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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Prepare to establish a planted area
  2. Prepare the planting area
  3. Plant turf
  4. Provide post-planting care
  5. Monitor turf health
  6. Complete establishment of the planted area

Evidence Required

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole

Competence in supporting turf establishment requires evidence that a person is able to prepare for establishment activities prepare the site install plants provide postplanting care of the planted area and monitor the health of the newly established turf

The skills and knowledge required to support turf establishment must be transferable to a different work environment For example a person who can support turf establishment for a domestic garden should be able to transfer that knowledge and those skills to another workplace where they are required to support the establishment of a turf surface in a recreational park for public use following induction to the new workplace

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below

the purpose of the turf establishment program in relation to enterprise presentation standards and the end use of the turf surface

the characteristics of enterprise turf species and cultivars including growth rates and their planting and postplanting cultural requirements

irrigation and drainage system design and operational techniques to deliver maximum benefits to the planted area while minimising detrimental environmental impacts

the effect of adverse outdoor climatic conditions eg rain hail total fire ban days or very high ultraviolet radiation which may prevent or impede turf establishment activities or influence the selection of tools machinery and safety equipment to minimise the hazards presented

the potential public nature of turf establishment work sites and the hazards and responsibilities associated with working in a publicly accessible situation

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria

To achieve the performance criteria appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required These include the ability to

participate in teams and contribute to team objectives

communicate orally with work team members and supervisors

utilise proforma recording reporting and work procedure documents

interpret site plans and turf establishment specifications

measure quantities calculate material requirements area volume ratios and application rates and calibrate machinery

coordinate own activities with the work group

minimise noise dust high activity vehicle traffic and water runoff to prevent nuisancelevel environmental disturbance

What processes should be applied to this competency standard

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions Some of these are covered by the key competencies although others may be added The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where not required perform the process perform and administer the process and perform administer and design the process

How can communication of ideas and information be applied

Ideas and information relating to turf establishment activities and problems encountered should be discussed with other members of the work team and the supervisor

How can information be collected analysed and organised

The turf establishment site and surrounding area should be inspected visually and the information gained discussed with the work team and supervisor

Enterprise work procedures and site and establishment plans should be consulted interpreted and applied to coordinate turf establishment activities with further clarification sought from the supervisor where necessary

How are activities planned and organised

Equipment materials and work procedures for turf establishment activities will need to be arranged before and between work periods and there will be some responsibility for coordinating work with others

How can team work be applied

Supporting the turf establishment program will involve working with other members of a team to complete the program

How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques be applied

Measuring distance calculating areas and volumes calibrating machinery estimating quantities of materials and marking out will require mathematical application

How can problemsolving skills be applied

Problems relating to the site and environmental conditions establishment techniques processes workplace safety and other team members may arise during the establishment of turf surfaces

How can the use of technology be applied

Technology may be applied in the preparation use and maintenance of turf establishment tools equipment and machinery

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one

This competency standard could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function

There is essential information about assessing this competency standard for consistent performance and where and how it may be assessed in the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package All users of these competency standards must have access to the Assessment Guidelines Further advice may also be sought from the relevant sector booklet

Range Statement

Range of Variables

The Range of Variables explains the contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in particular training and assessment requirements may depend on the work situations available

What planting sites may be relevant to this standard?

Planting sites may include sports turf or recreational turf surfaces, parks, gardens, landscaped areas and recreational reserves.

What planting methods are relevant to this standard?

Planting methods may include hand and machine-assisted sowing, installing sod, stolons, plugs and hydro mulching.

What enterprise work procedures may apply to this standard?

Work procedures will be based on sound horticultural principles and practices and may include supervisors oral or written instructions, the turf establishment program, irrigation scheduling, enterprise standard operating procedures (SOPs), specifications, routine maintenance schedules, work notes; product labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS); manufacturers service specifications and operators manuals; waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines; and OHS procedures.

What materials may be required to support turf establishment?

Materials may include soil additives, materials for protecting planted areas, and weed, pest and disease control chemicals and materials.

What tools, equipment and machinery may be required to support turf establishment?

Hand tools may include knives, trowels, spades, forks, rakes, hoes, shovels, buckets, brooms, wheelbarrows, hoses and hose fittings, secateurs or snips, seeders, spreaders, turf spades, rollers and backpack spray equipment.

Equipment and machinery may include trailed or motorised seeders, spreaders, spray equipment, pumps and pump fittings, mechanical rollers, brush cutters, edge clippers, edge slicers, renovating equipment, scarifiers, de-thatchers, coring machines and core harvesters, bobcats, ditch witches, backhoes, front-end loaders, graders, trucks, hydraulic trailers, tractors and 3-point linkage equipment, and irrigation and drainage systems and components.

Mowers may include cylinder, rotary, flail, hand, hand-operated cylinder mowers, greens mowers, large ride-on fairway mowers, triplex greens mowers and 4-wheel drive machinery.

What OHS hazards may be associated with supporting turf establishment?

Hazards may include disturbance or interruption of services, solar radiation, dust, noise, soil, water and air-borne micro-organisms, chemicals and hazardous substances, sharp hand tools and equipment, manual handling, moving vehicles, machinery and machinery parts, uneven surfaces and flying objects.

What safety equipment may be required?

Safety equipment may include signage and barriers.

What personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required to support turf establishment?

PPE may include hat, boots, overalls, gloves, goggles, respirator or face mask, face guard, spray jacket or suit, hearing protection, sunscreen lotion and hardhat.

What services may need to be located?

Services may include water supply, gas, power (electricity), telecommunications, irrigation, stormwater and drainage.

What earthworks may be required when establishing a turf surface?

Earthworks may include ripping and cultivating the area to be planted, and supporting the construction of soil profiles for sports turf playing surfaces and the installation of irrigation and drainage systems.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?

OHS requirements may include identifying hazards, assessing and reporting risks, cleaning, maintaining and storing tools, equipment and machinery; appropriate use of PPE including sun protection, drinking to avoid dehydration, safe operation of tools, equipment and machinery; safe handling, use and storage of chemicals and hazardous substances, correct manual handling, basic first aid, personal hygiene and reporting problems to supervisors.

What competing plants may require control before establishing turf?

Competing plants may include established plants that require pruning back or weed species that require control techniques such as manual removal, herbicide application, laying weed mats and mulching.

What soil additives may be required for the successful establishment of turf surfaces?

Soil additives may include lime, gypsum, emollients, fertilisers, organic materials and fungal and disease control agents.

What major defects may require the rejection of turf plant material?

Major defects include any condition that will prevent the turf plant from reaching its full potential, including wilt, stunted growth and root damage.

What minor defects may be repairable in required turf plant material?

Minor defects that may be repaired may include damage sustained by turf plant material that can be trimmed or treated so that the plants can still reach their desired potential.

What disturbance should be avoided when rolling new turf?

Disturbance may include overlapping sods or parting sods.

What factors may indicate level of turf quality?

Factors may include upright growth, apparent stress and uniformity or variation in the growing pattern.

What properties of damaged turf may be identified?

Properties of damaged turf may include strength, wear tolerance, growth rate, colour and recovery rate.

What waste material may be relevant to this standard?

Waste material may include unused earthworks materials, and plant debris, litter and broken components.

Plant-based material may be mulched or composted, plastic, metal, paper-based materials may be recycled, re-used, returned to the manufacturer or disposed of according to enterprise work procedures.

What tasks may be undertaken to maintain a clean and safe work area?

Tasks may include disabling unused tools, equipment and machinery and storing neatly out of the way of turf establishment activities, safely storing materials on site, using signage and safety barriers during and removing after turf establishment activities are completed, and swiftly and efficiently removing and processing debris and waste from the work area.

For more information on contexts, environmental implications and variables for training and assessment, refer to the Sector Booklet.