Plan, organize, direct, control, and coordinate activities of workers engaged in propagating, cultivating, and harvesting horticultural specialties, such as trees, shrubs, flowers, mushrooms, and other plants.

Graft plants. Inspect facilities and equipment for signs of disrepair, and perform necessary maintenance work. Negotiate contracts such as those for land leases or tree purchases. Position and regulate plant irrigation systems, and program environmental and irrigation control computers. Prepare soil for planting, and plant or transplant seeds, bulbs, and cuttings. Provide information to customers on the care of trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, and lawns. Assign work schedules and duties to nursery or greenhouse staff, and supervise their work. Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules. Determine types and quantities of horticultural plants to be grown, based on budgets, projected sales volumes, and/or executive directives. Explain and enforce safety regulations and policies. Hire employees, and train them in gardening techniques. Identify plants as well as problems such as diseases, weeds, and insect pests. Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research. Select and purchase seeds, plant nutrients, disease control chemicals, and garden and lawn care equipment. Tour work areas to observe work being done, to inspect crops, and to evaluate plant and soil conditions. Apply pesticides and fertilizers to plants. Confer with horticultural personnel in order to plan facility renovations or additions. Construct structures and accessories such as greenhouses and benches. Coordinate clerical, recordkeeping, inventory, requisitioning, and marketing activities. Cut and prune trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants.

Administration and Management -- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. Biology -- Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment. Personnel and Human Resources -- Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems. English Language -- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 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. Education and Training -- Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. Production and Processing -- Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Management of Personnel Resources -- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. Time Management -- Managing one's own time and the time of others. Management of Financial Resources -- Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures. Judgment and Decision Making -- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. Coordination -- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. Speaking -- Talking to others to convey information effectively. Science -- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. Mathematics -- Using mathematics to solve problems. Reading Comprehension -- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Complex Problem Solving -- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Oral Expression -- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. Written Comprehension -- The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. Oral Comprehension -- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. Written Expression -- The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. Number Facility -- The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly. Inductive Reasoning -- The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). Deductive Reasoning -- The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates -- Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. Communicating with Persons Outside Organization -- Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others -- Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. Staffing Organizational Units -- Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization. Getting Information -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. 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. Monitoring and Controlling Resources -- Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money. Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems