A nursery manager is in charge of a wholesale, retail, or other facility where trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants are sold to landscaping contractors or the general public. Nursery managers are in charge of all aspects of the businesses for which they work on a daily basis. They frequently report to the owners of nurseries. Some nurseries only sell plants, while others grow them as well. A garden center is another name for a plant nursery.
The nursery manager cultivates vendor relationships and ensures that the nursery is adequately stocked with plants and supplies. The nursery manager is responsible for ensuring that any issues with shipments received are resolved. He or she is frequently in charge of the financial side of the business to ensure that profit margins are maintained as expected.
The nursery manager is also responsible for the cultivation and propagation of new plants at nurseries that are not just garden centers but also grow plants. All nursery managers are in charge of the health and well-being of the plants in the nurseries they supervise. Nursery managers are typically expected to have received plant care education and training, as well as to be knowledgeable about both the practical and technical aspects of plants. Nursery managers are often familiar with greenhouse plant production, container plant gardening, indoor and outdoor plant design, and other topics.
The nursery manager is also in charge of hiring, scheduling, and supervising full- and part-time employees. Should it become necessary, the nursery manager is frequently tasked with firing employees. The nursery manager may take on the responsibility of training new employees or delegate the task to an experienced employee. The manager must also consider safety concerns, such as how to use gardening equipment safely and whether or not workers have forklift certifications.
Customers can also interact with nursery managers, who can recommend specific plants and trees for various landscaping and gardening projects. Customer questions about plant diseases and other aspects of plant care are answered them. Fertilizers, soil amendments, weed control, and other more technical aspects of plant care must be understood.
Some nursery managers, particularly those who work for landscaping firms, may go out into the field. They may be expected to visit landscaping projects and make planting recommendations, as well as to carry out planting plans. Contractors and other field workers may be supervised a nursery manager.