Nursery Workers

Job description

Perform manual and mechanized tasks associated with the indoor and outdoor production of containerized horticultural products. Plant, cultivate, and maintain nursery stock, trees, shrubs, bedding plants, plugs, liners, vegetable plants and other horticultural varieties. Prepare and clean production beds. 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. Plant/pot seedlings or ‘liners’ by hand or mechanical planter, fill and label trays/containers, and move product to/from greenhouses and loading/unloading areas. Attach hangers to baskets and hang throughout holding houses. Move containerized plants using rolling/gas powered carts. Load/unload trucks and product. Install/remove plastic coverings. Perform general plant maintenance. Irrigate and apply fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions. Stake, 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 plants for harvest. Cut trees using axe or chainsaw. Drag cut trees from cutting area. Wrap burlap or other covering around root balls and secure with twine and/or stapes. Pack, label, tag, pull, sort, and store plants by variety. Crimp wire baskets. Operate, install, move and maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Dig and maintain ditches. Mow, cut, and weed fields. Use hand tools including but not limited to rakes, hoes, tractors, mattocks, brush hooks and/or axes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Operate, clean and maintain nursery vehicles and equipment. Assist with nursery building/field sanitation, maintenance and repairs. Build/repair fences/greenhouses/nursery facilities. Workers that have proper documentation/licenses may haul product to market. Workers who have a valid driver’s license and doctor’s certificate may drive employer’s vans or other transportation vehicles to 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.

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 should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer's control. These periods can occur anytime throughout the season. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and different tasks on different days.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a two day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the introductory period if the worker’s performance fails to satisfy the employer’s reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable.

Special Requirements

Three months of verifiable nursery work experience required. Work outdoors in inclement weather conditions. Work requires repetitive movements, physical stamina, and frequent standing, brisk walking, reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing/pulling and lifting, carrying and loading up to 60 lbs. Employer is a drug free workplace. Drug testing is conducted post-hire at the employers expense and is not part of the interview process.