About Fine Gardening
Fine Gardening is a boutique garden and landscape company in Columbia, SC. We specialize in high-end residential and commercial outdoor spaces, seasonal plantings, custom garden work, containers, and detailed garden care.
We are not a mow-and-blow crew. We are the flower planting, bed-prepping, container-filling, garden-beautifying kind of crew. Our work is detailed, physical, fast-moving, and done for clients who care about how their outdoor spaces look.
Our current field team is an all-women crew, and we are looking for the right person to jump in, keep up, and help us get beautiful work done.
About the Role
We are hiring a Garden Laborer / Fine Gardening Assistant to help with hands-on garden work. This is outdoor, physical labor in South Carolina heat and humidity. You will be planting, digging, hauling, watering, loading, unloading, cleaning up, and helping the team move through jobs efficiently.
This is not slow, peaceful flower arranging while birds chirp in the background. It is beautiful work, yes. It is also hot, sweaty, dirty, and physically demanding.
You do not need to be a plant expert. We can teach you about plants. What we need is someone reliable, strong, positive, willing to work hard, and able to keep moving without needing constant direction.
What You Will Do
- Assist with seasonal flower planting, garden installations, and container planting
- Prepare garden beds by digging, weeding, edging, raking, and cleaning up
- Haul plants, soil, mulch, tools, pots, bags, and other materials
- Load and unload vehicles before and after jobs
- Water plants and help maintain newly installed gardens
- Keep tools, materials, and job sites clean and organized
- Follow direction from the lead gardener or crew leader
- Work carefully around high-end homes, gardens, patios, porches, and outdoor spaces
- Help the team finish jobs efficiently and with a high standard of quality
- Stay aware, stay useful, and jump in where help is needed
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone who:
- Shows up on time
- Can work hard in the South Carolina heat
- Has stamina and can keep moving throughout the day
- Is physically strong enough to lift, haul, dig, bend, kneel, and carry
- Has a good attitude, even when it is hot and the day is long
- Can follow directions and remember them
- Does not need to be told what to do every five minutes
- Communicates clearly when they need help or clarification
- Pays attention to details
- Is respectful on client properties
- Takes pride in doing work that looks beautiful when it is finished
- Wants to be part of a small, hardworking team
Experience That May Be Helpful
Experience in any of the following is helpful, but not required:
- Gardening
- Nursery or greenhouse work
- Farm work
- Outdoor labor
- Construction labor
- Landscaping
- Flower planting
- Property maintenance
- Event setup
- Restaurant, warehouse, retail stockroom, or other fast-paced physical work
*Plant knowledge is a bonus. Work ethic is required.
Physical Requirements
This is a physically demanding outdoor position. Applicants must be able to:
- Lift and carry up to 50 pounds
- Work outside in South Carolina heat and humidity
- Bend, squat, kneel, dig, reach, lift, push, pull, and stand for long periods
- Haul plants, soil, mulch, tools, pots, and materials
- Walk on uneven ground, lawns, garden beds, driveways, and outdoor surfaces
- Use basic garden tools safely
- Maintain pace and energy throughout the workday
- Work carefully around high-end homes and outdoor spaces
This Role Is a Good Fit For Someone Who
- Likes being outside
- Likes physical work
- Does not mind sweating and getting dirty
- Wants hands-on work instead of sitting at a desk
- Can move with purpose
- Likes being part of a small crew
- Is helpful without being asked 100 times
- Can laugh, work hard, and keep going
- Wants to learn more about gardening while doing the actual work
This Role Is Not a Good Fit For Someone Who
- Wants slow-paced work
- Does not like heat or humidity
- Does not like physical labor
- Needs constant direction
- Struggles to keep up with a fast-moving team
- Is mainly looking for plant design, horticulture research, or office-based garden work
- Wants to admire flowers more than plant them
- Cannot communicate when they need help or do not understand something
Schedule
This is a seasonal outdoor position with hours that may vary based on weather, client needs, and project schedule. Spring and fall are especially busy seasons, so reliability and flexibility are important.
Pay: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour
Ability to Commute:
- Columbia, SC 29201 (Required)
Work Location: In person
