Assistant Gardener

Job Description

The American Horticultural Society (AHS), headquartered at River Farm in Alexandria, Virginia, is seeking a full-time Assistant Gardener who is dedicated and passionate about public horticulture and gardening. Reporting to the Head Horticulturist, he or she will work alongside the horticulture staff and assist with garden management and maintenance of this historic garden property. Duties and responsibilities include assisting with planting, watering, weeding, cultivating, and caring for trees, shrubs, flowers, and other flora, and helping with special events. These duties involve manual labor, exposure to adverse weather conditions (particularly heat and humidity), and to dirt and dust.

About Us

Founded in 1922, AHS is a national organization with approximately 22,000 members. Our national programs include the Great American Gardeners Awards, the National Children & Youth Garden Symposium, an educational travel program, and the AHS Garden Network, among others. The AHS publishes American Gardener magazine six times per year as a primary membership benefit. The AHS website (www.ahsgardening.org) offers resources to horticulturists, gardeners, and other constituents. AHS maintains an active presence across multiple social media platforms.
The Society is headquartered at River Farm, a 25-acre historic garden property overlooking the Potomac River in Alexandria, VA. By joining the AHS’s outstanding team of professionals, you can help share the critical role of plants, gardens, and green spaces in creating healthy, livable communities and a sustainable planet.

Duties & Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must perform essential duties to the expected performance standards.

The core duties and responsibilities include direct support of the River Farm Head Horticulturist in executing annual and seasonal plans for a variety of gardens. Duties can vary widely – on any given day, various tasks may be performed, such as:
Preparing soil, planting, mulching, staking, deadheading, pruning, watering, and fertilizing
General maintenance of gardens, including raking, trimming, sweeping, and cleaning
Pruning and grooming of trees, shrubs, and plants
Seed starting, direct seeding, plant cuttings, and transplanting
Operating and caring for hand tools and power garden tools
Under the supervision of horticultural staff, the Assistant Gardener will be expected to work with volunteers who may come to us as individuals or as part of a group
Must conduct herself or himself and perform all duties in a manner consistent with a public garden serving individuals and families, and in accordance with directed practices and procedures.
Must be aware of surroundings and vigilant to threats to the safety of visitors, volunteers, and staff or to the security of their property, ensuring that all concerns are reported promptly.
Given the nature of the position, work responsibilities may flex due to weather or other conditions.
Participate in group projects with other horticulture staff and in cross-departmental initiatives as needed
Assist with special events

Education and Experience

A passion for horticulture and plant collections, and a commitment to the “public” in public horticulture
Public garden experience is desired but not required
A degree in horticulture or demonstrated experience in a horticultural environment is desired
Three to five years of experience in gardening work, including planting, cultivating, and caring for trees, plants, and shrubs
Strong working knowledge of a variety of plants, plant materials, and grounds maintenance is a must
Ability to perform diverse, sometimes repetitive, tasks that can be physically demanding, including kneeling, bending, stooping, and reaching
Experience and willingness to operate or learn to operate landscaping machinery, tools, and equipment
Must be able to work independently and as part of a team
Customer-oriented, prompt, and friendly
A valid motor vehicle license
Good interpersonal skills

Additional Information

Ability to work in all types of weather, from heat to wind to wet and cold
Exposed to weather, dirt, waste, odors, wildlife, and potentially harmful insects (bees, hornets, wasps, etc.)
Physically able to bend over, kneel, or stand for extended periods of time, lift, push, pull objects up to 50 pounds safely

This is a full-time position based at the AHS headquarters at River Farm, Monday through Friday
Must be available for occasional evenings or weekend work, and participation in AHS / River Farm events (AHS Gala, Spring Garden Market, Summer Concert, and other events as needed)

Compensation
This is a full-time, non-exempt, hourly position that pays between $18.75 – $20.67 per hour based on experience
AHS offers generous vacation and sick time, 12 holidays, individual health, dental, and vision benefits, and a 403 (b) retirement contribution
Allowance for uniform equipment
Paid professional development

Application Instructions

To be considered, qualified candidates should email a resume and cover letter describing their experience and interest in the position to ptajat@ahsgardening.org, with the subject line: Assistant Gardener.

Please submit all materials in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word only. Please refrain from phone calls or other emails. The deadline for submitting materials is February 28, 2026. The ideal start date is March 15th, but it can be flexible. However, applicants will be considered on a rolling basis and are encouraged to apply early.