Ariel Solis Valenzuela
San Francisco,CA
Summary
Reliable grounds and landscape professional with hands-on experience maintaining parks, schools, hospitals, and public recreation areas. Brings irrigation repair, pruning, fertilization, weed control, equipment care, crew supervision, and bilingual English-Spanish customer service, along with a clean driving record and strong work attendance.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Groundskeeper
UCSF
San Francisco, California
09.2024 - Current
- - Prune plants, apply fertilizer, cut weeds, manage irrigation, and complete plant care tasks.
- - Maintained public landscaping for parks and recreation areas to enhance community aesthetics.
- Handled replanting projects, pruning, fertilization, weed control, irrigation, plant purchasing, and plant installation.
- - Drive company truck, maintain clean records, keep vehicle clean and fueled, and stay ready for assigned tasks.
- - Performed cleaning of tools to maintain efficiency and longevity, sharpen, and inventory garden tools and supplies; repair garden equipment and assist with irrigation system repairs.
- - Supervise staff, review work quality, oversee assigned jobs, and monitor off-site gardening crews for smooth operations.
- - Provided daily pruning, fertilization, weed control, and irrigation to ensure healthy landscapes.
- - Maintained garden equipment in good condition through regular cleaning and repairs. public-area landscaping for parks and recreation accounts.
- - Managed replanting work, plant installation, purchasing, pruning, fertilization, weed control, and irrigation based on account requirements.
- - Maintained tools, tracked supply inventory, and completed cleaning and repair work for garden equipment and irrigation systems.
- - Directed staff, reviewed work quality, and monitored on-site and off-site crews to keep projects moving smoothly.
- - Supported plant health and landscape appearance through routine pruning, fertilization, weed control, irrigation, and maintenance work.
- - Ensured public landscaping remained well-kept and visually appealing through consistent maintenance.
- - Coordinated replanting projects, plant installation, and material purchasing to match account requirements and work plans.
- - Kept company truck ready for daily use by maintaining records, cleanliness, fuel levels, and task readiness.
- - Maintained inventory control for tools and supplies while cleaning, sharpening, and repairing equipment as needed.
- - Improved job quality by supervising staff, monitoring work standards, and overseeing crews at off-site locations.
- - Consistently pruned, fertilized, cut weeds, irrigated, and cared for plants to create healthy landscapes and well-maintained plantings.
- - Public areas remained well maintained through regular parks and recreation landscaping support.
- - Account needs were met through organized replanting, plant installation, purchasing, and ongoing landscape maintenance.
- - Quality work and smooth job flow came from staff supervision and oversight of off-site gardening crews.
Groundskeeper
Kaiser Permanente
Oakland, California
06.2022 - 09.2024
- Executed large replanting projects, enhancing plant health through pruning, fertilization, weed cutting, and irrigation.
- -Conducted landscaping maintenance in public areas of parks and recreation facilities, contributing to overall aesthetic and usability.
- -Managed garden care for landscaping accounts in hospital areas, including watering, pruning, fertilizing, and organic pest/disease control, while ensuring cleanliness of lunch areas for public and staff.
- -Duties included pruning, fertilization, weed cutting, irrigation and plant maintenance Handled daily time sheets, multi-tasked and worked very closely with lead gardener.
- -Drove company truck, ensuring cleanliness and fuel levels for operational readiness.
- -Cleaned and sharpened garden tools while maintaining an inventory of necessary supplies.
Grounds Assistant Supervisor
Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center
10.2018 - 06.2022
- Maintain & Repair all garden equipment duties include Pruning, trimming, fertilization installation of irrigation systems and repair if needed. Clean and repair any gardening tools for maintenance. Purchasing of materials such as plants and soil and any other items per request. Supervise and maintain weekly schedules of big projects make sure they are completed on time. Supervised staff to ensure consistent quality in work and addressed all jobs requiring attention. Oversaw Able Gardeners during off-site projects to ensure effective execution of gardening tasks. Assist with food bank distributions weekly. Weekly and daily maintenance of garden areas and mowing of lawns weekly, make sure overall grounds are clean. Care for chickens and ordering of the feed and collection of eggs. Taught classes on garden care and maintenance to enhance knowledge and skills of participants. Any repairs to the building such as paint, patches on the walls and installations. Performed cleaning and maintenance tasks to ensure a tidy environment.
- Maintained rehabilitation center grounds with mowing, trimming, and edging tasks.
- Cleared walkways and entry areas of leaves, debris, and litter.
- Watered lawns, shrubs, and flowerbeds using hoses and sprinkler systems.
Equipment Operator/Gardener
Lafayette School District
05.2016 - 10.2018
- Maintained and repaired gardening equipment, operated large and small mowing machines, and backhoed grounds on baseball fields and soccer fields across school district. Resolved landscaping issues to enhance appearance of grounds at all school locations. Managed irrigation systems and mowed grass weekly to ensure healthy landscapes. Pruning of trees and bushes fertilization of grass and plants weekly. Grease and check for any abnormal sounds on big mower wash and clean when needed change blades on the larger mowers using safe methods at all times. Understand safety procedures and enforce them at all times.
- Operated loaders, tractors, and mowers for Lafayette School District grounds maintenance.
- Inspected equipment before shifts for safety, fluid levels, and mechanical issues.
- Transported materials and supplies across school sites using district vehicles.
Public Worker Maintenance
City of Larkspur
07.2014 - 08.2015
- Maintained City of Larkspur streets, sidewalks, and public facilities.
- Repaired potholes, signage, and roadway surfaces across municipal routes.
- Inspected public work sites for safety hazards and service needs.
- Complete working knowledge of all backhoe equipment, large mowers, tractors, etc. Managed landscaping of public areas, including trimming and pruning of parks and recreation spaces. Executed painting projects for public spaces, including curbs, arrows, signs, and poles to enhance visibility and safety. Ensured cleanliness and safety of bike paths and walk paths, prioritizing public safety and accessibility. Replaced missing and broken signs. Recorded daily employee hours for payroll accuracy.
Lead Gardener
John Stewart Company
02.2010 - 07.2014
- Led gardening crews across residential properties for John Stewart Company communities
- Managed business and residential landscaping accounts, supervising daily operations on diverse projects including trimming, pruning, and planting new plant materials.
- Performed precise pruning of trees, hedges, and ornamental plants to enhance visual appeal of properties
- Maintained lawns, shrubs, flower beds, and courtyard grounds
Lead Gardener
Rock & Rose
01.2008 - 02.2010
- Managed garden care for various landscape accounts across the Bay Area.
- Watered plants daily to maintain health and aesthetic appeal. Supported organization of annual San Francisco Flower & Garden Shows. Executed various garden-related tasks to enhance overall landscape presentation.
- Maintained landscaped grounds for residential properties across John Stewart Company communities.
- Pruned shrubs, hedges, and trees to support safe, clean common areas.
- Planted seasonal flowers, ground cover, and turf in courtyard spaces.
Gardener
Bayside Plants
02.2006 - 12.2007
- Managed interior and exterior plant accounts for multiple business locations, ensuring optimal plant health and aesthetic appeal. Executed plant installation and maintenance for large exterior accounts, contributing to enhanced landscape quality and client satisfaction. Supervised daily activities of workers to ensure timely completion of trimming, pruning, and planting projects, maintaining high standards of service. Maintenance of the irrigation system fixes any issues that arise.
- Maintained Bayside Plants nursery beds with watering, weeding, and mulching tasks.
- Pruned shrubs, trees, and flowers following Bayside Plants care standards.
- Planted seasonal stock in garden areas and display sections.
Plant Tech
The Wright Gardener
09.2002 - 09.2005
- Maintained greenhouse plants, nursery stock, and landscape beds for a garden service company.
- Inspected irrigation systems and adjusted watering schedules for plant health.
- Pruned shrubs, trees, and ornamentals using hand tools and trimming equipment.
- Operated company vehicles to maintain safe handling of floral arrangements and achieve on-time deliveries.
Landscape Crew
Cagwin & Dorward
01.2002 - 09.2002
- Oversaw business and residential landscaping accounts, ensuring timely and high-quality project completion. Performed pruning, fertilization, trimming, and plant record maintenance to support healthy landscapes. Supervised crew and managed time sheets, facilitating efficient team operations.
- Maintained commercial landscapes for Cagwin & Dorward clients using hand tools and mowers.
- Trimmed shrubs, hedges, and groundcover to support clean site appearance.
- Installed mulch, soil, and plant materials across managed landscape areas.
Gardener
Decorative Plant Service
02.1994 - 08.2001
- Managed multiple plant accounts for interior and exterior environments, maintaining accurate records for each account. Knowledge of various plant species identified and controlled pests and plant diseases. Directed landscaping projects for residential and commercial clients, ensuring timely completion and client satisfaction. Supervised workers on large and small projects, overseeing trimming, pruning, and planting to enhance landscape aesthetics. Maintenance of the irrigation system fixes any issues that arise.
- Maintained Bayside Plants garden beds, pruning shrubs and removing weeds.
- Planted seasonal flowers, trees, and shrubs across nursery grounds.
- Watered plants using hoses, sprinklers, and hand-watering tools.
Education
Secondary Education -
Instituto Nacional Mixto University
GuatemalaSkills
- Vehicle maintenance
- Physical stamina
- Effective communication
- Reliable attendance
- Irrigation management
- Detail-oriented
- Customer service
- Plant identification
- First aid training
ACTIVITIES
I am very passionate about my work and dedicated to every job I take on. I enjoy being hands on in the garden and any task I am involved in. I am able to be flexible when needed and I am able to multitask as the job requires it. I know and understand flowers and plants with a great depth of knowledge and know what it takes to ensure quality work. I have worked in the gardening business for years and have great references upon request.
Timeline
Groundskeeper
UCSF
09.2024 - Current
Groundskeeper
Kaiser Permanente
06.2022 - 09.2024
Grounds Assistant Supervisor
Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center
10.2018 - 06.2022
Equipment Operator/Gardener
Lafayette School District
05.2016 - 10.2018
Public Worker Maintenance
City of Larkspur
07.2014 - 08.2015
Lead Gardener
John Stewart Company
02.2010 - 07.2014
Lead Gardener
Rock & Rose
01.2008 - 02.2010
Gardener
Bayside Plants
02.2006 - 12.2007
Plant Tech
The Wright Gardener
09.2002 - 09.2005
Landscape Crew
Cagwin & Dorward
01.2002 - 09.2002
Gardener
Decorative Plant Service
02.1994 - 08.2001
Secondary Education -
Instituto Nacional Mixto University