Muziwandile Khethwa Hlabe
K484 Nkankane Road, Kwa Mashu, Durban
Summary
Hardworking Gardener skilled in designing and maintaining landscaping work for diverse customers.
Well-versed in keeping business operations cost-effective and customer satisfaction high.
Effectively used power tools and equipment to maintain healthy plants.
History of working alone or with performance-oriented teams to complete more than 5 weekly jobs.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Landscape Maintenance Supervisor
Burgess Landscapes
Pinetown
08.2021 - 08.2022
- Removed and disposed of plant debris from work sites to keep areas safe and well-organized.
- Operated landscaping equipment with focus on safety and machine longevity.
- Maintained routine landscaping schedules to boost lawn health.
- Provided expert lawn care, mulching, aerating and trimming around walks, walls and flower beds.
- Identified and removed invasive plants and noxious weeds for garden aesthetics and ecosystem health.
- Monitored weekly and daily scheduled tasks to achieve desired workflow speed.
- Applied weed and pest control chemicals to lawns, protecting grass growth and improving appearance.
- Enhanced visibility and improved tree and bush shape through intentional pruning.
- Mixed and sprayed fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides onto shrubs, trees and grass.
- Inspected machinery to spot damage and note needed maintenance repairs.
- Answered questions and addressed customer concerns according to rigorous timetables, supporting diverse lawn health and landscape development requests.
- Rearranged planting beds and flower gardens seasonally.
- Diagnosed problems with equipment and performed regular maintenance for long-term functionality.
- Assisted with weekly project planning and crew scheduling.
- Diagnosed lawn and garden issues and recommended targeted solutions.
- Completed timesheets and project reports on time to maintain client files for future reference.
- Maximized water conservation, checking sprinkler spray angles and testing digital controller performance.
- Identified plant diseases and researched methods for mitigation.
- Assessed pest damage and safely used appropriate pesticides for mitigation and control.
- Educated employees and members of public on plant biology and health.
- Maintained grounds by trimming, weeding and general clean-up.
- Developed lasting customer relationships and grew network over time.
- Participated in seminars to better understand natural pest control products.
- The portfolio included leading South African 5 star Hotels, such as The Oyster Box, Beverly Hills, Cabbana Beach, Umhlanga Sands, all these located in Umhlanga, Durban.
- Used trimmers and chainsaws for grounds maintenance, brush clearing and tree removal and thinning.
- Planted bulbs, trees, bushes and flowers for residential and commercial clients.
- Mulched gardens, placed sod and adjusted soils to provide optimal growth potential.
Senior Associate
WNS Global
Riverhorse Valley
05.2017 - 07.2021
- Assigned tasks, reviewed performance and devised improvement plans or corrections.
- Developed junior team members and cultivated collaborative culture.
- Promptly addressed concerns, complaints and inquiries to meet customer satisfaction.
- Spoke to customers in native language to increase loyalty and establish relationships.
- Involved in customer interaction services, providing multi-channel support specifically to TELKOM customers on a wide range of product and service offerings and customer complaints resolutions.
Horticulture Intern
Ethekwini Municipality - Parks, Recreation & Culture
Durban
01.2016 - 07.2016
- Pulled orders quickly to maintain demanding productivity goals.
- Communicated with coworkers and management to report challenges.
- Carefully maintained plant health through watering and proper fertilization to minimize losses and waste.
- Pulled orders quickly to maintain demanding productivity goals.
- Communicated with coworkers and management to report challenges.
- Printed labels, packaged boxes and loaded into outbound containers.
- Carefully maintained plant health through watering and proper fertilization to minimize losses and waste.
- Opportunity to explore the various horticultural facilities available within the municipality.
- Stationed at different nursery sites, to observe plant propagation techniques (Sexual/Asexual) applied for various selections of plants in different propagation settings.
- Covered tropical indoor plants, trees, shrubs, palms, succulents, groundcovers, annuals and perennials.
- Exposed to intirior display (interiorscaping),
- Plant growing mediums and potting practices,
- Planting, watering and maintenance practices,
- Sports fields maintenance,
- Chemical spraying – insecticides, herbicides and safety practices,
- Basics to horticultural mechanization,
- Financial accountability and resources management.
- Productivity scheduling and reporting.
- Tissue culture: micro propagation processes, tissue culture growth medium preparation, laboratory hygiene and maintenance, growth room maintenance
- and preparation of production reports.
Customer Service Liaison
Builders Express
Umhlanga
01.2015 - 07.2015
- Maintained customer satisfaction with forward-thinking strategies focused on addressing customer needs and resolving concerns.
- Offered advice and assistance to customers, paying attention to special needs or wants.
- Provider gardening advice to customers.
- Generate revenue through awareness creation and or upselling on plant material and related horticultural products
- Stock replenishment, not limited to garden essential, tools and plant material from various suppliers
- Plant rehabilitation and quality management
- Nursery display and garden supply trends
Subject Matter Expert & Quality Assurance
Blake Connect
Mount Edgecombe
05.2007 - 02.2013
- Collaborated with senior management and business line management to identify and prioritize new concepts for development and launch.
- Developed business cases, presentations and reports for senior management.
- Documented client progress through case notes and documentation.
- Designed and prepared technical reports, studies and related documentation.
- Led corporate-wide initiatives to help guide enterprise and business level goals.
- Established extensive procedures and policies for troubleshooting and resolving hardware and software issues.
- Provided on floor assistance on all campaigns,
- and facilitated the maintenance of highest quality standards on calls with regards to product knowledge and usage, services, systems and language.
- Provide assistance to both client and consultant where language barriers occur.
Plant Production Supervisor
Ladybird Landscapes
Hillcrest
03.2004 - 07.2005
- Supervised ongoing daily production phases.
- Located and resolved problems with team production and performance to maintain consistent quality levels.
- Kept accurate and detailed records of personnel progress and productivity.
- Monitored daily and weekly key performance indicators to maintain on-track status.
- Planned, organized and monitored resources to deliver efficient use of labor, equipment and materials.
- Implemented policies and standard operating procedures for continuous improvement.
- Maximized productivity by keeping detailed records of daily progress and identifying and rectifying areas for improvement.
- Reviewed and assessed ongoing operations, developing initiatives for continuous process improvement.
- Increased customer satisfaction and grew business by maintaining close relationships with customers.
- Coordinated merchandising, promoted new products and increased brand awareness.
Horticultural Technician
Hornby Landscapes & Nursery
Assegai
02.2003 - 03.2004
- Completed hands-on crop production work for large-scale commercial cultivation operation.
- Helped keep facilities, equipment, and tools operational with regular repairs and proactive maintenance.
- Quickly learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
- Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Performed duties in accordance with applicable standards, policies and regulatory guidelines to promote safe working environment.
- Maintained energy and enthusiasm in fast-paced environment.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and fast-paced atmosphere.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Offered friendly and efficient service to customers, handled challenging situations with ease.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Managed a high yield success on plant production, identify and eradicate health problems in plants.
- Provide in-house advice on garden and plant trends.
- Delivering customer delight and satisfaction through quality sales and customer interactions.
- Maintaining a Professional environment and creative nursery displays (seasonal & themes)
Education
Short Courses & Certicicates -
Workplace Learning
In-house TrainingNational Diploma : Ornamental Horticulture - Faculty of Applied Sciences And Agriculture
University of South Africa
Durban Compass2019
Business Administration -
Sector Education And Training Authority
Mount Edgecombe12.2008
Organic Facilitation - Organic Farming
Rainman Landcare Foundation
Cliffdale12.2006
Senior Certificate -
Effingham Secondary School
Effingham Heights12.1998
Skills
- Responsible and Punctual
- Negotiation
- Strategic Planning
- Sales and Project Management
- Strong operations
- Plant Knowledge
- Lawn Care
- Tool Inventory
- Flower Bed Cleaning
- Pest Removal
- Lawn and Shrubbery Irrigation
- Trimming and Pruning
- Work Organization and Prioritization
- Routine Maintenance
- Commercial Landscaping
- Basic Stonework Design
- Project Scheduling
- Team Goals
- Chemical Applications
- Transplanting and Potting Plants
- Landscaping Design Review
- Hand and Power Tool Operation
- Conflict Resolution
- Flexible & Adaptable
- Active Listening
- MS Office
- Self-Motivated
- Decision Making
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Quote
We don’t understand life any better at forty than at twenty, but by then we realize it and admit it.
Jules Renard
Timeline
Landscape Maintenance Supervisor
Burgess Landscapes
08.2021 - 08.2022
Senior Associate
WNS Global
05.2017 - 07.2021
Horticulture Intern
Ethekwini Municipality - Parks, Recreation & Culture
01.2016 - 07.2016
Customer Service Liaison
Builders Express
01.2015 - 07.2015
Subject Matter Expert & Quality Assurance
Blake Connect
05.2007 - 02.2013
Plant Production Supervisor
Ladybird Landscapes
03.2004 - 07.2005
Horticultural Technician
Hornby Landscapes & Nursery
02.2003 - 03.2004
Short Courses & Certicicates -
Workplace Learning
National Diploma : Ornamental Horticulture - Faculty of Applied Sciences And Agriculture
University of South Africa
Business Administration -
Sector Education And Training Authority
Organic Facilitation - Organic Farming
Rainman Landcare Foundation
Senior Certificate -
Effingham Secondary School
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