Professional Summary
Experienced landscaper with a career spanning hard landscaping, planting design, and grounds maintenance across northwest Switzerland. Specializes in natural stone construction, native flora establishment, and water-efficient irrigation systems tailored to regional terrain and climate conditions.
Experience
Rheinkiesel Gartenbau AG
Basel
Head Landscaper
Apr 2018 – Present
- Supervise daily horticultural operations and hardscaping installations across urban gardens and residential estates in Basel-Stadt.
- Construct dry-stone retaining walls, natural sandstone pathways, and timber garden structures conforming to regional drainage standards.
- Implement planting plans emphasizing drought-tolerant perennials and native Swiss flora, reducing supplemental irrigation requirements.
- Direct on-site apprentices and team members in proper pruning methods, soil grading, and mechanical equipment maintenance.
Grünwerk Landschaftspflege GmbH
Allschwil
Senior Landscape Specialist
Mar 2012 – Mar 2018
- Carried out hard and soft landscaping contracts for corporate grounds and residential communities across Basel-Landschaft.
- Installed subterranean drip irrigation networks and programmed automated timing systems across private grounds.
- Restored established hedges, specimen trees, and perennial borders following heritage landscape conservation practices.
- Operated mini-excavators, turf cutters, and compaction machinery safely within tight residential boundaries.
Education
Gartenbauschule Oeschberg
Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training · Horticulture and Landscaping (Gärtnerin EFZ) · Koppigen, Switzerland · Passed with distinction · Aug 1978 – Jul 1981
Completed comprehensive vocational training combining botanical science, soil mechanics, nursery cultivation, and practical stonemasonry.
Projects
St. Alban Courtyard Grounds Restoration
May 2021 – Nov 2021
- Directed the revitalization of a 600-square-metre private heritage courtyard using reclaimed regional sandstone and historical perennial plantings.
- Integrated permeable gravel sub-bases and hidden drainage channels to prevent standing water during heavy seasonal downpours.
Skills
Hardscaping & Stonework
Planting Plan Execution
Automated Irrigation Systems
Soil Cultivation & Grading
Compact Excavator Operation
Specimen Tree & Shrub Pruning
Native Flora Identification
Pest & Disease Management
Site Drainage & Erosion Control
Languages
German
C2
English
C1
French
B1
Certifications
Professional Pesticide Application Permit
Federal Office for the Environment · Jun 2015
Compact Earthmoving Machinery Operation Certificate
SUVA · Sept 2013
Community Involvement
Basel Urban Greening Initiative
Basel · Mar 2019 – Present
- Volunteer Grounds Advisor
- Advise neighborhood associations on cultivating shared raised planter beds and pollinator-friendly native wildflower strips.