Nursery Workers

Job description

Perform manual and mechanized tasks associated with the outdoor production of horticultural products. Plant, cultivate, and maintain bare root crepe myrtle liners. Prepare fields/soil for planting. Remove cull stock, debris, tree stumps, brush, ferns, vines and other growth from planting area using hand tools or mechanized equipment (rakes, shovels, hoes, tractors, mattocks, brush hooks and/or axes). Plant/pot seedlings or ‘liners’ by hand or mechanical planter. Propagate plants from cuttings. Prepare trees for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary. Hand dig trees and other plants with shovel or tree spade. Perform general plant maintenance. Irrigate and apply fertilizers, pesticides and/or herbicides. Train, prune, trim, shear, space, transplant and cull trees and/or plants to ensure availability of marketable products. Shear trees with proper taper and bud cut angle for quality. Tie/position trees and plants by tying or wrapping as necessary. Count, inventory, and grade trees. Select trees for cutting according to grade. Bale trees using tree baler. Wrap burlap or other covering around root balls and secure with twine and/or staples. Pack, label, tag, pull, sort, and store plants according to supervisor’s instructions. Clean/maintain work areas, buildings and equipment. Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Dig and maintain ditches. Mow, cut, and weed fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Assist with nursery building/field maintenance and repairs. Repair fences. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker’s ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker’s Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break.

Reasonable Expectations: All workers are subject to qualitative performance evaluation relative to employer’s reasonable expectations. In assessing worker performance, employer evaluates whether the worker: (1) adequately complies with the Work Rules and any other policies or procedures disclosed to worker; (2) complies with all health and safety guidelines, including proper use of tools or equipment according to operating instructions and best practices designed to protect employer’s property, crops, and avoid injury or damage; (3) treats company property (tools, equipment, crops, fixtures, etc.) with care and respect, avoiding damage or improper cleanliness or maintenance standards; (4) timely and consistently follows instructions duly communicated by supervisors and other management personnel; (5) adheres to employer’s quality control standards for ensuring a marketable product, avoiding crop damage, etc.; (6) reports to work consistently at the time and place instructed, and remains at work for the agreed-upon work hours unless such absence is excused or approved in advance;

Special Requirements

One month of nursery experience required. Work outside in inclement weather conditions. Lift, carry, load and unload up to 50 lbs. Walk, bend, stoop and reach repetitively. Climb ladders up to 8 ft. Work on knees to prune trees for prolonged periods of time. Employer is a drug-free workplace. Drug testing is conducted post-hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process.