Nursery Worker

Full Time: Yes

Number of Workers Requested: 7

Job Duties: Crops/Commodities: nursery trees, plants, shade and ornamental trees. Duties, Functions and Responsibilities: Includes some or all of the following. Other duties may be assigned. Haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, and other materials. Dig, rake and screen soil, and fill cold frames and hot beds to prepare for planting. Fill water and other tanks. Plant, spray, weed and water plants, shrubs, and trees. Sow grass seed and plant plugs of sod and cut, roll, and stack sod. Prepare scion and tie buds to assist worker. Trap and poison pests such as moles, gophers and mice. Plant shrubs and plant in containers. Tie, bunch, wrap and pack flowers, plants, shrubs and trees to fill orders. Move containerized shrubs and trees. Dig up shrubs and trees and wrap their roots with burlap. Fold and staple corrugated forms to make boxes used for packing horticultural products. Follow all company policies, procedures and work rules. React appropriately in an emergency situation. Perform all duties as required. Report timely and accurately to supervisor. Prepare fields/soil for planting. Remove cull stock, debris, tree stumps, brush, ferns, vines and other growth from planting area using tractor, mattocks, brush hooks and/or axes. Plant, cultivate and maintain nursery stock and/or bedding plants in condition for shipping and sale to customers. Pot seedlings or ‘liners' by hand or mechanical planter. Propagate plants from cuttings. Perform general plant maintenance. Prune, trim, space, transplant and cull plants to ensure availability of marketable products. Irrigate and apply fertilizer. Pack, label, tag, pull, and store plants by variety. Count, grade, and inventory plants. Prepare plants for digging by tying or wrapping as necessary. Dig plants. Drum lacing and quarter lacing. Wrap burlap or other covering around root balls and secure with twine and/or staples. Crimp wire baskets. Must understand nursery quality control standards and have working knowledge of production procedures. Must harvest crops according to specific standards. Must select and harvest crops pursuant to customer needs. Products must be handled carefully to prevent damage. Work is done in the field for long periods of time. Workers may assist in handling product weighing up to 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers must work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Work required in fields when plants are wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours can range from 10 to over 100 degrees F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Workers should be able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations. Grade, size, and sort product according to color, shape, size, appearance, feel, and/or quality, in accordance with supervisor's instructions and employer standards. Inspect products for damage/defects and discard inferior products and foreign matter. Place product in bins/trays and other containers according to grade and mark grades on containers. Weigh products and record weight and/or grade. Handle product carefully to prevent damage. Operate equipment safely, with or without direction. Must follow quality control standards and production procedures. Clean/sanitize work station and equipment. Must have sufficient hand and finger dexterity to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. Must be able to differentiate colors, textures, and other attributes of product to distinguish varieties and identify defects.

Job Classification: 45-2092.00 - Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

Experience Required: Yes

Months of Experience Required: 2

Special Requirements: This job requires a minimum of 2 months of agricultural experience working in a nursery handling both manual and mechanized tasks. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire, post-accident, upon suspicion, and random drug testing required. Criminal background check required.

Number of Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule (Start/End time): 7:00 A.M. - 2:30 P.M.