Nursery Workers

Description

Work in nursery facilities or at customer location planting, cultivating, harvesting, and transplanting trees, shrubs, or plants.

Tasks

  • Plant, spray, weed, fertilize, and water plants, shrubs, and trees, using hand tools and gardening tools.
  • Harvest plants, and transplant or pot and label them.
  • Feel plants' leaves and note their coloring to detect the presence of insects or disease.
  • Operate tractors and other machinery and equipment to fertilize, cultivate, harvest, and spray fields and plants.
  • Inspect plants and bud ties to assess quality.
  • Dig, cut, and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees, and shrubs.
  • Move containerized shrubs, plants, and trees, using wheelbarrows or tractors.
  • Clean work areas, and maintain grounds and landscaping.
  • Haul and spread topsoil, fertilizer, peat moss, and other materials to condition soil, using wheelbarrows or carts and shovels.
  • Maintain and repair irrigation and climate control systems.
  • Record information about plants and plant growth.
  • Sell and deliver plants and flowers to customers.
  • Fill growing tanks with water.
  • Tie and bunch flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees; wrap their roots; and pack them into boxes to fill orders.
  • Regulate greenhouse conditions, and indoor and outdoor irrigation systems.
  • Dig, rake, and screen soil; and fill cold frames and hot beds in preparation for planting.
  • Dip cut flowers into disinfectant, count them into bunches, and place them in boxes to prepare them for storage and shipping.
  • Sow grass seed, or plant plugs of grass.
  • Maintain inventory, ordering materials as required.
  • Cut, roll, and stack sod.
  • Provide information and advice to the public regarding the selection, purchase, and care of products.
  • Fold and staple corrugated forms to make boxes used for packing horticultural products.
  • Trap and destroy pests such as moles, gophers, and mice, using pesticides.
  • Graft plants and trees into different rootstock to reduce disease by inserting and tying buds into incisions in rootstock.

Knowledge

Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Skills

Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities

Static Strength
The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Trunk Strength
The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Extent Flexibility
The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Multilimb Coordination
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Stamina
The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Work Activities

Handling and Moving Objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Performing General Physical Activities
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Work Context

Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (e.g., structure with roof but no walls)?
Outdoors, Exposed to Weather
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

Interests

Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Artistic
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Style

Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Self Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Work Values

Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Recognition
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Lay Titles

Baller
Budder
Bulb Packer
Bulb Planter
Bulb Weeder
Caretaker
Cutter
Field Hand
Florist Helper
Flower Cutter
Flower Picker
Flower Planter
Flower Stripper
Garden Center Employee
Geranium Specialist
Grafter
Greenhouse Assistant
Greenhouse Helper
Greenhouse Laborer
Greenhouse Manager
Greenhouse or Nursery Transplanter
Greenhouse Worker
Ground Worker
Groundman
Grower
Hand Cultivator
Harvester
Herb Digger
Herb Specialist
Horticultural Specialty Grower
Horticultural Worker
Horticulture Worker
Laborer
Landscape Foreman
Nursery Harvester
Nursery Laborer
Nursery Plant Maintainer
Nursery Worker
Nurseryman Assistant
Orchid Hand
Orchid Transplanter
Packer
Picker
Plant Production Worker
Planting Material Carrier
Planting Material Remover
Planting Material Unloader
Potter
Propagation Worker
Propagator Laborer
Replanter
Replanting Machine Crew
Sprinkling Worker
Transplant Worker
Transplanter
Tree Surgeon Helper
Tree Wrapper
Watering Worker
Weeder

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):
$8.98 hourly, $18,670 annual.
Employment (2008):
253,670 employees