Seasonal landscaping and gardener jobs in the USA: working on an H-2B visa

This page in other languages : Français

What does a seasonal landscaper do in the USA?

A landscape laborer mows, trims, weeds, spreads mulch, plants shrubs and flower beds, installs irrigation and clears leaves. Crews of two to six people travel by truck and trailer between several job sites in a single day, often for commercial and residential clients.

Season and hiring regions

Demand follows grass growth. In the North, the season runs from March to November, peaking in spring. In the South, work continues almost year-round, but companies still expand crews in spring and summer when growth and client requests surge.

• Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina: strong demand from March to October.
• Northeast, from Virginia to Massachusetts: intense season from April to November.
• Colorado, Utah and the Mountain West: April to October, golf courses and resorts.
• Great Lakes and Midwest: April to November, sometimes followed by snow removal.

Types of employers

Landscaping companies, from small local firms to national contractors, hire most seasonal workers. Golf courses, resort hotels, nurseries, private estates, universities and property managers also recruit maintenance crews for the growing season, often rehiring the same workers each year.

Skills employers value

A driving licence with trailer experience, confidence with ride-on mowers, trimmers and blowers, and basic irrigation or pruning knowledge are all valued. Heat tolerance, reliability and punctuality matter as much as plant knowledge, especially during the busy spring rush.

Which visas allow gardening work?

Landscaping is classified as non-agricultural work. Foreign nationals therefore need an H-2B visa, requested by the employer after Department of Labor certification. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers have long been the largest occupation in the entire H-2B program.

The H-2B cap and what it means

The program is capped at 66,000 visas per fiscal year, including 33,000 for jobs starting between April and September. That half, which matches the gardening season, is often exhausted within days, leading to lotteries and occasional supplemental visa releases.

Length of stay and returning workers

The visa covers the seasonal need, generally nine months at most. The same worker can return in later years within a cumulative three-year limit in H status, after which three months must be spent outside the United States before a new petition.

Students and ESTA visitors

Some Summer Work Travel students obtain grounds maintenance positions at resorts if their J-1 sponsor approves the placement. However, ESTA or B-2 visitors may never mow, plant or maintain gardens for pay, not even for a few days.

Pay, hours and conditions

H-2B employers must pay at least the prevailing wage set by the Department of Labor for the area, or the state minimum wage if higher. The federal minimum of $7.25 is rarely relevant in this sector, where most state minimums are higher.

Overtime and guaranteed hours

Unlike farm work, landscaping is subject to time-and-a-half pay for hours above 40 per week. Weeks of 45 to 55 hours are common in spring, which significantly boosts earnings for seasonal crews compared with a standard week.

Housing and transport

Companies often offer shared housing nearby, paid through payroll deductions. Transport to job sites is usually provided in company trucks. Any deduction must be disclosed in the job order and cannot reduce pay below the guaranteed wage.

Taxes and Social Security number

An H-2B worker must apply for a Social Security number to be paid. Federal income tax applies and, depending on the state, state income tax too. Filing an annual tax return sometimes recovers part of the amounts withheld during the season.

How to find a landscaping job

Landscaping companies often bring back the same crews. For a first contract, target certified job orders, prepare a simple application and anticipate the tight H-2B calendar for jobs starting in spring, when the cap fills quickly.

1. Check that your nationality is on the H-2B eligible countries list.
2. Search landscaping job orders on the Department of Labor SeasonalJobs portal.
3. Send an English CV listing licences, machinery skills and references.
4. Get a written offer with wage, address, dates and housing.
5. Wait for I-129 approval, subject to the annual cap.
6. Complete Form DS-160 and attend the consular interview.
7. Apply for a Social Security number soon after arrival.

Frequent mistakes and scams

Because the cap fills so quickly, fake recruiters promise guaranteed places in exchange for payment. No intermediary can guarantee an H-2B visa, and federal rules prohibit charging workers recruitment fees of any kind.

• Paying to join a so-called priority H-2B list.
• Working off the books on ESTA while waiting for a visa.
• Accepting an offer without a verifiable company name and address.
• Not recording your hours, which makes overtime claims impossible.
• Skipping hearing and eye protection when using power equipment.

Can H-2B landscapers switch to snow removal in winter?

Only if the employer has a certification covering that activity and period. Snow removal is usually a separate need requiring a new application. A seasonal worker cannot change activity or employer alone without a new petition.

What hourly wage can you expect in 2026?

Depending on the area, prevailing wages for landscaping workers often fall, as a rough guide, between $15 and $22 an hour. With spring overtime, a full month can exceed $3,500 gross in the best-paying regions of the country.

Do you need a horticulture qualification?

No. Most seasonal positions are classified as entry-level. A horticulture diploma or green-space experience nevertheless helps workers become crew leaders, who earn more, or secure priority rehiring for the following season with the same company.

Can your family come with you on H-2B?

Spouses and children under 21 can obtain H-4 visas, but they are not allowed to work. Their living costs are not covered by the employer, which makes family relocation uncommon for seasonal landscaping crews.