Lawn Care Job Description: How to Write Your Own [+ Free Template]
Your lawn care business can attract qualified candidates, save time in the hiring process, and hire employees that stay long-term with a detailed and accurate lawn care job description.
We’ve created a guide to writing a lawn care worker job description that attracts the right hires for your business—and a free template you can use to build your own job description.
Lawn care job description template
Use this template to write your own lawn care job description. Modify the role description, responsibilities, qualifications, hours, and company description based on your business needs.
Lawn Care Specialist – Mow & Sow
Mow & Sow is hiring a hardworking lawn care specialist to help manage outdoor spaces for residential and commercial clients. Our typical lawn service maintenance contracts include grass and hedge trimming, fertilizer application, weed control, and occasional planting.
Job responsibilities:
- Use a lawn mower, sod cutters, and other tools to trim grass and edge lawn areas
- Apply seed, fertilizer, herbicides, and insecticides to lawns
- Maintain and water plants, flower beds, and underlying soil on clients lawns
- Operate backpack blower and gather leaves, hedge trimmings, and debris for removal
- Use pruners and trimmers to remove shrub and tree overgrowth
- Plant flowers, shrubs, trees, and turf as requested by client
- Meet with potential clients to assess lawns and identify areas of improvement
- Drive work trucks to/from job sites and supplier locations
- Load and unload lawn care tools into/from work trucks
- Clear snow and ice from sidewalks, paths, and driveways in winter
- Log billable hours accurately using a time tracking app
- Add job details, review daily tasks, and communicate with customers using our lawn care business app
Qualifications:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 1–2 years of lawn care or groundskeeping experience
- Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and reliable transportation
- Able to repeatedly lift and move 50+ pounds
- Able to sit, stand, kneel, and lift
- Able to work in all weather conditions
- Strong communication and customer service skills
- Strong work ethic and positive attitude
- Self-starter who can manage time effectively
- Willing to learn and to follow instructions
- Can work independently and as part of a team environment
- Experience using lawn care equipment preferred (e.g., lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, pruning saws, weed eaters)
- Experience using scheduling apps or routing apps preferred (training can be provided)
Work hours:
- Full-time, year-round
- Tue–Sat, 7:00am–3:00pm
Compensation:
- $16–19/hour (experience based)
- Signing bonus and year-round bonus opportunities
- Health insurance, including dental and vision
- Paid holidays, time off, and parental leave
- 401(k) matching and life insurance
This position will require a background check upon hire.
About Mow & Sow
Mow & Sow is a growing lawn care company with three employees and more than 100 five-star reviews. We provide residential and commercial lawn mowing, edging, trimming, pruning, weed control, yard cleanup, aeration, grass seeding and sodding, and snow shoveling and deicing in the winter months.
We put customer happiness above all else and pride ourselves on doing the job right the first time. We aim to give customers an exceptional experience and to be the most in-demand lawn care business in Richmond.
To apply for this position, send your resume to [company email address].
What to include in your lawn care worker job description:
1. Job summary
Describe the lawn maintenance position you’re hiring for in a few sentences, without listing day-to-day job duties. Give job seekers a basic idea of the work they can expect and why you need someone in this role.
Your position summary should answer questions like:
- What’s the title of the position?
- What’s the seniority level of this position?
- Is this a new role?
- Who will this person report to?
- What do you want the role to help you achieve over the next 6–12 months?
After reading your position summary, job seekers should instantly know if this is the position they’re looking for. Here’s an example of what your lawn care position summary could look like:
Lawn Care Specialist, Full Time
Mow & Sow is hiring a hardworking lawn care specialist to help manage outdoor spaces for residential and commercial clients. Our typical lawn service maintenance contracts include grass and hedge trimming, fertilizer application, weed control, and occasional planting.
2. Job responsibilities
Write a bullet-pointed list that covers your new employee’s day-to-day duties and long-term responsibilities. This shows candidates what they can expect from the role.
To write a list of job responsibilities, answer questions like:
- How many visits will you expect the employee to complete each day or each week?
- What types of lawn maintenance services will they need to complete?
- What kind of equipment will they need to operate (e.g., tractors, chainsaws, power tools)?
- Will the person be responsible for admin duties like scheduling jobs, creating quotes, or invoicing clients?
- Will they be handling customer interactions, whether face to face or over the phone?
Sample job responsibilities:
- Use a lawn mower, sod cutters, and other tools to trim grass and edge lawn areas
- Apply seed, fertilizer, herbicides, and insecticides to lawns
- Maintain and water plants, flower beds, and underlying soil on clients lawns
- Operate backpack blower and gather leaves, hedge trimmings, and debris for removal
- Use pruners and trimmers to remove shrub and tree overgrowth
- Plant flowers, shrubs, trees, and turf as requested by client
- Meet with potential clients to assess lawns and identify areas of improvement
- Drive work trucks to/from job sites and supplier locations
- Load and unload lawn care tools into/from work trucks
- Clear snow and ice from sidewalks, paths, and driveways in winter
- Log billable hours accurately using a time tracking app
- Add job details, review daily tasks, and communicate with customers using our lawn care business app
3. Qualifications and skills
Write a quick description of the education, experience, skills, and behaviors that your candidates need to qualify for the job. This helps you filter out job seekers who aren’t suited for the position.
Use these questions to write your ideal candidate profile:
- What personality traits are a requirement for someone to succeed on your team (e.g., independent, solution focused)?
- What three words would you use to describe your current employees (e.g., supportive, compassionate, motivated)?
- What qualifications are absolutely necessary for any of your employees (e.g., high school diploma, driver’s license)?
- What qualifications are nice to have but not necessary (e.g., lawn care certification, experience working with specific equipment or chemicals)?
Candidates with bonus skills and experience can strengthen your team and let you offer new services. Make it clear which skills are required and which are preferred, optional, or assets.
Pro Tip: Tell applicants if they’ll need to go through extra screening before they’re officially hired. This could include a drug test, driving record, criminal background, or reference check.
Sample qualifications:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 1–2 years of lawn care or groundskeeping experience
- Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and reliable transportation
- Able to repeatedly lift and move 50+ pounds
- Able to sit, stand, kneel, and lift
- Able to work in all weather conditions
- Strong communication and customer service skills
- Strong work ethic and positive attitude
- Self-starter who can manage time effectively
- Willing to learn and to follow instructions
- Can work independently and as part of a team environment
- Experience using lawn care equipment preferred (e.g., lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, pruning saws, weed eaters)
- Experience using scheduling apps or routing apps preferred (training can be provided)
4. Work hours
Tell your applicants exactly what hours they can expect to work. Being up-front about your employee’s expected work schedule will ensure you only attract candidates who can work when you need them.
Your lawn care job description should include:
- Whether the job is full-time or part-time
- Whether it’s permanent, temporary, or seasonal
- Number of hours per week
Sample work hours:
- Full-time, year-round
- Tue–Sat, 7:00am–3:00pm
5. Compensation
Include the wage or salary range you’re willing to offer. Salary is among the most important information that applicants want to see in a job posting.
Make sure your lawn care technician job description includes:
- A range or exact number that candidates can expect for hourly wage or salary
- Whether you offer an employee bonus program or other incentives
- Benefits like paid time off, health insurance, or a retirement savings plan
Sample compensation:
- $16–19/hour (experience based)
- Signing bonus and year-round bonus opportunities
- Health insurance, including dental and vision
- Paid holidays, time off, and parental leave
- 401(k) matching and life insurance
6. Company overview
In your job description, tell applicants how your company creates a positive work environment. You need to make a strong case for your company so it can stand out from other job postings and attract the applicants you want.
Your company overview should answer questions like:
- When and why did you start this business?
- What are your mission statement, vision statement, and values?
- How do you describe your company culture?
- What makes lawn maintenance work fulfilling for your employees? (Ask your employees for input here!)
- Why do your employees work for you and what makes them stay?
- What perks do you offer?
- What long-term professional development is available for your employees?
READ MORE: How to build a business where employees want to work
Once you write this section, save it and add it to the end of all your future job postings.
Pro Tip: Give clear instructions on how people can apply to your lawn care job posting, like email or a job board’s application form. The easier it is to understand the application process, the faster job seekers will apply—and the faster you’ll find your new hire.
Sample company overview
Mow & Sow is a growing lawn care company with three employees and more than 100 five-star reviews.
We provide residential and commercial lawn mowing, edging, trimming, pruning, weed control, yard cleanup, aeration, grass seeding and sodding, and snow shoveling and deicing in the winter months.
We put customer happiness above all else and pride ourselves on doing the job right the first time. We aim to give customers an exceptional experience and to be the most in-demand lawn care business in Richmond.
To apply for this position, send your resume to [company email address].
Frequently asked questions
What lawn care job title should you use in a job description?
There are several common titles for people who provide lawn care service:
- Lawn care specialists, lawn care workers, and lawn care technicians are different names for the same job, which involves mowing, fertilizing, mulching, weeding, trimming, and pruning tasks.
- An irrigation technician or irrigation specialist monitors, manages, and maintains clients’ sprinklers and irrigation systems to keep lawns healthy and green.
- Lawn care and snow removal specialists work for lawn care businesses that also offer snow removal services in the winter.
- Landscape laborers and landscape professionals perform both lawn care and landscaping work. Landscaping involves installing plants and garden structures, in addition to lawn and landscape maintenance.
- A lawn care crew leader supports the business owner by scheduling crew members, providing on-the-job direction and feedback, and ensuring the team meets deadlines and stays on budget.
What does a lawn care worker do?
A lawn care worker maintains public and private yards, parks, and grounds. Lawn care workers typically provide maintenance services to homeowners, businesses, and local governments.
What are some lawn care duties and responsibilities?
Lawn care duties include maintaining lawns, gardens, flowerbeds, and grounds. This involves mowing grass, trimming hedges, removing debris, and any other outdoor tasks the client needs.
Some lawn care businesses also apply fertilizer and pesticides in summer, while others offer snow removal and holiday lighting to stay busy in the winter.
READ MORE: 10 winter landscaping services to keep a steady income all year
What skills or knowledge does a lawn care specialist need?
Lawn care workers need physical strength to lift and carry heavy loads. They should also be comfortable handling bladed equipment like riding mowers, push mowers, and weed whackers.
Lawn care specialists don’t usually need formal education after high school. They just need to have experience or be willing to learn the required lawn care maintenance skills and techniques on the job.
However, depending on where your business operates and what services it offers, lawn care specialists may need fertilizer certification or pest control licensing to apply fertilizer or pesticide.
How much do lawn care workers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for lawn care and grounds maintenance workers is $17.05, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021). The median annual salary is $35,460 per year.
Hourly wages and annual salary will vary depending on experience level and typical wages in your region.
Originally published April 2017. Last updated on March 30, 2023.