Assistant Horticulturist – Seasonal
Employment Type
Job (Full-time)Job Categories
Horticulture
Job Description
We are seeking seasonal assistant horticulturists who have a keen interest in assisting with the care and maintenance of our gardens for the 2025 season, from March through October 31.
About Us
Come join our team in 2025!
Located in beautiful Harford County, MD, Ladew Topiary Gardens is a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to maintain and promote the gardens, house and facilities in keeping with the creative spirit of Harvey S. Ladew for the public benefit and for educational, scientific and cultural pursuits.” Ladew’s grounds cover 250 acres, including formal gardens and an educational trail system through natural habitats including forest, meadows and wetlands.
Duties & Responsibilities
Working interactively with garden staff members, volunteers and visitors in a welcoming and customer service-oriented manner, the Assistant Horticulturist responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Assist with the routine care for diverse plantings of trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, grasses, and bulbs across Ladew’s twenty- two acres of formal gardens
• Perform seasonal garden tasks including hand watering and monitoring irrigation of plantings, especially during time of establishment and drought
• Perform seasonal landscape work including planting, weeding, mulching, pruning, bulb planting, dividing and transplanting, pond maintenance, leaf removal
• Assist Horticulture team by performing duties in a collaborative and engaging manner working with other members of the Ladew team including seasonal staff, interns and volunteers to meet departmental and organizational goals with the explicit intent of preserving Harvey Ladew’s overall design intent, interpretation, and vision of his gardens
• Perform weekly push mowing and detailed string trimming and edging utilizing equipment in a proper and safe manner
• General clean-up of garden beds and paths, clean-up of litter
• Stage equipment, supplies, and materials for daily horticulture operations
• Participate in snow and ice removal, as needed
• Maintain tools and equipment used in a safe and preserving manner to ensure tools and equipment are in the most appropriate form for use
• Participate in special events, as scheduled, and assist with preparation and setup/cleanup of these special events, as directed
• Support peers and staff in achieving overall institutional goals
Education and Experience
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Experience in garden maintenance and requisite tools as well as techniques required
• Participation in a horticulture or related program and/or a strong interest in gardening preferred
• Dependable and willing to commit to a schedule that is mutually agreed upon to ensure consistency with our garden maintenance staff
• Proven successful track record of operating in a collaborative manner in a team environment and ensuring that accountability for assigned tasks are completed
• Responsible, positive attitude and organized work habits
• Work effectively in a setting with multiple constituents: visitors, staff, board members and volunteers
• Enthusiastic about the goals and mission of Ladew Topiary Gardens
REQUIREMENTS:
• Minimum age of 18 years
• Ability to lift 40-50lbs and perform daily tasks of a physical nature (often demanding), requiring standing, sitting, pushing, pulling, and other manual tasks to accomplish the duties
• Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions (heat, humidity, rain, cold)
• Some weekend shifts are required
Application Instructions
Please see the Ladew Gardens website (ladewgardens.com) or follow this link
