Nursery Workers

Number of Workers Requested:  26

Crops/Commodities: wholesale trees and shrubs. Plant, cultivate and maintain nursery stock, trees, shrubs, bedding plants, plugs, liners, 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 product, materials and/or supplies onto/of off trucks/trailers. Install/remove plastic coverings. Perform general plant maintenance. Remove fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots-suckers. Irrigate and apply fertilizer or other chemicals. Maintain irrigation systems. Train, prune, trim, thin, 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. Regroup trees. Stake, tie and position trees and plants by tying or wrapping as necessary. Count, inventory, and grade trees. Select trees for cutting according to grade. Cut trees using axe or chainsaw. Drag cut trees from cutting area. Bale trees using tree baler. Wrap burlap or other covering around root balls and secure with twine and/or staples. Pack, label, tag, pull, sort, and store plants by variety. Crimp wire baskets. Perform manual and mechanized tasks associated with the indoor and outdoor production of horticultural products. 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. Operate and maintain agricultural equipment. 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. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Repair fences. Workers with proper documentation, license, experience and qualify for insurance coverage may operate vehicle to transport workers and may be offered additional hours. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Supervisor(s) will provide instructions and directions to workers. Workers must be able to comprehend and follow instructions and communicate effectively to supervisors. Unusual, complex or non-routine activities will be supervised. Workers expected to, individually or within a team, perform basic duties in a proficient manner without close supervision. 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.