Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers
Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.
How AI Impacts Each Task
28 tasks analyzed
Gather and remove litter.
Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.
Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
Water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans.
Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws.
Mix and spray or spread fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides onto grass, shrubs, or trees, using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders.
Use irrigation methods to adjust the amount of water consumption and to prevent waste.
Provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, planters, burial sites, or other grounds features.
Shovel snow from walks, driveways, or parking lots and spread salt in those areas.
Maintain irrigation systems, including winterizing the systems and starting them up in spring.
Plan or cultivate lawns or gardens.
Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
Follow planned landscaping designs to determine where to lay sod, sow grass, or plant flowers or foliage.
Trim or pick flowers and clean flower beds.
Attach wires from planted trees to support stakes.
Plant seeds, bulbs, foliage, flowering plants, grass, ground covers, trees, or shrubs and apply mulch for protection, using gardening tools.
Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers.
Rake, mulch, and compost leaves.
Maintain or repair tools, equipment, or structures, such as buildings, greenhouses, fences, or benches, using hand or power tools.
Decorate gardens with stones or plants.
Care for artificial turf fields, periodically removing the turf and replacing cushioning pads or vacuuming and disinfecting the turf after use to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
Install rock gardens, ponds, decks, drainage systems, irrigation systems, retaining walls, fences, planters, or playground equipment.
Care for natural turf fields, making sure the underlying soil has the required composition to allow proper drainage and to support the grasses used on the fields.
Advise customers on plant selection or care.
Haul or spread topsoil or spread straw over seeded soil to hold soil in place.
Mark design boundaries and paint natural or artificial turf fields with team logos or names before events.
Build forms and mix and pour cement to form garden borders.
Move furniture.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gather and remove litter. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 8% | |
| Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chain-saws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws. | 65Estimated | 59.0% | 8% | |
| Water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 4% | |
| Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 5% | |
| Mix and spray or spread fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides onto grass, shrubs, or trees, using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders. | 55Estimated | 55.0% | 3% | |
| Use irrigation methods to adjust the amount of water consumption and to prevent waste. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, planters, burial sites, or other grounds features. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Shovel snow from walks, driveways, or parking lots and spread salt in those areas. | 50Estimated | 53.0% | 3% | |
| Maintain irrigation systems, including winterizing the systems and starting them up in spring. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Plan or cultivate lawns or gardens. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 2% | |
| Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls. | 50Estimated | 53.0% | 6% | |
| Follow planned landscaping designs to determine where to lay sod, sow grass, or plant flowers or foliage. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 3% | |
| Trim or pick flowers and clean flower beds. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Attach wires from planted trees to support stakes. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 2% | |
| Plant seeds, bulbs, foliage, flowering plants, grass, ground covers, trees, or shrubs and apply mulch for protection, using gardening tools. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 5% | |
| Mow or edge lawns, using power mowers or edgers. | 75Estimated | 63.0% | 8% | |
| Rake, mulch, and compost leaves. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 5% | |
| Maintain or repair tools, equipment, or structures, such as buildings, greenhouses, fences, or benches, using hand or power tools. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 3% | |
| Decorate gardens with stones or plants. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 2% | |
| Care for artificial turf fields, periodically removing the turf and replacing cushioning pads or vacuuming and disinfecting the turf after use to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 2% | |
| Install rock gardens, ponds, decks, drainage systems, irrigation systems, retaining walls, fences, planters, or playground equipment. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 3% | |
| Care for natural turf fields, making sure the underlying soil has the required composition to allow proper drainage and to support the grasses used on the fields. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 2% | |
| Advise customers on plant selection or care. | 57.27Observed | 37.9% | 2% | |
| Haul or spread topsoil or spread straw over seeded soil to hold soil in place. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Mark design boundaries and paint natural or artificial turf fields with team logos or names before events. | 85Estimated | 67.0% | 2% | |
| Build forms and mix and pour cement to form garden borders. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Move furniture. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 2% |
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
Information Ordering is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
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Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation

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Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis