A
groundskeeper is a person who maintains landscaping, gardens or sporting venues (and their vegetation where appropriate) for appearance and functionality. In
British English the word
groundsman (occasionally
groundswoman if appropriate) is used much more commonly.
[citation needed] In
Australian English, the word
curator is often used for a person undertaking this job, especially those involving
cricket pitches. At university campuses, groundskeepers are often called
horticulturists. The equivalent on a golf course is a
greenskeeper.
A groundskeeper's job requires a wide range of knowledge of horticulture, pest control, and weed abatement. As many institutions (especially schools) are moving away from the use of chemical pesticides and toward integrated pest management the experience, knowledge and scholastic requirements of top groundskeepers are increasing. While groundskeepers usually follow a site plan created by a landscape architect, there can be many opportunities for creativity in detailed design and presentation.
Groundskeepers have appeared occasionally as minor characters in fiction and moving images. They are usually presented as comic or peculiar characters, often exhibiting a compulsive or obsessive personality defect.
Some examples of fictional groundskeepers include
