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Title / Establish and maintain amenity turf surfaces
Level / 2 / Credits / 7
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 soil for sowing turfgrass seed or laying turf: select appropriate turfgrass species and cultivar; sow turfgrass seed; lay turf; establish newly laid or sown turf area; and maintain established turf for twelve weeks.
Classification / Horticulture > Amenity Horticulture
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1This unit standard is not intended for people who intend to specialise in turf management. People working, or intending to work, in turf management should refer to unit standards from the Sports Turf subfield.
2The amenity turf establishment areas for this unit standard should be no less than five square metres.
3Workplace procedures refer to oral or written instructions to staff on procedures for the worksite and equipment.
4This unit standard is been based around outcomes previously covered in unit standard 1673.
5Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, and subsequent amendments.
6Work 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 soil surfaces for sowing turfgrass seed or laying turf.
Evidence requirements
1.1Weeds are controlled and surface debris is removed to prepare the soil for cultivation in accordance with workplace procedures.
1.2Soil is cultivated and consolidated to a depth and tilth suited to the requirements of the seed or turf and as specified on seed containers, or in accordance with workplace procedures.
1.3Seedbed is contoured to meet user needs in accordance with workplace procedures.
1.4Nutrient and moisture levels are suitable for seed germination or turf establishment as specified on seed containers, or in accordance with workplace procedures.
1.5Cultivation tools are cleaned and stored after use in accordance with workplace procedures.
Outcome 2
Select appropriate turfgrass species and cultivar.
Evidence requirements
2.1Turfgrass species and cultivar selection takes into consideration its suitability for the local climate and intended use.
Rangeuse – full exposure, light shading, heavy shading, occasional use, heavy use.
2.2Advantages and disadvantages of sowing turfgrass seed and laying turfing are compared in accordance with workplace procedures.
Rangemay include but are not limited to – labour, cost, machinery and equipment required, time constraints on surface usability.
Outcome 3
Sow turfgrass seed.
Evidence requirements
3.1Soil is moist to ensure successful establishment of seed.
3.2Amount of seed required is calculated in accordance with workplace procedures.
Rangemay include but not limited to – recommended sowing rate, area to be sown.
3.3Seed is sown uniformly in a prepared seedbed in accordance with workplace procedures.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – depth of sowing, seed size.
3.4Newly sown seed is watered in accordance with workplace procedures.
Outcome 4
Lay turf.
Evidence requirements
4.1Soil is moist to ensure successful establishment of turf.
4.2Upon receipt, turf is checked in accordance with workplace procedures to ensure it meets requirements in terms of the order that was placed and its intended use.
Rangechecks for – pests and diseases, species composition, turf mat and density, thatch, turf moisture content.
4.3Turf is laid uniformly on the prepared soil in accordance with workplace procedures.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – butted joints, alternating joints, turves are tamped down, screened soil used to fill in cracks, shaped, cut.
4.4Newly laid turf is watered in accordance with workplace procedures.
Outcome 5
Establish newly laid or sown turf areas.
Evidence requirements
5.1Conditions for successful establishment of turf are maintained in accordance with workplace procedures.
Rangemay include but are not limited to – moisture, protection, soil fertility, weed control, light, temperature, wind, mulch, consolidation.
5.2At least 85% of sown or 95% of laid turf species is established.
5.3Turf is first mown at a height appropriate to the species with subsequent mowings gradually reduced to the desired species optimum cutting range, in accordance with workplace procedures.
5.4Area is recommended for use once turf is fully established.
Outcome 6
Maintain established turf for a period of twelve weeks.
Evidence requirements
6.1Suitable growing conditions are maintained through monitoring soil moisture, soil aeration, and soil nutrients.
6.2Turf is kept healthy through maintenance of pest, disease, and weed control measures.
6.3Turf height and quality of cut is maintained in accordance with workplace procedures for turf maintenance.
6.4Selection of mower is in accordance with turf quality desired.
Rangereel, rotary.
Replacement information / This unit standard was replaced by unit standard 29666 and unit standard 29667.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 / 20 June 2008 / 31 December 2020
Review / 2 / 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 2019 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut