The posting
Lawn & Ornamental Spray Technician
Department: Landscape Maintenance / Plant Health Care Reports To: Operations Manager / Spray Department Manager Location: Florida Position Type: Full-Time FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Position Summary
The Lawn & Ornamental (L&O) Spray Technician is responsible for inspecting, treating, and maintaining turfgrass, trees, shrubs, palms, and ornamental plant material on assigned properties. The position performs fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide, fungicide, and other plant health care applications in accordance with product labels, company standards, customer specifications, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
The Spray Technician is expected to accurately diagnose common turf and ornamental problems, select and apply appropriate treatments, maintain required application records, properly operate and maintain spray equipment, and communicate conditions requiring additional attention.
This position requires a strong commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, quality workmanship, productivity, and customer service. NO…
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Lawn & Ornamental Applications
- Perform scheduled fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide, fungicide, and other approved applications to turfgrass, trees, shrubs, palms, and ornamental plant material.
- Mix, load, transport, and apply products according to the pesticide label, company procedures, and applicable regulations.
- Apply products using appropriate equipment, including spray trucks, ride-on equipment, backpack sprayers, hand-held equipment, granular spreaders, and other application equipment.
- Calibrate application equipment to ensure accurate application rates and proper coverage.
- Follow all label requirements regarding application rates, target pests, personal protective equipment (PPE), restricted-entry requirements, environmental precautions, and application methods.
- Prevent overspray, drift, runoff, spills, and applications to non-target areas.
Inspection & Diagnosis
- Routinely inspect assigned properties for turf and ornamental health.
- Identify common Florida turfgrass, ornamental, tree, and palm pests and disorders.
- Recognize symptoms associated with insects, diseases, weeds, nutrient deficiencies, irrigation problems, environmental stress, and improper cultural practices.
- Identify common Florida weeds and determine appropriate control methods.
- Monitor treated areas and evaluate the effectiveness of previous applications.
- Identify conditions that may require specialized treatment, laboratory diagnosis, or management review.
- Report significant pest activity, disease, irrigation deficiencies, plant decline, or other property concerns to management.
Application Documentation & Compliance
- Complete accurate pesticide and fertilizer application records as required by company policy and applicable regulations.
- Document products used, application rates, quantities, treatment areas, date and time of application, weather conditions, and other required information.
- Maintain required licenses, certifications, identification, and training applicable to assigned duties.
- Follow all pesticide label requirements and applicable Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), EPA, and local requirements.
- Maintain required Safety Data Sheets (SDS), product labels, and application information as directed.
- Immediately report spills, exposure incidents, equipment failures, or regulatory concerns to management.
Equipment & Vehicle Responsibilities
- Perform daily inspections of assigned spray vehicles and application equipment.
- Maintain pumps, hoses, reels, tanks, nozzles, spreaders, backpacks, and other application equipment in clean and safe operating condition.
- Check equipment for leaks and other conditions that could result in improper application or environmental contamination.
- Maintain a clean and organized vehicle and chemical storage area.
- Properly secure chemicals, fertilizers, and equipment during transportation.
- Report equipment defects and required repairs promptly.
- Maintain accurate inventory and communicate chemical and fertilizer needs to management.
Safety & Environmental Stewardship
- Wear all required PPE when mixing, loading, handling, or applying pesticides and fertilizers.
- Follow pesticide labels, SDS requirements, company safety policies, and emergency procedures.
- Protect people, pets, wildlife, waterways, storm drains, buildings, vehicles, and other non-target areas during applications.
- Evaluate weather and site conditions before beginning an application.
- Stop or modify applications when wind, rain, temperature, irrigation, site conditions, or other factors could result in an unsafe or ineffective application.
- Properly handle and dispose of pesticide containers, rinsate, spills, and other regulated materials.
- Immediately report accidents, spills, chemical exposure, property damage, or environmental incidents.
Productivity & Accountability
- Complete assigned routes and scheduled applications within established service intervals and productivity standards.
- Take ownership of the quality and effectiveness of treatments performed on assigned properties.
- Minimize callbacks and retreatments through proper diagnosis, product selection, calibration, application technique, and documentation.
- Maintain accurate records of completed and incomplete services.
- Communicate route delays, inaccessible properties, weather interruptions, equipment problems, and other obstacles to the supervisor promptly.
- Follow up on identified pest, disease, weed, and plant health issues until the condition is resolved or appropriately escalated.
- Maintain assigned properties at company quality standards and proactively identify conditions that could negatively affect customer satisfaction.
Customer Service
- Represent the company professionally when interacting with customers, property managers, residents, vendors, and the public.
- Respond professionally to customer questions regarding applications and observed landscape conditions.
- Do not make unsupported guarantees or recommendations outside the technician's level of training or authorization.
- Communicate significant property conditions and potential service opportunities to the appropriate manager.
- Maintain a professional appearance and conduct while operating company vehicles or working on customer properties.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
- Previous lawn and ornamental, pest control, landscape maintenance, or plant health care experience preferred.
- Working knowledge of Florida turfgrass, ornamental plants, weeds, insects, and common plant diseases preferred.
- Ability to read, understand, and follow pesticide labels, SDS information, application instructions, and written procedures.
- Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations required for mixing, calibration, and application rates.
- Ability to operate spray equipment safely and effectively.
- Ability to work independently and manage an assigned route.
- Strong attention to detail and documentation.
- Must possess a valid driver's license and meet company driving requirements.
- Must obtain and maintain all licenses, certifications, identification cards, and training required for the work being performed.
Florida Licensing & Certification
The employee must possess or obtain the Florida credentials required for the specific pesticide and fertilizer applications performed in the position. Required credentials may vary based on the type of property serviced, products applied, level of supervision, and the company's pest control licensing structure.
The employee is responsible for maintaining required continuing education and certifications with assistance from the company as applicable.
Physical Requirements
The employee must be able to:
- Regularly work outdoors in Florida heat, humidity, sun, and changing weather conditions.
- Walk and stand for extended periods on turf, slopes, landscaped areas, and uneven terrain.
- Frequently bend, kneel, reach, push, pull, and climb in and out of vehicles and equipment.
- Lift and carry approximately 50 pounds.
- Wear required PPE for extended periods.
- Safely handle hoses, backpack sprayers, spreaders, pesticide containers, fertilizer bags, and related equipment.
- Perform repetitive physical activities associated with pesticide and fertilizer applications.
Work Environment
This position primarily works outdoors and involves exposure to heat, humidity, rain, dust, pollen, fertilizers, pesticides, landscape equipment, insects, and other conditions commonly associated with commercial landscape operations.
Work schedules may be adjusted based on weather, seasonal conditions, customer requirements, application restrictions, and operational needs.
Performance Expectations
Successful performance in this position will be measured by:
- Quality and effectiveness of lawn and ornamental treatments
- Accurate diagnosis of turf and ornamental problems
- Compliance with pesticide labels and regulatory requirements
- Application accuracy and equipment calibration
- Completion of assigned routes within required service intervals
- Reduction of preventable callbacks and retreatments
- Accuracy and completeness of application records
- Equipment and vehicle care
- Safety performance
- Customer satisfaction
- Communication and follow-through
- Overall condition of assigned properties
