Nursery Worker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
bushes, shrubs, perennials.
Perform manual and mechanized tasks associated with the indoor and outdoor production of horticultural products. Plant, cultivate, and maintain nursery stock, shrubs, bedding plants, plugs, liners, hanging baskets, greenhouse-grown specialty plants, and other horticultural varieties. Prepare fields/soil for planting. Plant/propagate plants. 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, fill and label trays, and move product to/from greenhouses and loading/unloading areas.. Prepare trees for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary. Hand dig trees and other plants with shovel or tree spade. Crimp wire baskets. Attach hangers to baskets and hang throughout holding houses. Move containerized plants using rolling/electric carts. Load/unload trucks and product from conveyor belt. Install/remove plastic coverings. Perform general plant maintenance. Irrigate and apply fertilizer or other chemicals. Maintain irrigation systems. Train, prune, trim, shear, space, transplant and/or plants to ensure availability of marketable products. Shear trees with proper taper and bud cut angle for quality. Tie/position plants by tying or wrapping as necessary. Count, inventory, and grade bushes, shrubs, and perennials. Select bushes, shrubs, and perennials for cutting according to grade. Pack, label, tag, pull, sort, and store plants by variety. Crimp wire baskets.

Perform manual and mechanized tasks associated with the production of greenhouse plants and other horticultural products. Plant, cultivate, and maintain nursery stock, shrubs, bedding plants, plugs, liners, hanging baskets, and other horticultural varieties. Propagate plants from cuttings. Plant/pot seedlings, fill and label trays, move product to/from greenhouses and/or loading/unloading areas. Crimp wire baskets. Attach hangers to baskets and hang throughout holding houses. Move containerized plants using rolling/electric carts. Load/unload trucks and product from conveyor belt. Install/remove plastic coverings. Clean/maintain work area.

Prune, trim, and perform other general plant maintenance. Water or irrigate plants, and apply fertilizer or other chemicals. Maintain irrigation systems. Tie/position plants by tying or wrapping as necessary. Wrap plants with burlap and other coverings as necessary. Pack, label, tag, pull, sort, and store plants by variety.

Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Dig and maintain ditches. Install and remove levee gates.

Apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Apply fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions.

Workers must operate all equipment properly and in a manner that protects operator, others, the employer's products and property. Failure to comply with safety requirements and operating instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination.

Mow, cut, and weed fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Repair fences.

Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or other durable foot wear. Workers wearing clothing inappropriate for work will not be permitted to start work.

Special Requirements

This job requires one month experience working on a nursery farm handling both manual and machine tasks associated with horticulture production and harvest activities. Workers must be able to perform all duties of entry level workers as well as perform additional mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs.