Student Job Opportunity: Propagation and Plant Records Apprentice
Apply by May 24, 2026
Propagate, care for and record data on plants as a Propagation and Plant Records Apprentice for the Arboretum and Public Garden.
Position Overview
Position Details
- Estimated Start Date: Summer 2026
- Salary: $17.40/hour
Time commitment
- Must be able to work 8-15 hours per week during the school year and at least one month over the summer.
- Must cover watering shifts at least one weekend per quarter and work occasional weekend events.
Position Description
Under the supervision of Arboretum and Public Garden staff, this position will:
- Work independently to propagate and care for plants in the Arboretum Teaching Nursery.
- Propagate by seed, cuttings and divisions
- Care for plants with watering, weeding, repotting, and transporting.
- Maintain detailed and accurate propagation records, assist in updating nursery inventories, verify accession data between databases, and print plant labels.
- Occasionally work in a team to prepare for plant sales and public outreach events by updating inventories, labeling plants, tabling, and helping customers.
- Keep a clean growing area and follow phytosanitary best practices.
- Support the facilities and irrigation management of a greenhouse, lath house and hoop house.
- Use hand tools and operate power tools such as a pressure washer, blower, and a small tractor.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Must have experience and interest in propagation and records management.
- Must be able to perform all tasks in a safe manner and operate with care around valuable plant collections.
- Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions including summer heat.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in landscape maintenance and/or construction
- Experience using hand and power tools, operating tractors, and working with irrigation systems
- Experience in practical gardening, pruning, maintenance and landscape plant identification
- Coursework in horticulture, landscape architecture, and/or engineering