Nursery Technician

Working Schedule

• Nursery Technicians work full-time, and must be physically capable of standing, bending, stooping, and carrying up to 50 lbs while working with care. 

Typical Duties

• Take care of mother and clone plants in various settings, in accordance with training and regulations 
• Spread and plant seeds in soil, by hand or using a seed drill
• Work indoors inside greenhouses and outdoors to tend to outdoor plants, shrubs, and trees
• Water seeds and plants as they vegetate via top or bottom watering methods
• Mark seeded areas with flags
• Use suitable soil, fertilizer, and soil amendments
• Prune, plant, defoliate, and skirt plants and shrubs as needed
• Perform grafting and budding to join two plant types and form a single plant 
• Cut, roll, and stack sod (aka turf)
• Stake recently planted trees
• Package plants for transport
• Search for pests and use appropriate pesticides 
• Study causes of decay and report findings 
• Manage seed supply and other inventory ordering  as assigned
• Verify seed order weights and labels. Store in suitable containers under optimal temperature and moisture conditions
• Maintain a safe work environment, especially when handling sharp objects, pesticides, or other chemicals 
• Maintain accurate records 
• Comply with good manufacturing practices and standard operating procedures

Additional Responsibilities

• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment 
• Use caution around wet or damp floors which can be slippery
• Report unsafe conditions or concerns to a supervisor 
• Maintain sanitation and follow applicable biosecurity protocols
• Take care of tools, equipment, and machines. Report needed repairs or maintenance 
• Stay up to date on different strains and their unique requirements and growth patterns
• Gather samples for study, make observations, compile data, and enter it into appropriate software
• Maintain cleanliness of nurseries and labs
• Utilize meteorological instruments to assess climate conditions 

Soft Skills

• Accuracy 
• Analytical
• Detail-oriented
• Good communicator 
• Independent 
• Initiative
• Methodical 
• Organized
• Patient
• Reliable 
• Resourceful
• Sound judgment and decision-making
• Time management 

Technical Skills

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to pass background checks, as needed
• Ability to stand, sit, stoop, and kneel for long periods
• Basic arithmetic and computer skills 
• Basic research and measurement-taking skills 
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices 
• Knowledge of nursery operations
• Minimum age of 21 (for some jobs)
• No or manageable allergies 
• Tolerance of relatively high temperatures and high humidity
• Valid driver’s license (for some jobs)

• Crop production facilities 
• Animal production and aquaculture
• Wholesale trade companies
• Other support activities, including college research sites

Nursery Technicians may work with plants used not only for house and garden ornaments but also for medicinal and wellness purposes. Like any product that will be consumed by people, such plants must be handled in strict accordance with various regulations. This may require maintaining specific environmental conditions while wearing protective gear and closely following standard operating procedures. 

Nursery Techs stay physically active, often standing, stooping, or kneeling for most of the day. They may need to lift, carry, and use wheelbarrows to transport soil, fertilizer, compost, plants, trees, and chemicals around. If working outdoors, they’re exposed to various weather conditions, whereas inside greenhouses they often have to deal with hot temperatures and high humidity! 

Flower, plant, and tree sales tend to go up when the housing market is healthy, however, that market is currently somewhat rocky due to high prices and interest rates. Despite this, the nursery and garden stores industry is doing well in 2023, valued at an estimated $42.5 billion. So just imagine—once the housing market stabilizes, the nursery industry may skyrocket even higher than it already is! 

As trends in environmentalism grow, a range of gardeners seek to build habitats to attract particular birds, butterflies, and even insects! Meanwhile, many consumers are investing in “instant garden” projects. This adds extra labor (and thus more jobs) for nurseries that grow the plants up to a certain point, so buyers can save time. Another trend is the increasing pressure to find ways to conserve water through “water-wise gardens” and “drought-tolerant” plants.

Nursery Technicians may have always had a “green thumb,” loving to work outdoors growing their own gardens or tending to a variety of indoor houseplants. They may have felt in tune with nature, enjoying the relaxation that has been proven to come from working with plants. Because of the rules and routines involved with taking care of nursery seeds, plants, shrubs, and trees, technicians may have also been very orderly when growing up.