Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of managing a plant cultural program and defines the standard required to: specify the plant cultural practices of the site; develop plant cultural practice management plans; manage the implementation of a plant cultural program; monitor and evaluate the processes in implementing a plant cultural program; document the program results in a report.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to parks and gardens and landscape managers program.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Define the plant cultural requirements of the site

1.1. The range of plant life areas and plant species is surveyed and recorded.

1.2. Materials, equipment and labour required for implementation and maintenance are determined, acquired and maintained.

1.3. Site hazards are identified, risk assessed and appropriate controls are implemented.

1.4. Staff capability of skills and knowledge are assessed against implementation and maintenance requirements.

1.5. Staff training and development is implemented in accordance with requirements.

2. Develop a plant cultural program for the site

2.1. Plant cultural practices are determined over the duration of a documented planning period.

2.2. Soil types and growing media are prepared, sampled and tested through field tests by staff and laboratory tests by specialist services.

2.3. Resources are allocated and appropriate budgets are developed for the implementation period.

2.4. Specialist cultural practice services required are sourced and contracted.

2.5. Schedule of operations is developed for the implementation period.

2.6. Allowance is made in the program for environmental and cultural contingencies.

3. Manage the implementation of the program

3.1. Routine and contracted services are implemented.

3.2. Test results are interpreted and soils and growing media are appropriately ameliorated.

3.3. Staff are allocated, supervised and appraised for performance.

3.4. Materials and equipment are used according to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements and documented safe operating procedures.

3.5. Progress reports are logged detailing the on-going results of the plant cultural program.

4. Monitor, review and document the program

4.1. Daily workplace records, weekly or monthly expenses, and other information relevant to the plant cultural program are itemised in registers or diaries.

4.2. Costs and expenditure are evaluated against budgets and documented in a report.

4.3. Routine and contracted services are monitored, evaluated and performance audits recorded.

4.4. The plant cultural program is compared to previous programs and appropriate adjustments are made

4.5. Results are documented in a report covering all items of recorded information in the program.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• determine plant cultural requirements
• plan schedule of operations
• allocate resources
• develop a cultural program and budget documentation
• contract specialist services
• supervise, monitor and appraise the performance of work team and contracted services
• manage contingencies
• use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record complex workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• plant identification and selection
• plant cultural practices
• plant anatomy, physiology, morphology, taxonomy and nomenclature
• plant life maintenance practices
• operation and maintenance of irrigation systems
• plant nutrition requirements and practices
• soil types, properties, field tests and sampling techniques
• legislation and regulations relevant to the plant cultural site
• budgeting and planning.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• specify the plant cultural practices of the site
• develop plant cultural practice management plans
• manage the implementation of a plant cultural program
• monitor and evaluate the processes in implementing a plant cultural program
• document the program results in a report.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Cultural practice requirements may include:

• soil preparation and conditioning
• planting
• plant maintenance practices
• staking
• hedging
• pruning
• all turf maintenance activities in the area of open space management.

Cultural practices may include:

• differences for each cultural practice type or cultural plant group.

Specialist turf cultural practices may include:

• turf maintenance activities such as:

• establishment
• renovating
• top dressing
• over-sowing
• de-compaction
• pest and disease control.

Specialist tree maintenance may include:

• practices such as mulching
• thinning
• crown reduction
• pollarding
• tree structural management.

Unit sector 

Parks and gardens

Co-requisite units 

Competency field