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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for specialist amenity pruning
   • Plants are visually inspected and pruning strategy is determined according to the plants characteristics or desired outcome.
   • Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards are identified, risks assessed and suitable controls implemented.
   • Pruning tools and equipment are selected and prepared according to the extent of the pruning program and enterprise guidelines.
   • Where required, references are consulted to determine best pruning strategies for special plants.
2. Undertake specialist pruning
   • Equipment is used according to OHS requirements and manufactures specifications.
   • Pruning is undertaken according to established and specialist pruning techniques.
   • Site environmental concerns are adhered to in accordance with relevant legislation and/or regulations
   • Waste material is disposed of according to enterprise guidelines.
   • Tools, equipment and machinery are cleaned, maintained, serviced and stored consistent with enterprise guidelines and manufacturers specifications.
   • Site is cleared and cleaned according to enterprise guidelines.
3. Assess pruning quality
   • Plants selected for specialist pruning are visually checked to assess pruning quality.
   • Pruning work is reviewed to ensure pruning requirements have been met
   • Where required remedial work is carried out to ensure the pruning work meets objectives.
   • Completed pruning is recorded and communicated to management and/or the client according to enterprise guidelines.

Required Skills

Required skills

recognise common diseases pests and nutrition deficiencies in trees sharpen and maintain tools required for pruning undertake a range of specialist pruning techniques assess pruning quality meet pruning program requirements store and carry tools safely use literacy skills to read interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures follow sequenced written instructions record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks use oral communication skillslanguage competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning techniques active listening clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required use numeracy skills to estimate calculate and record routine workplace measures use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

Required knowledge

identification of plant species and their pruning requirements principles and methods of specialist pruning to achieve given objectives anatomy and physiology of plants shrubs and trees effect on plant growth and habit after pruning specialist tools and equipment local government tree protection and preservation regulations AS Pruning of amenity trees relevant Code of Practice

Evidence Required

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 determine pruning requirements for a range of amenity plants undertake a range of specialist pruning techniques assess pruning quality meet pruning program requirements select use and maintain pruning tools and equipment
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

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Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.
Plants that require pruning may include:	plants that require special treatment including fruit trees and vines ornamental flowering trees and shrubs standards topiaries pleached arbors roses other plants that have special pruning requirements due to flowering, growth or other characteristics.
Techniques may include:	cleaning out crown lifting crown reduction pruning for structural integrity crown renewal crown thinning dead wooding hedging branch root pruning espaliers topiary preparation of standards bonsai epicormic and green shoot removal according to desired outcomes, plant habit and seasonal needs.

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