Gardener

Summary

About the Position: In this role, you will perform seasonal gardening tasks including fertilizing, preparing seedbeds, transplanting, pruning, and applying regulated chemicals. You will maintain the historic Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden and canal grounds, ensuring they are aesthetically pleasing through proper watering, lawn care, propagation, and irrigation operations.

Duties

• Plant, transplant and fertilize a large variety of shrubs, flowers, grasses and trees.
• Considers the seasonal schedules or project plans for their area, suitability of the weather, degree of moisture in the soil and stage of plant growth in deciding when and how they will do their work.
• Figures quantities of plants, seeds, fertilizer and other materials needed for specific areas.
• Prepares soil from instructions on the proper mixture of such materials as sand, topsoil and fertilizer.
• Trim and prune trees, shrubs, flowers, etc. to shape and remove excess growth.
• Prune trees to ensure proper balance between roots and upper growth.
• Adjust irrigation, fertilization and mineral content of soil to meet the requirements and characteristics of each type of plant, tree, shrub, or grass.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision. Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a(n) Gardener~ without more than normal supervision. I have the ability to perform common gardening and grounds maintenance tasks. I can perform horticultural upkeep tasks such as weeding, mowing, pruning, trimming, planting, watering, and applying fertilizer on a regular basis; perform grounds maintenance tasks; operate irrigation systems and operate power tools such as power sweepers, lawn mowers, blowers and sanders. I work under normal supervision of a work leader or journey-level employee who observes tasks in progress and upon completion to make they are properly performed. - Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating. Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (Screen-out Element) Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Dexterity and Safety Knowledge of Materials Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic) Use of Measuring Instruments PHYSICAL EFFORT: Incumbent exerts moderately heavy physical effort lifting objects from 40 to 80 pounds. The work requires frequent walking, standing, pushing of carts and wheelbarrows, bending and stooping. Occasionally climbs ladders to prune or trim vegetation and frequently lifts objects, such as bags of fertilizer, grasses, seeds, etc. Physical dexterity is needed to handle tools and work around machinery or equipment. WORKING CONDITIONS: Work may be done outside or in a greenhouse. While working outside is subject to discomfort from long periods in the hot and in chilly or rainy weather. Duties require exposure to dirt, dust, mud, and chemical sprays. May wear protective clothing, such as gloves, headgear, safety shoes, and boots. There is a chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes and occasionally the possibility of a more serious injury.

How to apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/08/2026 to receive consideration To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13047236). Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete. It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.