Who We Are
We are owners and stewards of a distinctive private landscape encompassing designed gardens, prairie, woodlands, and trails. Our goal is to care for the property to an exceptionally high standard and with a long view - protecting its design integrity, ecological health, and beauty so it can continue to mature for generations to come.
Who We Want
You have the passion, skill, and determination to elevate a garden to extraordinary. You have an eye for detail, taking care that your work is done well. Motivated, energetic, and goal-oriented, you like to be where the action is – building a clear plan to efficiently complete the task at hand. You see this role as stewardship, not simply maintenance. Observant, curious, and invested in the long term, you want to understand how a living landscape changes over time and take pride in leaving it healthier, stronger, and more beautiful each year.
Job Summary
As the head gardener, you’ll be responsible for the day-to-day care and management of the gardens and landscape to a high standard of horticultural excellence. Over time, you will develop a deep working knowledge of the property and help guide the thoughtful evolution of its gardens, prairie, woodlands, and natural systems while preserving the owners’ vision and the intent of the landscape design.
Key Responsibilities
1. Overall Garden Management
- Monitor the health and condition of plants throughout the garden
- Complete seasonal garden tasks, including spring cleanup, planting, pruning, deadheading, dividing, transplanting, staking, fall cleanup, and winter preparation
- Plan and prioritize work across a very large landscape, identifying when additional labor is required
- Direct, train, and supervise seasonal or supplemental garden staff, coordinate contractors when appropriate, and ensure all work performed by others meets the horticultural and aesthetic standards of the property
- Develop plans in line with owners’ vision to both edit and improve the garden over time
- Maintain the integrity of the landscape design while recognizing that exceptional living landscapes require thoughtful observation, editing, adaptation, and refinement as they mature
- Develop expertise in the seasonal management of naturalistic plantings and prairie, monitoring plant performance and making informed recommendations over time
- Document meaningful seasonal observations, plant performance, recurring issues, and management decisions to build long-term knowledge of the property
- Support occasional garden and property tours for invited guests and horticultural professionals, sharing knowledge of the landscape and its care when requested
- Coordinate mowing and other lawn maintenance
- Safely operate and maintain applicable garden machinery and equipment and maintain their storage areas
- Understand the proper use and application of fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides
- Support pest management efforts, including the identification and control of voles, moles, rabbits, deer, and other common garden pests
- Coordinate and support the identification of projects that may require contractors or third-party assistance
2. Irrigation Management
- Manage and maintain irrigation throughout the garden
- Hand-water plants as needed based on weather, plant needs, and soil conditions, including during periods of winter drought
- Verify all components, systems, and processes are in place to keep plants healthy
- Monitor irrigation systems regularly, identify issues, adjust clocks, manually turn on zones, and make adjustments or coordinate repairs as needed
3. Weed Control
- Maintain clean, well-kept garden beds that support the health and appearance of desired plants
- Hand-weed and remove unwanted vegetation according to horticultural best practices
- Identify recurring weed issues and implement strategies to prevent future growth
- Manage and maintain a chemical weed control program as needed, including pre- and post-emergent herbicides
4. Woodland + Trail Management
- Clear debris from drives and walks as needed, including after storms
- Clear limbs and other debris that obstruct pathways or impact the appearance and health of the woodland
- Remove invasive and undesirable plant species to protect and promote healthy native plant growth
- Monitor trees, shrubs, and understory plants for signs of decline, damage, disease, or overgrowth and address issues as needed
- Maintain and improve woodland areas through selective pruning, thinning, and other horticultural best practices
- Approach woodland and natural areas with a long-term stewardship mindset, supporting biodiversity, native plant communities, ecological resilience, and the health of the property for future generations
5. Property Stewardship + Visitor Support
- Assist the owners with occasional tours of the gardens and property
- Develop enough familiarity with the landscape, design intent, plants, natural areas, and significant features to speak knowledgeably with visitors, and help ensure the property is presented at a consistently high level
- During quieter horticultural periods, responsibilities may include garden planning and documentation, plant and property records, professional development, equipment and systems planning, visitor tour preparation, and assistance with documentation and stewardship of the outdoor sculpture collection
- An interest or background in art, design, architecture, or collections management would be especially valued, with the opportunity to assist in cataloging, documenting, and maintaining records related to the property’s outdoor sculpture collection
6. Lend a Hand
- Occasionally run errands and tasks to support the needs of the property
- Pick up and deliver supplies, materials, packages, and other items as needed
- Assist with small property projects, maintenance tasks, and seasonal needs
- Partner with contractors to coordinate and support garden projects as needed
- Pitch in wherever needed to help keep the property running smoothly, taking initiative to identify and address tasks that need attention
What You Need
- The desire to manage a garden to its highest potential, maintaining design integrity, increasing its vitality, and cultivating its beauty
- A genuine long-term stewardship mindset and desire to become deeply knowledgeable about the property, its design intent, and its evolving horticultural and ecological needs
- Strong observational and communication skills, with the judgment to identify concerns early, recommend improvements, and explain the landscape and its care to others when appropriate
- Demonstrated ability to lead, train, and supervise additional staff or seasonal labor, establish priorities, communicate expectations clearly, and maintain high standards across work performed by others
- 3+ years of previous horticulture experience
- Proficiency with or willingness to learn to safely operate applicable garden equipment and machinery, including tractors, skid steers, UTVs, mowers, snowplows, snow blowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, line trimmers, leaf blowers, and the like
- Proficiency with or willingness to learn chemical application rates, mixing ratios, and safe application practices
What We Offer
- Competitive year-round pay and paid time off policy
- Stipend for medical, vision, and dental insurance
- Opportunities to continually expand your knowledge of native plants, ecological gardening, and evolving horticultural practices
- The opportunity to grow with and help steward a significant landscape over the long term, contributing to its continued vitality and beauty for generations to come
- Opportunities to travel to exceptional gardens and attend relevant conferences and meetups
- Reimbursement for relevant certifications and professional development
Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Application Question(s):
- Describe a time at work when something didn't go as planned. What happened, what did you do, and what did you learn?
- When was the last time you felt connected to the natural world?
Experience:
- Horticulture: 3 years (Required)
Work Location: In person
