"I have been a groundskeeper for a school for over five years. In that time, I have worked in every weather you can think of. I'm happy to do my job in the sun, rain, snow, or even hail."

"I have been a groundskeeper for six years, so I have experience using most common tools, such as shovels, rakes, hoses, snips, and augers. I also have in-depth experience installing sprinklers and using sprayers, tillers, lawnmowers, leaf blowers, mulchers, and spreaders. I would be happy to learn how to use any other tools or equipment you prefer as well."

"I noticed all the colourful rose bushes and fruit trees on my way in. They look very well taken care of, so your previous groundskeeper did a great job. However, I noticed at the back of the building the grass is dying. It might not be getting enough water or it could be diseased. I would inspect your grass and try to nourish it if possible. If not, I would lay down new sod."

"If there are no plant diseases or harmful insects yet, I'll start with preventative measures. One of the best ways to keep a garden healthy is using all-natural soil as it promotes healthy plant growth. If I notice plants are diseased or weak, I will pull them out and dispose of them right away to stop the pests or disease from spreading. I ensure to disinfect my tools before I move onto another area as that can spread disease and pests as well."

"I think one of my greatest skills as a groundskeeper is my communication and interpersonal skills. Talking to my clients and getting to know their needs is the best way for me to do my job properly. It allows me to ensure they will be happy with the final product, especially as I like to give updates throughout the process."

"My favourite type of groundskeeping work is planting new trees and flowers. I really like the idea of me being able to bring life to something beautiful. It's also very rewarding to see the new trees and plants thriving in a few months. But, I enjoy any type of groundskeeping work as I find it all gratifying."

"As I am quite active at work already, I don't do a lot of physical activity during the week. However, on the weekends, I enjoy going on hikes or walks with my family. I've also started doing yoga recently as well, which helps me stretch out my tired muscles after a long day."

"The PPE groundskeepers must wear varies depending on the work they're doing. For example, if they're using loud machinery like a chainsaw, they must wear hearing protection and eye protection to protect their eyes from debris. Generally, groundskeepers must wear CSA certified safety shoes, gloves, long clothes and a hat to protect from the sun or insects."

"If there was a snowstorm, I would keep the walkways and doorways clear by shovelling the snow. For larger areas, I would use a snowblower. Once the snow is clear, I would use rock salt to melt any ice and prevent new ice from forming, keeping people walking safe. If it continued to snow, I would go out every hour or so to clear the area again."

"I would start by picking a fertilizer appropriate for my needs. It's typically best to go for a fertilizer that's balanced with nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. I would then feed the roots and foliage with compost, manure and liquid fertilizer. Finally, I would check the pH of the soil and add my plants."

"I do have a lot of experience laying sod. I start by measuring the area to determine how much sod I will need. I will then prepare the soil by loosening it and removing any debris, such as rocks or weeds. When the soil is ready, I will lay the sod in whole pieces side-by-side. At the end, I will put soil along the seams and use a lawn roller so the sod is pushed firmly into the soil."

"I recently learned how to use a riding lawnmower. My previous company didn't have one originally, so I always used a push lawnmower. They invested in one in the last six months and trained me on how to use it. It gets the job done much faster, especially with large lawns."

"I have had one client be unhappy with my work in the past. They asked me to shape their trees to make them neater and more uniform. After I did and they saw the result, they thought the trees were too small. I wasn't able to fix the error, so I just had to apologise. In the future, I always asked my clients for details about how they want their trees and grounds to look."

"The groundskeeping project I'm most proud of was for a new hospital. The hospital hired me to design their grounds from scratch. They gave me free rein to plant whatever I wanted. The entire project took me a few weeks, but they were really happy with the results. I think it's my most successful project because it was the biggest one I've ever worked on."

"To prune a rose bush, you must remove the leaves so you can see the stems properly. Then, cut the dead or weak stems to their base. If any branches are crossing, I will take them out as well as they can rub other branches and cause damage or disease. Finally, I will prune the branches that remain by cutting half an inch above a bud eye and seal the cuts to prevent rot."