A professional who cares for ornamental plants on various customer premises, applying knowledge of horticultural requirements, and using items such as insecticides, fertilizers, and gardening tools. Respnsibilities include:

• Reads work orders and supply requisitions to determine job requirements, and confers with supervisor to clarify work procedures.
• Loads plants and supplies onto truck in order of scheduled stops, using handtruck.
• Drives truck to premises and carries needed supplies to work area.
• Examines plants and soil to determine moisture level, using water sensor gauge, and waters plants according to requirements of species, using hose and watering can.
• Sponges plant leaves to apply moisture and remove dust.
• Observes plants under magnifying glass to detect insects and disease, and consults plant care books or confers with supervisor to identify problems and determine treatments.
• Selects and applies specified chemical solutions to feed plants, kill insects, and treat diseases, using hose or mist-sprayer.
• Transplants root-bound plants into larger containers.
• Pinches and prunes stems and leaves to remove dead and diseased leaves, to shape plants, and to induce growth, using shears.
• Removes diseased and dying plants from premises and replaces them with healthy plants.
• Informs customer of plant care needs.
• Enters record of actions taken at each stop in route book and prepares requisitions for materials needed on subsequent visit.
• Returns diseased, dying, and unused plants and supplies to employer premises.