SENIOR GARDENER
Senior Gardener is a local-government title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
Candidates need 2 years of relevant experience and a professional license.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
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Senior Gardener is a local service title. It is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, not by State departments. Those employers set pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule, which is why most local titles carry no salary range here.
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Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction, takes the lead in performing gardening and groundskeeping work; plants, transplants, fertilizes, applies chemicals, waters, prunes, and weeds flower beds and plant areas; maintains bushes, trees, and shrubs; may manage greenhouse operations; performs other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Takes the lead in organizing assigned gardening work, analyzing gardening problems, and developing effective work methods.
- Prepares soil and plots of ground for planting.
- Sows and harvests seeds.
- Marks out borders, beds, and areas for planting.
- Transplants plants and seedlings.
- Prepares cold frames.
- Raises plants in the greenhouses.
- Weeds flower beds, vegetable areas, and borders.
- Sprays flower and vegetable plants, and fruit trees.
- Prunes and clips shrubbery, bushes, and hedges.
- Harvests and stores garden crops.
- Seeds, waters, sods, mows, rakes, and trims lawns and grass plots.
- Cuts flowers for table and indoor use.
- Harvests seeds, makes cutting and slips.
- Ensures the proper care of equipment, tools, and supplies.
- Mixes sprays and other solutions.
- Fertilizes plants.
- Prepares reports and maintains essential records and files.
- Provides guidance and instructions to assigned personnel.
- Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Experience
Two (2) years of experience in the planting and maintenance of lawns, flowers, and shrubs.
License
Appointees may be required to possess valid licensure and certification as a Commercial Pesticide Applicator in one or more categories pertinent to the position. The Appointing Authority is responsible for certification and license verification.
Appointees may be required to obtain valid licensure and certification as a Commercial Pesticide Applicator in one or more categories pertinent to the position. Licensure and certification must be obtained within a specific timeframe designated by the appointing authority.
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of gardening and groundskeeping practices.
- Knowledge of the equipment, materials, and supplies used in large-scale gardening.
- Knowledge of the use of insecticides, fertilizers, and other sprays.
- Knowledge of the methods used to plant and care for flowers, plants, shrubbery, lawns, and other garden vegetation.
- Knowledge of the planning of large-scale gardening work.
- Knowledge of the preparation and use of cold frames and greenhouses.
- Ability to plant and care for flowers, plants, shrubbery, lawns, and other garden vegetation.
- Ability to analyze, comprehend, and interpret gardening problems likely to be encountered in work on the grounds or institutional grounds.
- Ability to perform the work involved in sowing seeds and planting, transplanting, growing, fertilizing, and harvesting flowers, shrubs, vegetables, berries, and fruit.
- Ability to prepare reports and maintain essential records and files.
- Ability to provide guidance and instruction to assigned employees . Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.