Nursery Workers

Job description

Perform manual labor related to the growing of nursery stock that will include some combination of the following: preparing fields for planting by clearing cull stock, brush and debris; planting seedlings or “liners” by hand (including riding and inserting liners in a mechanical planter); digging, loading, unloading or transplanting bare root nursery stock; straightening, tying, pruning and shearing trees and shrubs; cutting, pulling or removing and mowing weeds or grass; moving irrigation equipment; spraying herbicides and insecticides and applying fertilizer. While fertilizing, workers will be expected to pick up and carry 35 pounds of fertilizer and distribute it with a 4-ounce cup. Accurate and visual calibration and proper placement of fertilizer is required. Most fieldwork is performed in crews of 3 to 6 workers who will be required to maintain the pace of the average crewmember. Crew work may consist of hand hoeing around nursery stock. Weeds are to be removed by the root and not at ground level. Shearing conifers and evergreens must be performed with proper taper and angle of bud cut for quality.

Tasks related to harvest of nursery stock will include the following: taking inventory and grading plants; preparing trees and shrubs for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary; digging; drum lacing and quarter lacing; wrapping burlap or other covering around root balls and securing with twine and/or staples; crimping wire baskets; lifting, carrying and loading nursery stock and unloading, moving or loading supplies, including wire baskets. Hand digging of ornamental evergreens and conifers up to 5-6’ will be performed by 4-worker crews which will be expected to harvest between 40 and 45 plants per hour. Plants must be handled carefully to ensure that leaves, limbs and roots are not broken during digging, handling, wrapping and/or transplanting processes.

Workers must be able to perform all duties of entry level workers as well as perform additional mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency.

Mechanized tree spade helpers will work as part of a crew comprised of one operator and 2 or more helpers. The helper will remove the tree from the tree spade, tighten the burlap in an acceptable manner, crimp wire basket around the root ball, lace the top of ball with sisal twine and crimp basket to tighten twine. The employer expects tree spade crews to harvest between 18 and 40 trees per hour depending on size and variety.

Work will also include heavy mechanized fieldwork using power equipment. By way of example and not limitation power equipment may include power shears, chain saws, high lift and forklift, skid loader and tractors. Workers will be expected to be able to operate agricultural equipment with or without direction.

Other related tasks include, but are not limited to, watering in nurseries and seasonal holding houses, spacing, tagging and performing other plant maintenance. Load finished plants onto wagons and trucks. Remove plastic from hoop houses in spring and recover in fall, if necessary. Fill various size pots with soil and plants occasionally weighing as much as 75 pounds. Propagate plants from cuttings. Grafting and summer budding of dogwoods.

Workers who have a valid driver's license and doctor's certificate may drive vehicles and transport workers, and may be offered additional hours.

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.

Special Requirements

Minimum of three months of prior experience working in a field-grown tree and shrub nursery. Work on feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Workers are exposed to wet weather early in the morning through the heat of the day, working in fields. Temperatures may range from 10 to 100 F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop work activities. Lift and carry 75 lbs. Must be 18 years or older.