Nursery Workers

Job description

Use garden tools and equipment to plant, transplant, and cultivate containerized shrubs, grasses, trees, flowering perennials and annuals and fill nursery orders in accordance with specifications provided by the supervisor. Use gardening tools including hammers, trimmers, power shears, pruning shears, shears, ladders, shovels, rakes, staplers, and assorted hand tools to perform nursery activities. Prepare planting areas by removing weeds, old/dead plants, debris, sticks and rocks. Lay plastic, measure planting areas, and insert stakes and string for spacing. Dig, cut and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees and shrubs. Load and unload nursery commodities, tools and materials. Weed, trim, sheer, prune and shape plants, shrubs and trees. Weed and trim plant cutting beds. Count and check pots, plants and materials. Transplant or pot, space, label and tag plants. Mix potting soil and fill trays. Handle mulch, haul and spread soil, peat moss, fertilizer and other materials to condition soil using carts, shovels, wheelbarrows and tractors. Inspect the color and condition of plants and bud ties to assess quality and to detect the presence of insects or disease. Inform supervisors of the presence of insects, disease or quality concerns. Consolidate plants. Move containerized shrubs, plants and trees by hand or using tractors. Stack, rack, and move nursery commodities. Propagate plants from cuttings. Plant seeds and cuttings into pots and trays. Apply bamboo to ensure quality of plants. Jam plants, gently spread cloth over plants and anchor edges of cloth to implement freeze protection. Work with other workers to cover greenhouses. Cover greenhouses with plastic and implement freeze protection measures. Must assure accurate identification and count of plants when pulling orders to load onto delivery trucks. Select, harvest, prepare and load plants for shipping. Operate, clean, maintain, repair and install irrigation. Regulate, maintain and repair greenhouse conditions and indoor and outdoor irrigation systems. Apply pesticides and herbicides. Trap and destroy pests. Assist in construction of nursery buildings and repair nursery facilities. Operate, repair, clean and maintain nursery vehicles and equipment. Workers must use extreme care while handling plants so no harm is caused to the plants and may only hold them by the container. Workers are also responsible for nursery sanitation duties including cleaning and maintaining work areas, sanitizing greenhouses, picking up trash and sweeping floors. Workers must maintain sales yard. Using the employer's vehicles, licensed drivers may transport workers and 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. All employees will receive a paid holiday of 8 hours on April 7, 2023.

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. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. 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.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a 2 day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks.

Special Requirements

Three months of nursery work experience required. Lift, carry and load up to 50 pound bags of fertilizer or potted plants. Work outside in extremely hot, cold and/or wet conditions. Walk, stand, reach, kneel, bend and stoop for extended periods of time. Must be 18 or older. Employer is a drug and alcohol-free workplace. Drug testing is conducted post-hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process. Negative results are required prior to starting work.