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Title / Plant and care for trees, shrubs, and climbing plants
Level / 2 / Credits / 10
Purpose / This unit standard is for people working or intending to work in amenity horticulture. People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare an area for planting; plant trees, shrubs, and climbing plants; and care for newly planted trees, shrubs, and climbing plants.
Classification / Horticulture > Amenity Horticulture
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1Workplace procedures refer to oral or written instructions to staff on procedures for the worksite and equipment.
2Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, Resource Management Act 1991, and their subsequent amendments.
3Work may involve exposure to chemical, dangerous, or hazardous substances. Safety procedures are observed in accordance with NZS 8409:2004 Management of Agrichemicals,available from Standards New Zealand
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Prepare area for planting.
Evidence requirements
1.1Appropriate tools and equipment are selected for specified use and are used safely and in accordance with workplace procedures.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – hoe, fork, rotary hoe, spade, shovel, rake.
1.2Soil is cultivated to a tilth suitable for its intended purpose.
1.3Soil amendments are applied, using appropriate materials and rates, in accordance with workplace procedures.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – fertilisers, organic matter, lime.
1.4Cultivated area is raked to achieve desired surface contour and edges are formed, in accordance with workplace procedures.
1.5Tools and equipment are cleaned of all residues and stored in accordance with manufacturer's specifications and workplace procedures.
1.6Plants are transported to the site in accordance with workplace procedures.
Outcome 2
Plant trees, shrubs, and climbing plants.
Evidence requirements
2.1Tools and equipment are selected for specified use and are used safely and in accordance with workplace procedures.
2.2Plant positions are marked out at pre-determined spacings.
2.3Planting holes are dug large enough for plant rootball and hole bottom prepared to accept plant.
2.4Plant roots are irrigated, container or packaging is removed, and any circling or damaged roots are pruned or teased-out in preparation for planting.
2.5Plant is visually checked for defects in accordance with workplace procedures, and any defects are reported prior to final placement.
Rangedefects may include but not limited to – damage, deadwood, disease and pests.
2.6Plant is placed in centre of hole to original depth, upright, in correct orientation and with roots evenly spread as appropriate.
2.7Any stakes required are driven alongside rootball minimising damage to plant.
2.8Slow release fertilisers or other amendments are added to backfill soil before placement and firming around rootball.
2.9Plant is watered to settle soil and moisten to depth of rootball.
2.10When required, plant stem is tied to stakes to provide support and stability without damage to the plant.
2.11Tools and equipment are cleaned of all residues and stored, in accordance with workplace procedures.
Outcome 3
Care for newly planted trees, shrubs, and climbing plants.
Rangefor a specific area of trees, shrubs, and climbing plants; for a period of eight weeks.
Evidence requirements
3.1Tools and equipment are selected for specified use and are used safely, and in accordance with workplace procedures.
3.2Weeds are controlled by cultural, physical, or chemical methods.
3.3Watering programme maintains soil moisture to at least depth of root growth, in accordance with workplace procedures.
3.4Side dressings of fertilisers are applied, in accordance with workplace procedures and manufacturer's recommendations.
3.5Plant growth is monitored and maintained, in accordance with workplace procedures.
Rangeremoval of unwanted or damaged growth, pest and disease control, pruned to maintain shape or to encourage desirable growth.
3.6Planted area and surrounding paths or lawns are kept clean of rubbish and plant debris, and waste is disposed of, in accordance with workplace procedures.
3.7Tools and equipment are cleaned of all residues and stored, in accordance with workplace procedures.
Replacement information / This unit standard and unit standard 21027 replaced unit standard 1666 and unit standard 1671.This unit standard was replaced by unit standard 29663.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 27 July 2005 / 31 December 2020
Revision / 2 / 24 February 2006 / 31 December 2020
Review / 3 / 20 June 2008 / 31 December 2020
Review / 4 / 20 October 2016 / 31 December 2020
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0032
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Primary Industry Training OrganisationSSB Code 101558 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut