About Us

The Start to a Lawn Lasting Relationship!

The largest and most recognized lawn and landscape provider in the area, Smitty’s Lawn and Landscape has been serving the Fort Dodge and surrounding areas for over 15 years. We cater our award-winning services to residential, Homeowners Associations, and commercial property owners by offering complete lawn and landscape solutions. We are the only local lawn and landscape service company to do so for all four seasons.

Our Story

Growing up in the Fort Dodge area, owner Jon Baedke and his family have a love for all things agriculture. In 2004, Jon bought Smitty’s Lawn from local business owner Don Larson, who had grown his company into a reputable lawn care and mowing business.

In 2013, Jon purchased Eddie’s Greenhouse, today known as Smitty’s Garden Center. Eddie’s Greenhouse was originally a seasonal business with a reputation for its high-quality annuals. It wasn’t long after Jon expanded it to include perennials, shrubs, trees, landscape materials, gardening supplies, and decor.

Two years later, Jon bought the former Larsen Electric building next to the Greenhouse and transformed it into a place to operate his business. This created one large site for both businesses to showcase their services. Bringing both companies to one location makes Smitty’s Lawn & Landscape and Smitty’s Garden Center the place for all your lawn and garden needs.

Licensed and Certified Technicians

Locally owned, our trained and knowledgeable technicians are familiar with the local Fort Dodge climate and specific problems our lawn and properties are prone to. We are licensed and insured through the State of Iowa.  For all your tree and shrub care needs, we have International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborists on staff as well as trained applicators. 

 

Smitty’s Garden Center

Part of Smitty’s family, our Garden Center is an award-winning nursery that is a gardener’s paradise. Our Garden Center offers a multitude of annuals and perennials, seasonal vegetables, herbs, and a variety of lawn and landscaping supplies. Looking for that unique piece to accentuate your garden? Our Garden Center has creative ideas to make your landscape and garden beds pop with color. 

Smitty’s Garden Center Hours
(Jan – Feb)
Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.(March – Easter)
Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.(Easter – April)
Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
(May – Memorial Day)
Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.(June – Oct)
Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.(Nov-Dec)
Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Because the Garden Center’s hours change seasonally, we suggest that you visit our Facebook page for the most up-to-date hours or contact us at 515-955-2431. We are located at 7 S. 23rd St. in Fort Dodge. Our hard-working managers and staff have the training and skills needed to answer all your landscaping questions. Stop in and visit us today.

Our Team

Jon Baedke
Owner

Jon Baedke
Owner

Jon grew up in Fort Dodge, graduating from Fort Dodge Senior High in 1991. He then attended Iowa State University, graduating with a degree in horticulture. He worked at the Community Orchard until purchasing Smitty’s Lawn Care in 2004. Jon is a proud dad to two children, Ellie and Carson. Jon is an avid reader of anything dealing with the “green industry.” He is a big thinker, dreamer, visionary, and learner. The team at Smitty’s appreciates how he progressively implements new ideas and strategies into the business. Jon takes pride in having long-term employees and seeing them grow professionally and personally. He encourages change for improvement. That is why everyone associated with Smitty’s is #PlantingHappiness.

Dennis Detmering
Accounts Manager

Dennis Detmering
Accounts Manager

Dennis Detmering has been the accounts manager for our lawn care and lawn maintenance clients for the past 12 years. Dennis handles our daily operations, including estimating, scheduling, routing, and customer service inquiries. His passion is building customer relationships and maintaining them. He is genuine in his “people first” mentality. He is a leader in caring for our customers and team members. Dennis enjoys spending time with his wife Karla and their two adult children. He is active in his church, where he serves as an elder. He is also an avid bowler and golfer.

Jaime Brinkman
Designer/Arborist

Jaime Brinkman
Designer/Arborist

Jaime Brinkman’s love for science, the outdoors, and creativity started at a young age growing up on a row crop farm in Clarion, Iowa. She is a 2012 graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in design and horticulture. She is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist and self-proclaimed tree nerd. Jaime loves to put dreams on paper and make them come to life by finding creative solutions for our clients. Her confidence and honest communication make the design process easy for our clients. She also has a passion for workplace psychology and being part of a great team. Outside of work, Jaime spends most of her time with her husband and young children. Her hobbies include camping, gardening, home projects, reading, and supporting her husband in their new farming operation.

Allen Hobart
Chemical Applicator

Allen Hobart
Chemical Applicator

Allen receives the most compliments from our customers and for a good reason! He is calm, relaxed, and easy-going. He has an associate’s degree in turfgrass management from Iowa Central Community College and is a valuable asset to our team. Allen will tell you that “having an understanding employer who supports family” makes everyone at work more than a team and believes wholeheartedly that “we are a family here.” Allen’s hobbies include figure-eight stock car racing, tough truck racing, fishing, baking treats with his son Mazyn and daughter Everly, and growing flowers for his wife, Kate.

Will Vaughn
Lead Grower

Will Vaughn
Lead Grower

Growing up in tropical Florida, Will was impacted by horticulture for the first time in a high school agriculture class. Since then, he has had experience in the green industry in many different ways. Will has acquired excellent plant knowledge and is great at identifying pests and diseases in our greenhouse operations and our client’s yards. He is passionate about the growing process from plug to customer. Investigative by nature, Will enjoys learning about cultural practices. Outside of work, he appreciates spending time in nature and hiking, camping, and canoeing.

Smitty’s Lawn and Landscape Serve the Following Locations:

Smitty’s Lawn and Landscape serves Fort Dodge and the surrounding areas, including Humboldt, Manson, Rockwell City, and Webster City.

Employment Opportunities

We’re Looking for Talented Employees!

​If you are interested in working with a company with years of experience and fabulous culture, you’ve come to the right place. We are looking for individuals who are dedicated, hard-working, and enjoy working with others. Here at Smitty’s, we have a variety of different full-time and seasonal positions that you can apply for. Experience is a plus, but we love to see those who are eager to learn as well.

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