Position Summary

Farmers & Builders Ace Hardware is seeking a knowledgeable, dependable, and customer-focused Plant & Lawn Care Specialist for our Waycross location. This position maintains a healthy, attractive garden center while providing exceptional customer service and expert guidance on plants, lawn care, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and related products.

The ideal candidate enjoys working with plants and people, understands South Georgia growing conditions, and can recommend practical solutions that help customers care for their lawns, gardens, and landscapes.

Key Responsibilities

Plant Care & Garden Center Maintenance

· Maintain the health, appearance, and quality of live plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, and seasonal products.

· Establish and follow watering schedules suited to weather, plant varieties, and seasonal needs.

· Inspect plants daily for insects, disease, nutrient deficiencies, and watering problems; take appropriate corrective action.

· Remove damaged or unsellable plants; keep displays clean, organized, stocked, and visually appealing.

· Receive, price, display, and rotate live goods; help reduce plant shrink and recommend timely markdowns.

· Assist management with plant selections and seasonal merchandise appropriate for the local market.

Customer Service & Sales

· Proactively greet and assist customers throughout lawn and garden.

· Help customers select plants suited to soil, sunlight, site conditions, and desired maintenance.

· Explain planting, watering, fertilization, pruning, and ongoing care.

· Help identify common lawn and garden problems and recommend suitable solutions.

· Build relationships with homeowners, gardeners, landscapers, and other customers.

· Recommend complementary soils, mulch, fertilizers, tools, irrigation products, and pest-control supplies; follow through on customer needs.

Lawn & Garden Chemicals: Knowledge & Sales

· Develop strong knowledge of fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and related products.

· Help customers identify common weeds, pests, fungal issues, and nutrient deficiencies.

· Recommend products according to customer needs, label directions, and applicable regulations.

· Explain product selection, application timing, label instructions, safety precautions, and equipment.

· Understand local turf varieties, including centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda, and Zoysia.

· Keep chemical and fertilizer displays organized, priced, and stocked; stay current on seasonal concerns and new products.

· Follow company procedures and applicable requirements for storage, handling, and sales; never recommend pesticide use inconsistent with labeling.

Merchandising & Inventory

· Maintain attractive, organized, fully stocked lawn and garden displays.

· Monitor inventory and communicate replenishment needs to management.

· Assist with seasonal transitions, promotions, and correct product pricing.

· Identify aging, damaged, or slow-moving products and propose corrective action.

· Support department sales through product knowledge and thoughtful suggestive selling.

Key Performance Expectations

· Plant health and shrink: healthy, attractive inventory with minimal avoidable loss.

· Customer service: friendly, knowledgeable advice that earns repeat visits.

· Sales performance: growth in live goods, chemicals, fertilizers, and related categories.

· Product knowledge: continued development of plant and lawn care expertise.

· Department appearance: clean, organized, appealing, and properly stocked displays.

· Initiative and accountability: daily priorities completed with limited supervision.

Ideal Candidate

Someone who takes personal pride in the garden center, enjoys solving customer problems, and becomes the go-to lawn and garden expert in our Waycross store—a trusted resource for plants, fertilizers, weed control, pest management, and lawn care.

About Farmers & Builders Ace Hardware

Farmers & Builders Ace Hardware is a locally owned hardware and building supply business committed to outstanding customer service, quality products, and knowledgeable advice. Our competitive advantage comes from helpful employees who take pride in their work and genuinely care about customers.

Farmers & Builders Ace Hardware is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualifications

Required

· Interest in plants, gardening, landscaping, and lawn care.

· Strong communication, customer service, dependability, and initiative.

· Willingness to learn lawn and garden chemicals and appropriate product uses.

· Ability to work outdoors in South Georgia weather, stand or walk for extended periods, and lift up to 50 pounds.

· Availability for scheduled weekends during peak garden center seasons.

Preferred

· Experience in a garden center, nursery, landscaping, agricultural supply, or lawn care business.

· Knowledge of Southeast Georgia plants, turf, weeds, pests, and growing conditions.

· Experience with chemical and fertilizer sales, retail merchandising, or customer-facing sales.

· Relevant horticulture, agriculture, or pesticide certifications.