, according to the work to be done. Work is performed on rolling or sloped terrain. Performs small engine repair, sharpens blades, and performs preventative maintenance to include inspecting, maintaining, and replacing belts, hoses, filters, fuel lines, and greasing equipment.
  
  May occasionally drive a cargo van and pick-up truck with a dump bed which have a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds and up to 26,000 pounds.
• Pruning:
  Removes defects and excess branches using man lifts for tree trimming and shaping to eliminate damage to buildings, fences and other property but maintaining natural shape. Reshapes to maintain a natural form using sealants and bark tracing to stimulate flow of healing sap and growth of new tissue over cuts. When areas of trees are diseased, determines what pest or disease is causing the issue and hollows the area in the tree for proper drainage and/or uses proper chemical compounds for the specific condition of the plant.
• Labor:
  Removes defects and excess branches using man lifts for tree trimming and shaping to eliminate damage to buildings, fences and other property but maintaining natural shape. Reshapes to maintain a natural form using sealants and bark tracing to stimulate flow of healing sap and growth of new tissue over cuts. When areas of trees are diseased, determines what pest or disease is causing the issue and hollows the area in the tree for proper drainage and/or uses proper chemical compounds for the specific condition of the plant.
• Work Schedule:
  
  Full-Time; 8:00AM - 4:30PM Monday through Friday (Excluding federal holidays) Position Description Title/PD#:
  Groundskeeper/PD10316A Relocation/Recruitment
  
  Incentives:
  
  Not authorized

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