Plant Health Care & Lawn Care Technician
Joshua Tree Experts
You will be taken to the employer's application page. Listing expires September 5, 2026.
Job Description
The Mission
Comprehensive Lawn and PHC Reporting to the Department Supervisor, your mission is to be the primary technician responsible for the health, vigor, and aesthetics of both turf and ornamental plantings across an assigned territory.
Ornamental Plant Health Care (Shrubs & Trees)
Diagnosis and Treatment: Accurately identify and diagnose a variety of common issues related to ornamental trees and shrubs (insects, disease, and nutritional deficiencies).
Application: Execute assigned Integrated Pest Management (IPM) treatments in a timely and efficient manner.
Client Consultation: Recommend advanced treatments to clients to improve the overall health and longevity of their trees and shrubs.
Equipment Proficiency: Utilize all necessary PHC equipment, including but not limited to, spray rigs, backpack sprayers, air spade, and other arboriculture tools.
Lawn Care (Turf Focus)
Application Services: Deliver and manage a wide range of lawn health services, including fertilization, weed/insect/disease management, aeration, and soil amendments.
Turf Management: Apply strong working knowledge of turf health, common pests, and diseases to ensure superior client results.
Equipment Operation: Safely operate and maintain specialized lawn care equipment used for turf applications.
Client & Operational Excellence
Client Relationship: Build professional and trusting relationships with clients, providing excellent customer service on every visit.
Identification: Proactively identify issues related to other Joshua Tree Experts' services (tree work, etc.) and communicate these needs to the appropriate supervisor.
Compliance: Complete all paperwork and product information accurately, complying with all safety rules and regulations regarding vehicles and equipment.
Goals: Meet or exceed daily production and performance goals.
Career Path & Schedule
Growth Potential: This role is designed with the clear expectation to transition to a Full-Time, year-round position with full benefits package.
Required Skills & Qualifications
Technical Knowledge: Strong ability to identify and diagnose both ornamental tree/shrub and turf-related issues.
Experience (Preferred): Proven experience in either lawn care applications or plant health care application services is highly preferred.
Licensing (Preferred): Texas Pesticide Applicator's License (in relevant categories for turf and ornamental) is preferred, or the ability to obtain it quickly. ISA Certified Arborist certification is a strong plus.
Action & Autonomy: Excellent ability to be self-motivated, driven, organized, and efficient.
Physical Requirements
- Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs. repeatedly, and able to bend, stoop, and walk up steep hills while pushing or dragging equipment.
- High School Diploma or GED
- Valid Driver's License
- Ability to pass a DOT CFR-49 Physical Exam (as required)
What Most Landscapers Job Listings Don't Tell You
General overview for this role type; specifics vary by employer.
Most landscaping and lawn roles do not require a state license, though anyone applying fertilizers or weed control commercially may need a Department of Agriculture applicator license. Irrigation work is separate and does require a licensed installer in Texas. That mix means the field has room for entry hands and specialized pros side by side. Pay is usually hourly, with crew leads and irrigation techs earning more, and design-build roles paying the best.
The work is outdoor and seasonal, but Houston's long growing season keeps crews busy most of the year. Spring and summer mean heavy mowing and planting. Fall brings cleanup and installs. New hires underestimate the heat and the early starts. Crews roll out at dawn to beat the afternoon sun. You run mowers, trimmers, and blowers, load and unload trailers, and handle plants, mulch, and stone. Reliability and a willingness to learn equipment and plant care open the path to lead and maintenance-manager roles.
What to Expect Day-to-Day
General overview for this role type; specifics vary by employer.
Maintenance crews load the trailer at dawn and run a route of properties. At each stop you mow, edge, trim hedges, blow clippings, and clear beds so the property looks sharp. Speed and consistency matter because crews hit many stops in a day and the same yards every week.
Install and design work is a different pace. You dig beds, set plants, lay sod, spread mulch, and build hardscape features like walkways and retaining walls. Irrigation techs troubleshoot controllers, replace heads, and fix leaks in the line. Across all of it you maintain equipment, keep blades sharp, and manage fuel and safety gear. Customer interaction is lighter than in other trades, but a crew lead still communicates with property owners about scope and timing. Expect sun, heat, dust, and physical labor from start to finish, balanced by visible, satisfying results at the end of each property.
What Landscapers Jobs Pay in Houston
Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area (Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area. Median is about $17.44/hr.
Building a Landscaping Career in Texas
Most mowing and maintenance work needs no state license. Two paths do require one. Applying fertilizer or weed control for hire can require a Texas Department of Agriculture applicator license, and installing irrigation systems requires a licensed irrigator through the state environmental agency. Backflow testing on irrigation is a further certification. That means a maintenance hand can start with no license, while specialized and design-build roles reward certification. The path moves from crew work into lead, then into irrigation, chemical, or design specialties that pay more.
Career Ladder and Pay
- 1 Crew Member $33,821/yr
Mow, edge, trim, and plant while learning equipment and plant care.
- 2 Crew Lead $36,275/yr
Run a maintenance crew and manage routes and quality.
- 3 Irrigation / Chemical Specialist $39,707/yr
Hold an irrigator or applicator license for higher-value work.
- 4 Designer / Account Manager $39,707/yr
Design installs and manage commercial landscape accounts.
- 5 Landscape Company Owner $46,696/yr
Run a maintenance or design-build company and manage crews.
Licensing paths and timelines are general guidance for this trade in Texas. Confirm current requirements with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation or the relevant state agency.
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