Nursery and Greenhouse Managers

• Identify plants as well as problems such as diseases, weeds, and insect pests.
• Tour work areas to observe work being done, to inspect crops, and to evaluate plant and soil conditions.
• 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.
• Apply pesticides and fertilizers to plants.
• Hire employees, and train them in gardening techniques.
• Explain and enforce safety regulations and policies.
• Position and regulate plant irrigation systems, and program environmental and irrigation control computers.
• Determine types and quantities of horticultural plants to be grown, based on budgets, projected sales volumes, or executive directives.
• Select and purchase seeds, plant nutrients, disease control chemicals, and garden and lawn care equipment.
• Inspect facilities and equipment for signs of disrepair, and perform necessary maintenance work.
• Coordinate clerical, record-keeping, inventory, requisitioning, and marketing activities.
• Prepare soil for planting, and plant or transplant seeds, bulbs, and cuttings.
• Confer with horticultural personnel to plan facility renovations or additions.
• Cut and prune trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants.
• Provide information to customers on the care of trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, and lawns.
• Construct structures and accessories such as greenhouses and benches.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Nursery and Greenhouse Managers.

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Nursery and Greenhouse Managers.