This book offers guidelines intended to help both new and experienced grounds managers create operational and staffing-level plans that can be the basis of discussion with all grounds management stakeholders. In its various chapters, the book: (1) explains the differences between zone and broadcast maintenance practices that are essential to plan development and implementation; (2) discusses five different levels of maintenance, each tailored to meet the expectations of stakeholders; (3) covers issues to consider when deciding whether to outsource all or part of the grounds maintenance function; (4) explains the importance of position descriptions and highlights trends in such descriptions to be found in the employment market today; and (5) details how to develop a benchmarking profile for a site. The book also examines environmental issues and laws that affect the legality of grounds maintenance operations. Appendices contain a glossary of terms, information on grounds management software, techniques for making an inventory of outdoor landscape areas, sample position descriptions, a publications directory, a list of professional organizations and associations, and a list of Cooperative Extension Service State Information specialists. (Contains 70 references.) (GR)